Search Results for "cubs"

983 Fact(s) Found
March 7, 1857
 		The National Convention of Baseball Players, consisting of 16 different amateur organizations from Manhattan's Lower East Side, adopt uniform rules that continue to impact the modern game significantly. The group agrees that contests will be played consistently, with nine players on a side for nine innings, with bases 90 feet apart.
April 25, 1876
 		The Chicago White Stockings make their National League debut with a 4-0 victory over the Grays at the Louisville Baseball Park. The franchise, once known as the Colts and Orphans before becoming the Cubs in 1903, will finish in first place in the circuit's inaugural season.
August 2, 1881
 		With his team already ahead in the eighth inning, 5-0, White Stockings (Cubs) outfielder Abner Dalrymple becomes the first player walked intentionally with the bases loaded. Buffalo Bisons' right-hander Jack Lynch gives up the run-producing free pass in an eventual 11-2 Chicago victory.
May 14, 1883
 		The Quakers, later known as the Phillies, win their first game in franchise history when they rout the Cubs, called White Stockings at the time, at Chicago's Lake Front Park. Philadelphia had lost its first eight games before today's 12-0 victory and will finish the season in last place in the eight-team National League with a dismal 17-81 (.173) record.
June 16, 1884
 		Due to inflammation in his right index finger, Larry Corcoran of the White Stockings (Cubs) pitches left-handed and right-handed in a game against the Bisons. The natural right-hander hurls ambidextrously for four innings, alternating throwing arms, before moving to shortstop in Chicago's 20-9 loss at Buffalo's Olympic Park.
February 14, 1887
 		For a record price of $10,000, the Cubs, then known as the White Stockings, sell current National League batting champ and future Hall of Famer Mike King Kelly to the Beaneaters. The popular box office draw, who will earn his nickname King while playing in Boston, will continue to be productive, hitting .311 for three years during his first tenure with the team.
July 21, 1892
 		In a matchup of 300 game-winners at the Philadelphia Baseball Grounds, Phillies' submariner Tim Keefe sinks Jim "Pud" Galvin and the Browns, 2-0. The next time two National League pitchers with 300 or more victories will face each other will occur in 2005, when Greg Maddux of the Cubs beats Astros ace Roger Clemens at Minute Maid Park, 3-2.
December 15, 1896
 		In front of the Princeton baseball team and a large crowd of undergraduates, the first pitching machine, created by the university's professor Charles E. Hinton, is demonstrated in the school's gymnasium. The mathematics instructor's invention, which resembles a rifle shooting the ball at varying speeds toward the batter, leads to his dismissal after the gunpowder-powered device injures several baseball players.


The Baltimore Sun, December 16, 1896
July 13, 1896
 		Phillies outfielder Ed Delahanty hits four home runs in one game in a 9-8 loss to the hometown Colts. The future Hall of Famer's quartet of round-trippers at the West Side Grounds are the inside-the-park variety.
September 28, 1897
 		Although he gives up 14 runs on 17 hits, Dave Wright of the Chicago Colts (Cubs) wins his first and only major league game. The 21-year-old Dennison, Ohio, native is the beneficiary of Chicago's 11-run fifth inning when the club beats the Pirates, 15-14.
July 16, 1897
 		Colts' first baseman Cap Anson becomes the first major leaguer to collect 3000 hits when he singles off George Blackburn. The 45-year-old infielder's historic safety comes in a 2-1 loss to Baltimore at Chicago's West Side Grounds.
June 29, 1897
 		The Chicago Colts (Cubs) of the National League establish the record for most runs scored in a game by one team when they rout the Louisville Colonels, 36-7. In 1929, the Cardinals will beat the Phillies 28-6 at Philadelphia's Baker Bowl, setting the modern NL mark.
July 7, 1900
 		By defeating the Cubs, 11-4, Beaneaters' hurler Kid Nichols takes only nine seasons to get his 300th victory. The 30-year-old righty will amass 361 wins during his 15-year career and remain the youngest player to accomplish the feat.
July 4, 1900
 		Approximately one thousand people in the crowd of 10,000 fans attending the game at Chicago's West Side Grounds celebrate Independence Day by firing pistols into the air. The Orphans shoot down the visiting Philadelphia team in 12 innings, 5-4.
June 20, 1901
 		John W. Taylor goes the distance but loses when the Beaneaters defeat the Orphans at Boston's South End Grounds. The right-hander begins a remarkable streak of 187 consecutive complete games that will end in August of 1906, when he is relieved by another pitcher after amassing an incredible 1,727 innings of work, including finishing up 15 games in relief.
May 2, 1901
 		The Chicago Orphans purchase future Hall of Fame hurler Rube Waddell from the Pirates for a stogie. The strange transaction for the 24-year-old eccentric and inconsistent southpaw resulted from Pittsburgh manager Fred Clarke's telling team owner Barney Dreyfuss, "Sell him; release him, drop him off the Monongahela Bridge. Do anything you like, so long as you get him the hell off my ball team!"
March 27, 1902
 		A Chicago Daily News headline reads, 'Manager of the Cubs is in Doubt Only on Two Positions,' marking the first time the team's nickname has appeared in print. Although the moniker has existed since 1890, the Orphans, also known as the Colts and White Stockings, will not officially adopt the Cubs as its new name until 1907.

