A M-W-F digest, replete with #Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB content, gathered from reputable sources. Lindy McDaniel* retires and other news.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a light-hearted, Cubs-centric look at baseball’s colorful past, with plenty of the lore and various narratives to follow as they unfold over the course of time. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow along.
“Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” — Tom Connolly.
Today in baseball history:
- 1911 – At Laughery club house, near Rising Sun, IN, the National Commission adopts a rule that bars World Series winners from playing post-season exhibition games. This obscure rule will lead to a direct confrontation between Babe Ruth and Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis in 1921. (2)
- 1920 – The New York Yankees purchase the contract of pitcher Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox for $125,000 and a $350,000 loan against the mortgage on Fenway Park. The “official” annoucement of the sale is delayed until January 5 due to Ruth’s contractual demands. (1,2)
- 1973 – A group of investors, headed by shipbuilder George Steinbrenner, purchases the New York Yankees from CBS for $10 million. Incredibly, this is less money than CBS paid for the team back in 1964. (1,2)
- 1976 – The Kansas City Royals release pitcher Lindy McDaniel*, ending his career after 21 years. He has appeared in 987 games, second only to Hoyt Wilhelm’s 1,070. (2)
The Lindy McDaniel Game, by Al Yellon. McDaniel and the 1963 Cubs, by Ashley MacLennan.
- 2022 – A few weeks after taking over the licensing deals for baseball cards that had been previously granted to Topps by MLB and the Players Association once they expire in the coming years, Fanatics announces that it is acquiring the venerable sports card company as a whole, for a reported price of $500 million. This will ensure that it has the expertise required to implement its new mandate. (2)
Cubs birthdays: John Fluhrer, Pete Turgeon, Chico Hernández, Ed Sauer, John André, George Piktuzis, Adrian Garrett, Archie Reynolds, Michael Restovich,
Today in History:
- 1496 – Leonardo da Vinci unsuccessfully tests a flying machine.
- 1777 – General George Washington’s revolutionary army defeats British forces at Battle of Princeton, New Jersey.
- 1871 – Oleomargarine patented by Henry Bradley, Binghamton, NY.
- 1938 – March of Dimes established to fight polio.
- 1943 – Max and Doug Bentley assist on brother Reg’s only NHL goal in Chicago Blackhawks’ 3-3 tie with the Rangers in NYC; only time in NHL history trio of family members score and assist on a scoring play.
- 1959 – Alaska admitted as 49th US state.
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.
- (6) — Wikipedia.
- For world history.
*pictured.
Some of these items spread from site to site without being verified. That is exactly why we ask for reputable sources if you have differences with a posted factoid. We are trying to set the record as straight as possible. But it isn’t brain surgery.
Also, the ‘history’ segment is highly edited for space and interest. Of course a great many other things happened on those days. We try to follow up on the interesting or unfamiliar ones.
Thanks for reading.