Baseball history unpacked, September 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:

• 1889 - In the most controversial game in American Association history, the Browns walk off the field in Brooklyn while leading, 4-2, in the ninth inning. They claim it is too dark to play, but the lighted candles in front of their bench by owner Chris Von der Ahe make umpire Fred Goldsmith determined to finish the game no matter what. Several St. Louis players are hit with bottles as they leave the grounds. (1,2,3)
• 1918 - On one day’s rest, Hippo Vaughn gives up only seven hits, but Carl Mays wins a 2-1 duel. Wally Schang has two hits for Boston. Game three of the World Series ends with the Cubs’ Charlie Pick caught in a rundown between third base and home while trying to score on a passed ball. (3)
• 1923 - Red Sox starter Howard Ehmke no-hits the A’s at Shibe Park, 4-0. In the seventh inning, the 29-year-old right-hander appears to lose his bid for a no-hitter when Slim Harriss hits a would-be double, but the Philadelphia pitcher is called out for not touching first base. (1)
• 1936 - Sonny Dunlap, an All-American girls A.A.U. basketball player for the Tulsa Stenos, is in RF for the Fayetteville Bears in a 5-1 win over Cassville (Class D Arkansas-Missouri League). She goes hitless in three trips but hits the ball hard. She is the first woman to play an entire game, and represents the second and last time a woman plays in the minors. (3)
• 1984 - On his way to hurling a one-hitter, Doc Gooden fans Cub Ron Cey for his 228th strikeout, setting a National League rookie record. The Met phenom passes Grover Cleveland Alexander, who established the mark in 1911 with 227. The only hit is Keith Moreland’s slow roller in the fifth inning, which 3B Ray Knight fields but can’t get out of his glove. (1,3)
• 1993 - Cardinals OF Mark Whiten ties the major-league record for RBIs in a game with 12 in St. Louis’ 15-2 win over the Reds in the second game of a doubleheader. Whiten hits a record-tying four home runs, including a first-inning grand slam, in the contest. His only out is a pop out in the fourth. Todd Zeile, who scores three in the opener, scores ahead of Mark three times, while Gerald Perry is on base for each of the homers. With one RBI in the opener, a 14-13 loss, he also ties Nate Colbert’s mark of 13 RBIs in a doubleheader. (1,3)

• 1998 - Mark McGwire, who had become the third player in history to reach 60 home runs, hits his record-tying 61st against Cubs pitcher Mike Morgan. McGwire’s pursuer in the home run chase, Cubs right fielder Sammy Sosa, applauds McGwire, as does the adoring sold-out crowd in St. Louis. (2)
• 2006 - The Cubs are honored by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks for their preservation efforts at Wrigley Field. The venerable old ballpark receives Chicago Landmark Awards for Excellence for the bleacher expansion project which improved circulation in the seating section, increased the number of bathrooms, and dramatically improved access for fans with disabilities. (1)
• 2010 - A statue of Billy Williams, who played 16 seasons with the club from 1959-74, is dedicated by the Cubs on the corner of Sheffield Avenue and Addison Street outside of Wrigley Field. In attendance for the unveiling of the sculpture, that portrays the Hall of Famer outfielder finishing his sweet swing from the left side, is his wife, Shirley, former teammates Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins, Ron Santo, and Glenn Beckert, along with the Reverend Jesse Jackson. (1)

• 2020 - Former Cub Lou Brock passes away.

• Cubs birthdays: Curt Davis, Bill McAfee, Reggie Otero, Wade Rowdon, Mark Prior, Wade Davis.

SimNews:

The simCubs clinched a playoff berth with their 97th victory of the year against 46 losses, Kyle Hendricks notched his 17th to pull ahead of Ryan Yarbrough, and the team swept the Reds out of Chicago for the last time in 2020. Hendricks and Yarbrough have a shot at 20 wins as they should get four more starts each.

Willson Contreras was the hitting star, contributing a homer and three rbi to nose out Kris Bryant and his two rbi. Javier Baez also chipped in with an rbi double as the Cubs pulled off the sweep with a 7-1 shellacking.

The club heads out on the road for seven games, starting today in Colorado, where Jon Lester will take the hill against Jon Gray and the Rockies. Jon has been flagging lately but it’s getting to be jewelry time and we have no doubt that Jon will put it back together once again in time for the games that count.

The simCubs are the best team in MLB. Check it out:

And of course they’re all over the leaderboards. Bryant, who has been consistent all year, is slowly but surely nosing his way up on the lists. He’s not going to catch Christian Yelich, though.

Today is the last day of the MiLB season and the Iowa Cubs are waiting to see who their opponent will be — their record is comparable to the MLB club’s. The Smokies are a little less advanced as there’s less AAAA talent on that squad. Today’s contest will ‘air’ at 3 p.m. CT. All game video and related material is available commercial-free, 24/7, at the BCB Media Center.

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. Thanks for reading!