A M-W-F digest, replete with #Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB content, gathered from reputable sources. Rick Monday* and Ken Holtzman change addresses, 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:
- 1916 – In Kansas City, MO, Walter Johnson and Grover Cleveland Alexander face each other for the first time. The exhibition game between the two stars features Zach Wheat, Casey Stengel, Max Carey, Hal Chase and others. The “Johnsons” prevail over the “Alexanders”, 3-2. (2)
- 1962 – Major league officials and player representatives agree to return to a single All-Star Game in 1963. The players’ pension fund will receive 95 percent of the one game’s proceeds (rather than 60 percent of two games). (1,2)
- 1971 – In three blockbuster deals, the Cubs trade P Ken Holtzman to the A’s for OF Rick Monday*; the Giants trade P Gaylord Perry and SS Frank Duffy to the Indians for P Sam McDowell; and the Reds trade 1B Lee May, 2B Tommy Helms, and OF Jimmy Stewart to the Astros for 2B Joe Morgan, OF Cesar Geronimo, and P Jack Billingham. This last trade, criticized in the Cincinnati press, is one of the best in Reds history, and puts the wheels on the Big Red Machine, as future Hall of Fame member Morgan will win two MVP Awards with the team. (2)
- 1990 – A consortium of Canadian investors led by Montreal Expos president Claude Brochu agrees to buy the club from Charles Bronfman for a reported $85 million, assuring that the team will remain in Montréal, QC. (1,2)
Cubs birthdays: Harry Pyle, Jake Weimer, Tom Hughes, Carter Elliott, Irv Noren, Dan McGinn, Howard Johnson, Francis Beltrán. Also notable: Minnie Miñoso HOF, Mariano Rivera HOF.
Today in History:
- 1877 – US inventor Thomas Edison demonstrates his hand-cranked phonograph for the first time.
- 1929 – American aviator Richard E. Byrd sends “My calculations indicate that we have reached vicinity of South Pole”.
- 1934 – Chicago Bears beat Detroit (19-16) in the first NFL game broadcast nationally.
- 1948 – Puppet TV show “Kukla, Fran, & Ollie” starring Fran Allison debuts on NBC’s WNBQ in Chicago, Illinois.
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.