Baseball history unpacked, August 7

... on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue brings a you a lighthearted Cubs-centric look at baseball’s past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow along as we review select scenes from the rich tapestry of Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball history*.

Today in baseball history:

• 1901 - Ban Johnson suspends Baltimore 1B Burt Hart for striking umpire John Haskell yesterday, stating “This is the first time a player in the American League has struck an umpire, and it is an offense that cannot be overlooked.” The 31-year-old Hart will never play again. (3)
• 1906 - On John McGraw’s orders, umpire James Johnstone is refused admittance to the Polo Grounds, and the ump, standing outside the ballpark, forfeits the match to the Cubs. McGraw insists the game go on with a player from each team umpiring. McGraw picks reserve Sammy Strang, but Cubs manager Frank Chance refuses to go along, pointing out the game has already been forfeited. (3)
• 1907 - Senator hurler Walter Johnson wins his first major league game beating the Naps, 7 - 2. The 19 year-old right-hander will compile a 417-279 (.599) record, along with an ERA of 2.17, during his 21 year career. (1,3)
• 1911 - The match-up between Three Finger Brown and Christy Mathewson is something less than a pitching duel as Chicago bangs out 10 hits, including two singles, a double and a triple by Joe Tinker. Tinker also adds a steal of home. The Giants collect 13 hits, but Chicago wins the game, 8-6.
• 1920 - Following an all-night drinking bout and a fight at the Lamb’s Club in New York, John McGraw will be indicted for violating the Volstead (Prohibition) Act and charged with assault, but he will be acquitted. He will also be called to testify in Chicago hearings investigating gambling and bribery among players, including Hal Chase and Heinie Zimmerman. (3)
• 1921 - The Cubs replace manager Johnny Evers with Bill Killefer. (3)
• 1950 - Three white players of the Chicago American Giants are barred by police from participating in a Negro American League doubleheader against the Birmingham Black Barons. (1,2,3)
• 1952 - Umpire Bill McGowan is suspended indefinitely by the American League. In a game in St. Louis, McGowan had thrown out Tiger P Billy Hoeft, who had been heckling him from the dugout. When St. Louis writers, who have had a stormy relationship over the years with the veteran McGowan, ask him to identify the player, the umpire refuses, then adds an obscene gesture. The writers’ complaint results in a suspension. (3)
• 1978 - Mel Allen and Red Barber become the first recipients of the Ford C. Frick Broadcasting Award. Unable to choose between the two legendary voices, both Yankee announcers are selected by the Hall of Fame voters to receive the honor which recognizes excellence among baseball broadcasters. (1)
• 1984 - The Cubs swept a pair from the visiting Mets, winning 8-6 and 8-4. Rick Sutcliffe (9-1) beat Ron Darling (10-5) in the opener, benefiting from a six-run 5th inning, in which. Keith Moreland hits a three-run home run, and Ron Cey, a two-run shot. A five-run 4th in the second game propelled Chicago to the win for reliever Tim Stoddard. Lee Smith notched his 25th save. (3)
• 1985 - A five-year agreement between the union and owners, which includes salary arbitration eligibility increasing from two years to three years, ends the two-day mid-season players’ strike. The season will resume tomorrow. (1,3)
• 2001 - Home plate umpire Angel Hernandez ejects Steve “Mongo” McMichael from Wrigley Field as the former Chicago Bears football player is about to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh-inning stretch. McMichael, presently a pro wrestler, tells the crowd over the P.A. system “he’ll have a talk with the ump” concerning a close call made by Hernandez earlier in the game and then boos and blows a kiss toward the ump. (1,3)

The end of that game was incredible, too, and it’s in the video.

• 2002 - In a historic move, major league baseball players end their long-held opposition to mandatory drug testing by agreeing to be tested for illegal steroids beginning in 2003. (1,2,3)
• 2004 - In less than a masterful performance, Greg Maddux pitches five innings to register his 300th victory when the Cubs beat the Giants, 8-4. The 38-year-old is the 22nd pitcher to reach the plateau and many believe may be the last to reach this coveted milestone. (1)
• 2005 - In the battle of the Zambranos, the Mets’ Victor is victorious when he defeats Carlos and the Cubs at Shea Stadium, 6-1. In addition to sharing the same last name, the two Venezuelan pitchers, who are not related, also wear the same number (38), enter the game with the same number of career wins (41), play for teams which started the series with the same record (54-54), as well as being both switch hitters and throwing right-handed. (1)

Cubs birthdays: Adonis Terry, Don Larsen, Marc Pisciotta. Also notable: Bill McKechnie HOF.

SimNews: simYu who?

One of Yu is not the same as the other. SimYu is not justifying his outrageous salary and gave up seven earned runs in Thursday’s contest. RealYu is, more or less. SimKimbrel is the real thing. RealKimbrel is awful. It’s a surreal world, and the 70-46 simBraves provided a doe of reality as they split the series with the 81-35 simCubs, winning the last two games. Plenty of highlights as there were home runs aplenty, but in the end the simCubs lost a one-run game and have to face the reality that they have real competition.

The ending of the game is so sad. Not as sad as the ending of Old Yeller but sad nonetheless. Greg Allen will enjoy his cup of coffee from the bench today, and we hope he drinks deeply of that play. You can watch that lowlight and any other game material at the BCB Media Center, where most news is good news, commercial-free, 24/7.

Standings as of August 7. League leaders.

Today Jon Lester (13-5, 3.20) will face Brett Anderson (12-6, 3.68) at Wrigley North, in the city that beer made famous. The Cubs split four at Wrigley earlier this month, and this is their last regular-season trip to Milwaukee this year. KB will lead off against the lefty, with Rizzo and Baez following him.. Willson is back in the lineup, and Happ is in right. Bote mans second base and Nico will take a turn in left so that the Cubs can take advantage of his hot bat. Almora will start in center and continue to state his case for inclusion on the playoff roster.

Milwaukee is a likely wild-card entrant and they are for real, too.

Sources:

• (1) — The National Pastime.
• (2) — Today in Baseball History.
• (3) — Baseball Reference.
• (4) — Society for American Baseball Research.
• (5) — Baseball Hall of Fame.
• (6) — This Day in Chicago Cubs history.

*We try to vet each item. Please let us know if an item is in error, especially if you have a source.