On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a Cubs-centric look at baseball’s colorful past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow the various narrative paths.
“Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” — Tom Connolly, HoF Umpire.
Comiskey buys a team, Bobby Bonds, Ryan Freel, and more. RIP Ryan*.
Today in baseball history:
- 1899 – The fledging American League owners meet to map a strategy against the established National League. They agree to place a team in Chicago with Charles Comiskey as the owner-manager of the franchise. (2)
- 1915 – Organized Baseball and the Federal League sign a peace treaty at Cincinnati, ending their two-year war. The FL agrees to go out of existence, but the Major Leagues pay an enormous price: $600,000 for distribution to FL owners; amalgamation of two FL franchises, one each into the National League and the American League; recognition of FL players’ eligibility, and agreement to bid for them in a Fed-controlled auction. The owners of the Baltimore Terrapins, hoping to get ownership of the Cardinals, balk, but conferees, eager for settlement, defer their claims – a decision they will repent at leisure when the Baltimore owners take their grievance all the way to the Supreme Court in a landmark case. (1,2) Good SABR take on this.
- 1953 – Jack Dunn III officially turns over the name “Orioles” to the major league franchise. His family had successfully operated the International League Orioles franchise for years in Baltimore, Maryland. (1, 2)
- 1980 – The St. Louis Cardinals release outfielder Bobby Bonds. Despite his 326 home runs and 456 stolen bases in 13 seasons, Bonds hit just .203 with St. Louis in 1980. He will make one more stop, his sixth in the last four years, with the Chicago Cubs in 1981. (1,2)
- 1999 – In an interview in Sports Illustrated magazine, Atlanta Braves P John Rocker offends virtually every race and ethnic group in a hateful outburst. Community leaders, media, management, coaches and teammates alike call for action to be taken against the lefthander who had 38 saves for Atlanta this past season. (2)
- 2012 – Former utility player Ryan Freel is found dead in his Jacksonville, FL home, victim of an apparent suicide at 36. (2)
Cubs Birthdays: Elrod Hendricks. Also notable: Connie Mack HOF, Steve Carlton HOF.
Today in History:
- 1590 – Army of Moroccan Pasha Ahmad al-Mansur begins its epic 135-day crossing of the Saharan desert on his way to defeat the Songhai Empire.
- 1775 – Continental navy organized with seven ships.
- 1790 – Supposedly impenetrable Turkish fortress of Izmail stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies during the Russo-Turkish War (1787–92).
- 1807 – US Congress passes Embargo Act and President Thomas Jefferson signs it into law. Prohibits American ships from trading in foreign ports, as result of involvement in hostilities between France and Britain.
- 1943 – Manufacturers get permission to use synthetic rubber for baseball core.
- 1964 – American comedian Lenny Bruce is convicted of obscenity.
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
- (8) — For world history.
*pictured.
Some of these items spread from site to site without being fact-checked, and that is why we ask for verifiable sources, in order to help correct the record.
