Take Me Out to the Ball Game, Jackie Robinson!
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a light-hearted, 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.
Today in baseball history:
- 1908 – Baseball’s anthem, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, is introduced by singer Billy Murray. The songwriting team of Albert Von Tilzer (music) and Jack Norworth (words), who created the immortal tune, had never seen a game before composing the immortal number. (2)
- 1911 – The World Series between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Athletics is resumed after six days of rain, and Charles Bender beats Christy Mathewson, 4-2, to give the Athletics a 3-1 lead. (2)
- 1972 – Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson dies of heart disease at age 53. Robinson had become the first black major league player of the 20th century with the 1947 Dodgers. (1,2)
There’s a really good bio of Jackie Robinson here…and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Branch Rickey’s role in introducing Robinson to the world. Sad that he was in such poor health at that age.
- 1992 – The Toronto Blue Jays take the major league baseball championship outside the United States for the first time ever, beating the Atlanta Braves, 4-3, in 11 innings, in Game 6 of the World Series. (2)
- 1994 – Greg Maddux* of the Atlanta Braves becomes the first pitcher in major league history to win three straight Cy Young Awards, unanimously sweeping the National League honor. Maddux posted a 16-6 record with a 1.56 ERA, the third-lowest in 75 years. (1,2)
- 2014 – In a surprise development, long-time Rays manager Joe Maddon resigns after nine seasons at the helm, following the departure of GM Andrew Friedman by only a few weeks. The tandem is widely credited with turning the franchise around. (2)
Cubs Birthdays: Ed Williamson, Eddie Stack, Jack Russell, Jim Brosnan, John Goetz, Rawly Eastwick, Bill Hayes.
Today in History:
- 1260 – The spectacular Cathedral of Chartres is dedicated in the presence of King Louis IX of France; now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- 1593 – Alleged teleportation of Spanish soldier Gil Perez from the Philippines to Mexico.
- 1851 – William Lassell discovers Ariel & Umbriel, satellites of Uranus.
- 1881 – Levi P Morton, US ambassador to France, drives first rivet in Statue of Liberty.
- 1926 – Harry Houdini’s last performance, at the Garrick Theatre in Detroit, Michigan.
- 1931 – Gangster Al Capone is sentenced to 11 years for tax evasion.
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.
Things are as near to the truth as we can get them. Some of these items spread from site to site without being fact-checked, and that is why we ask for verifiable sources, so that we can help update the records and have documentation.
