Baseball history unpacked, November 1

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue brings a you a light-hearted, Cubs-centric look at baseball’s colorful past, with plenty of the lore and deep dives into various narratives that expand over the course of time. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow along. Don’t be afraid to click the links for ‘inside baseball’ on the entries, which change from year to year as we re-examine the subjects.

Today in baseball history:

• 1870 - The Chicago White Stockings host the New York Mutuals at Dexter Park with the unofficial national championship at stake with 6,000 fans on hand. With his team ahead, 13 - 12, and having just walked the bases loaded, Mutuals pitcher Rynie Wolters walks off the mound, claiming the umpire is biased. The game ends with the score reverting to the last completed inning, giving Chicago a 7-5 win although the Mutuals continue to proclaim themselves the champs. (2)
• 1938 - National League batting champ Ernie Lombardi of the Cincinnati Reds is named the Most Valuable Player. Chicago Cubs pitcher Bill Lee is runner-up. (1,2)
• 1946 - Surgeons amputate the right foot of Cleveland Indians owner Bill Veeck. Two years before, the colorful executive had suffered a serious injury to his leg in the South Pacific during World War II. Veeck has had a tremendous impact on promotion in a half season of ownership. A minor but typical change is the regular posting of National League scores on the Cleveland scoreboard, a departure from the long-standing practice of both leagues. In spite of the amputation, Veeck will remain an active owner through the 1970s. (1,2)
• 1949 - Gillette buys the World Series television rights for $1.37 million, the money to be dedicated to the players’ pension fund. (2)
• 1982 - At a meeting in Chicago, the major league owners vote not to renew Commissioner Bowie Kuhn’s contract. The American League owners vote in favor of Kuhn 11-3, and the National League 7-5. But his 18 votes leave him 2 shy of the three-fourths majority required for reelection. Kuhn will remain on the job until a successor is found. He will eventually be replaced by Peter Ueberroth (our cover boy). (1,2)
• 1988 - Chris Sabo, who hit .271 with 11 home runs and 46 stolen bases as the Cincinnati Reds third baseman, wins the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Chicago Cubs first baseman Mark Grace is the runner-up. (1,2)
• 1999 - Atlanta Braves coach Don Baylor is hired as the Chicago Cubs’ manager. (2)
• 2016 - The Cubs force a decisive Game 7 in the 2016 World Series with a 9-3 win over the Indians at Progressive Field in Game 6. Kris Bryant opens the scoring with a solo homer off Josh Tomlin in the first, and later in the inning Addison Russell adds a two-run double on a ball that falls between CF Tyler Naquin and RF Lonnie Chisenhall. Russell adds a grand slam in the third as Chicago builds an insurmountable lead and cruises to the finish. (2)

• 2019 - The Mets hire former star player Carlos Beltran as their next manager. He will never get to manage the team however, being forced to resign due to his role in the 2017 Astros sign-stealing scandal. (2)

Cubs birthdays: Fred Demarais, Snapper Kennedy, Earl Blackburn, Lefty York, Larry French, Clint Compton, Miguel Dilone, Anthony Bass. Also notable: Bid McPhee HOF.

Today in history:

• 835 - All Saints Day made compulsory by Pope Gregory IV throughout Frankish Kingdom.
• 1348 - The Black Death reaches London on or about this date.
• 1512 - Michelangelo’s paintings on ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican first exhibited.
• 1755 - Lisbon earthquake kills more than 50,000 in Portugal
• 1800 - John Adams becomes the first Florida Man to live in the White House
• 1870 - US Weather Bureau begins operations (24 locations)
• 1931 - Dupont introduces synthetic rubber
• 1966 - NFL awards a franchise to New Orleans; name “Saints” alludes to November 1, All Saints Day in Catholic faith.
• 1969 - The Beatles’ “Abbey Road” album goes #1 in US & stays #1 for 11 weeks
• 1997 - Expanded Negro Leagues Museum and the new American Jazz Museum open in Kansas City’s historic 18th and Vine district.

Common sources:

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

There is a very active baseball history community and there are many facets to their views. We strive for clarity. Please be aware that we are trying to make the historical record as represented by our main sources coherent and as accurate as is possible. No item is posted here without corroboration. Some of these items spread from site to site without being verified. That is exactly why we ask for reputable sources, so that we can address them to the originators. BBRef is very cooperative in this regard, as are SABR and the Baseball Almanac. We have removed thenationalpastime from our sourcing list, as there have been multiple complaints about their content and they do not respond to attempts to communicate.

Thank you for your cooperation.