Baseball history unpacked, July 21

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:

• 1892 - In a matchup of 300 game-winners at the Philadelphia Baseball Grounds, Phillies’ submariner Tim Keefe sinks Jim “Pud” Galvin and the Browns, 2-0. The next time two National League pitchers with 300 or more victories will face each other will occur in 2005, when Greg Maddux of the Cubs beats the Astros’ Roger Clemens at Minute Maid Park, 3-2. (1,4)
• 1908 - According to a Chicago newspaper contest, the Giants’ Mike Donlin, the National League’s leading hitter, is baseball’s most popular player. Turkey Mike tops Honus Wagner by a wide margin and will be awarded a trophy cup. Donlin was involved in a car accident on the 18th when the car he was riding in on Michigan Avenue collided with another vehicle driven by Chicago Mayor Fred A. Busse. (3)
• 1957 - Cubs relief pitcher Jim Brosnan falls on the mound while warming up, injuring his Achilles tendon. He leaves the game without throwing a single pitch to a batter. (3)
• 1959 - Under intense public pressure and the Massachusetts Committee Against Discrimination investigation, the Red Sox become the last club to integrate. Fourteen years after Boston passes on Jackie Robinson despite a successful tryout in 1945, Elijah ‘Pumpsie’ Green pinch runs and plays shortstop to become the first Black to play for the team. (1,4)
• 1972 - Billy Williams drives in six runs to lead the Cubs to an 11-3 win over the Astros. Williams has four hits, including a double and homer, to give Bill Bonham his only win of the year. Ken Forsch takes the loss. (3)
• 1973 - Atlanta Brave Hank Aaron hits a Ken Brett fastball into the left-centerfield stands for a two-run home run during an 8-4 loss to the Phillies. It is career home run number 700 for Aaron, only the second player to reach that milestone, after Babe Ruth. (3)
• 1998 - Kerry Wood out-duels Greg Maddux as the Cubs defeat the Braves before a sellout crowd. Woods strikes out 11 in 7⅔ innings, the sixth time in 18 starts he has reached double figures. For Maddux, it is his first loss to his former team after seven wins. (3)
• 2004 - A third piece of concrete, which apparently fell from the park’s upper deck, is discovered at Wrigley Field by a club employee. Two other chunks have also fallen recently in different sections of the 90-year-old stadium, prompting Mayor Richard Daley to say he would not hesitate to close sections — or all — of the facility to protect fans from potential harm. (1,3)

Cubs birthdays: Johnny Evers HOF. Billy Holm, Moe Drabowsky, Nelson Mathews, Kyuji Fujikawa, Nelson Mathews.

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!

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!