Baseball history unpacked, June 4

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

Today in baseball history:

• 1880 - Larry Corcoran of Chicago and John Ward of Providence battle to a 1 -1 tie in 16 innings‚ called because of darkness. Sixteen innings will remain the longest game in big-league history until August 17‚ 1882‚ when Ward will win 1-0 over Detroit in 18 innings. (3)
• 1890 - Submariner Tim Keefe becomes the second pitcher in history to win 300 games as his New York (Players League) team whips Boston‚ 9-4. Keefe allows 8 hits‚ strikes out 7 and makes 4 errors. The two teams combine for 14 errors. ‘Sir Timothy’, who won 19 straight decisions in 1888, will finish his 14-year career with 342 victories. (1,3)
• 1911 - In a 26-3 win over the Braves at the Palace of the Fans in Cincinnati, thirteen Reds players cross home plate. It is the highest number of different players from one team to score in a single game in major league history. (1)
• 1920 - In St. Louis‚ the Cardinals beat the Cubs‚ 5-1‚ as Grover Alexander loses after 11 wins. Bill Doak is the winner and Rogers Hornsby leads the Cards’ offense with two triples over the left fielder’s head. After the game Alexander calls Hornsby “the greatest hitter I’ve ever had to face. I have tried to fool him every way possible‚ but it just cannot be done.” Alex will be 27-14 for the fifth-place Cubs‚ and his 1.91 ERA will be the only one in the league under 2.00. (3)
• 1950 - Ernie Banks makes his professional debut with the Kansas City Monarchs, going 3-for-7 in a doubleheader against the Memphis Red Sox, (3)
• 1953 - After batting practice at Forbes Field, the Pirates and Cubs announce a shocking trade. Pittsburgh sends slugger Ralph Kiner‚ along with C Joe Garagiola‚ P Howie Pollet‚ and OF Catfish Metkovich to Chicago for C Toby Atwell‚ P Bob Schultz‚ 1B Preston Ward‚ 3B George Freese‚ OF Bob Addis‚ OF Gene Hermanski‚ and $150‚000. The Pirates defeat the Cubs‚ 6-1‚ with Kiner getting a double in four at bats for the Cubs. (1,3)
• 1964 - Sandy Koufax becomes the fourth pitcher to hurl three no-hitters by blanking the N.L.-leading Phillies 3-0 at Connie Mack Stadium. Koufax strikes out 12 and walks one. (2)
• 1966 - The Cubs beat the Reds‚ 6-4‚ as Ron Santo hits 2 homers and a single. Deron Johnson makes a great catch to rob Santo of a fourth hit. (3)
• 1981 - The Cubs purchase Bobby Bonds from Texas and in his first game for the Cubs‚ Bonds trips on a seam in the field carpet at Three Rivers Stadium and breaks a bone in his right hand. He goes on the 21-day disabled list. The Pirates win‚ 5-4‚ in the 10th when Lee Lacy triples and Dale Berra singles him in. (3)
• 1996 - Pamela Davis, a member of the Colorado Silver Bullets, pitches one inning of scoreless relief and gets the win in a minor league exhibition game. She is believed to be the first woman to pitch for a major league farm club under the current structure of the minor league system. Davis, a 21-year-old right-hander, pitched for the Jacksonville Suns, a Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, against the Australian Olympic team. (3)
• 2003 - Although his bat may have contained cork in the previous day’s game, all five of Sammy Sosa’s historic bats housed at the Hall of Fame and the 76 confiscated from his locker by Major League Baseball reveal no signs of tampering. The use of X-rays and CT scans clear the Cubs slugger’s remaining lumber. (2,3)
• 2004 - Mark Prior makes his season debut for the Cubs‚ but the Cubs lose, 2-1‚ to the Pirates. Prior goes six shutout innings. The Cubs hit the million mark in attendance‚ their quickest in history. (3)

Cubs birthdays: Orlie Weaver, Arnold Earley, Scott Servais, Rick Wilkins, Chang-Yong Lim.

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.