Baseball history unpacked, April 19

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

Today in baseball history:

• 1890 - The Brooklyn Bridegrooms, who will later be known as the Dodgers, play their first National League game. At South End Grounds, the former American Association club loses to the host Boston Beaneaters, 15-9. Brooklyn would go on to win the pennant in their first season in a new league, following their title in a different major league the previous season. (1,3)
• 1949 - The New York Yankees unveil a granite monument to Babe Ruth. Monument Park, located in the deep center field region of Yankee Stadium, also includes monuments for Lou Gehrig and Miller Huggins. (3)

• 1961 - At Comiskey Park, Bill Veeck employs eight Little People to work in the stands during the White Sox home opener against Washington. The Chicago owner’s hiring decision is a response to complaints that fans sitting in the box seats couldn’t see over the vendors. Eddie Gaedel was one of the new hires. (1)
• 1971 - Legendary broadcaster Russ Hodges dies from a heart attack in Mill Valley, California, at the age of 61. Hodges announced the Giants games in New York and San Francisco for 22 seasons, after working for four other teams. Hodges was best known for his famed “The Giants win the pennant!” call of Bobby Thomson’s home run in 1951. Hodges will be the fourth recipient of the Ford Frick Award, posthumously, in 1980. (3)
• 1997 - The Cubs lose their 13th consecutive game to match the longest losing streak in the franchise’s 122-year history. Reliever Turk Wendell, wearing No. 13, is tagged with the loss when Chicago drops a 6-3 decision to Mets at Shea Stadium. (1)
• 2013 - Jean Segura channels the ghost of Germany Schaefer in a bizarre eighth-inning play in the Brewers’ 5-4 win over the Cubs. Segura singles and steals second base, and Ryan Braun follows by drawing a walk. Cubs pitcher Shawn Camp then picks Segura off second base, and he is caught in a rundown; Braun moves to second on the play, but Segura manages to escape the pickle and ends up on the base as well. The Cubs tag both runners, and umpire Phil Cuzzi correctly calls Braun out, as the lead runner is entitled to the bag. However, Segura misunderstands the call and, thinking he is out, starts walking back towards the dugout, before the first base coach tells him to stop at first base. As the play was the result of a mistake, and not an attempt to sew confusion, Segura is allowed to remain at first base. He then attempts to steal second base again, but is thrown out. Schaefer is of course famous for stealing first base in a game on August 4, 1911. (3)

Cubs birthdays: None!

• Common 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.

There is a very active baseball history community and there are many facets to their views. We strive for clarity. Please let us know (nicely) if you feel that an item is in error and we will address that issue to the originator(s), if at all possible.

Thanks for reading!