A M-W-F digest, replete with #Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB content, gathered from reputable sources. Peter Ueberroth becomes Commissioner, Jack Brickhouse goes under the knife, and other stories.
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:
- 1932 – In Century, Florida, Boston Red Sox pitcher Ed Morris dies at age 32 of knife wounds inflicted in a fight at a party given in his honor two days ago in Brewton, Alabama. Boston owner Bob Quinn is reported to have had a New York Yankees offer of almost $100,000 for the pitcher. (2)
- 1953 – The Boston Braves, owners of the Milwaukee minor league franchise, block the St. Louis Browns’ attempt to shift their franchise to Milwaukee. Lou Perini, the Braves’ owner, invokes his territorial privilege, stating he has not been offered enough for the rights. By the time the season starts, it is the Braves who will have made Milwaukee their new home. (1,2)
- 1984 – Peter Ueberroth, the highly successful chairman of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the upcoming Summer Games, is elected to a five-year term as Commissioner of Baseball. Ueberroth will take office on October 1st, succeeding Bowie Kuhn. (1,2)
- 1998 – Larry Doby, the first African-American to play in the American League, is elected to the Hall of Fame along with former AL President Lee MacPhail. Also chosen by the Veterans Committee are Negro League pitcher Bullet Joe Rogan and turn-of-the-century shortstop Gorgeous George Davis. (1,2)
- 1998 – Ford Frick Award-winning broadcaster Jack Brickhouse* undergoes surgery to remove a tumor from the lining of his brain. (2)
- 2023 – It ight just be the Cactus League, but it’s still a no-hitter: seven Cubs pitchers combine to pull off the feat against the Padres in a 4-0 win. It the first no-hitter in spring training action since 2017. Justin Steele starts things off with two perfect innings, needing just 18 pitches, and Javier Assad also pitches two frames. They are followed by Brad Boxberger, Adbert Alzolay, Jeremiah Estrada, Cam Sanders and Nick Burdi. (2)
Cubs birthdays: Art Bues, Joe Jaeger. Also notable: John Ward HOF, Willie Keeler HOF.
Today in History:
- 1284 – Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England.
- 1634 – First tavern in Boston, Mass. opens (Samuel Cole).
- 1845 – Florida becomes the 27th state of the Union.
- 1875 – First recognized hockey game played at the Victoria Skating Rink, Montreal (according to International Ice Hockey Federation), though likely much earlier.
- 1913 – Woman suffrage procession through Washington, D.C. organized by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns and led by Inez Milholland. Ida B. Wells marched with her Illinois delegation despite blacks being told to march in a separate section.
- 1931 – ”The Star-Spangled Banner” officially becomes the US national anthem by congressional resolution; lyrics by Francis Scott Key in 1814, set to John Stafford Smith’s 18th century tune “The Anacreontic Song”.
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.
- (7) — The British Museum.
- 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.