1902 Chicago Daily News
September 15, 1902
 		The trio of Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance completes their first twin killing in a 6-3 win over Cincinnati at Chicago's West Side Grounds. The 1910 baseball poem by Franklin Pierce Adams, Baseball's Sad Lexicon, immortalizes the Cubs' legendary double-play combination

September 13, 1902
 		Johnny Evers, acquired to replace second baseman Bobby Lowe, who broke his ankle, joins shortstop Joe Tinker and first baseman Frank Chance on the Chicago infield, marking the first time the three Cubs' infielders have played together. Franklin Pierce Adams' poem, "Baseball's Sad Lexicon," better known as "Tinker to Evers to Chance," immortalizes the legendary double-play trio.
December 12, 1903
 		The Cardinals trade Mordecai Brown and catcher Jack O'Neill to the Cubs in exchange for backstop Larry McLean and Jack Taylor, a righty who will set the record for consecutive complete games in one season next year with 39 when he compiles a 20-19 record for the Redbirds. The future Hall of Fame right-hander, nicknamed Three Finger due to a farm-machinery accident when he was 11 years old, will post a 188-86 (.686) record, including six consecutive seasons of 20+ wins, during his ten-year tenure with Chicago.
June 11, 1904
 		After pitching 9â…“ innings of no-hit baseball, Cubs' hurler Bob Wicker settles for a 1-0, twelve-inning, one-hit victory over the Giants when Sam Mertes, for the second time in his career, breaks up an extra-inning no-hitter. The light-hitting outfielder also spoiled Indians right-hander Earl Moore's 1901 bid for a no-no when he started the game-winning rally for the White Sox with a one-out single in the top of the tenth inning.
May 30, 1904
 		At Cincinnati's Palace of the Fans, 32-year-old Cubs' first baseman Frank Chance is plunked by a pitch five times during a doubleheader. In the first game of the twin bill, the future Hall of Famer loses consciousness briefly when one of the misguided pitches hits the Peerless Leader's head.
August 24, 1905
 		At Philadelphia's Baker Bowl, Ed Reulbach goes the distance when the Cubs defeat the Phillies in 20 innings, 2-1. The 22-year-old right-handed rookie will finish the season with an 18-14 record (.563) and an ERA of 1.42.
June 13, 1905
 		Giants hurler Christy Mathewson, who, in 1901, became the first rookie in the modern era to throw a no-no, pitches his second career no-hitter, beating the Orphans at Chicago's West Side Grounds, 1-0. Matty and Mordecai Brown match hitless innings until the top of the ninth when New York reaches the future Hall of Famer for two hits.
April 26, 1905
 		Jack McCarthy becomes the first and only major league outfielder to throw out three runners trying to score in one game. The 36-year-old flychaser's assists result in a double play, helping the Cubs to beat the Pirates at Exposition Park, 2-1.
August 23, 1906
 		At American League Park in Washington, DC, the White Sox establish a new American League record, winning their 19th consecutive game with a 4-1 victory over the hometown Senators. In 2002, the A's will string together 20 straight wins to surpass the AL mark but will fall one short of the major league mark established by the 1935 Cubs
October 9, 1906
 		In a snowy West Side Park, the first one-city World Series opens in Chicago. Nick Altrock outduels Three-Finger Brown, giving the White Sox a 2-1 victory over the heavily favored Cubs.
August 9, 1906
 		Cubs right-hander Jack Taylor, who will amass a lifetime record of 152-139 and an ERA of 2.66, goes the distance, beating Brooklyn at Washington Park, 5-3. The victory will be the last of his 187 consecutive complete games, an amazing streak that began on June 20, 1901, with a 2-0 loss in Boston.
October 14, 1906
 		The White Sox, known as baseball's 'hitless wonders,' complete their unbelievable World Series, upsetting their powerful crosstown rivals, beating the Cubs, 8-3, at South Side Park. The Cubs had won a record 116 regular-season games.
August 13, 1906
 		A reliever replaces John W. Taylor for the first time since June of 1901 when the Brooklyn Superbas knock him out of the game in the third inning. During the five years, the Orphans' right-hander completed a remarkable 1,727 innings of work, including 187 consecutive complete games, finishing 15 games in relief.
December 26, 1906
 		National League umpire Hank O'Day suggests using white rubber strips to mark the batter's box to prevent hitters from rubbing out chalk lines. The former right-handed hurler and future Hall of Famer will interrupt his 30-year umpiring career to pilot the Reds in 1912 and the Cubs in 1914, becoming the only person ever to play, manage, and umpire for a full season in the major leagues.

Hank O’Day - George Grantham Bain Collection

October 6, 1906
 		On a snowy day in Chicago's West Side Park, the visiting White Sox, known as the Hitless Wonders, edge the Cubs, 2-1, in Game 1 of the first cross-town World Series. Pale Hose starter Nick Altrock outduels future Hall of Fame right-hander Mordecai' Three Finger Brown,' going the distance en route to tossing a four-hitter over the heavily favored Northsiders.
May 6, 1906
 		At Pittsburgh's Exposition Park, the Pirates become the first team to cover the grass to prevent it from getting wet during a rainstorm. A canvas tarp keeps the infield dry for tomorrow's contest against the Cubs.
October 4, 1906
 		The Cubs post their 116th victory when they beat Pittsburgh at Exposition Park, 4-0. Chicago, who sets a major league mark for wins, completes the season with an astounding .763 winning percentage.
June 7, 1906
 		Christy Mathewson and Joe McGinnity give up 11 first-inning runs, allowing the Cubs to rout the Giants, 19-0. Matty, who is probably still suffering the effects of diphtheria contracted in the spring, retires only one batter while issuing six bases-on-balls in the West Side Grounds contest.
October 9, 1907
 		In Game 2 of the World Series played at Chicago's West Side Grounds, Tigers third baseman Bill Coughlin tags out Jimmy Slagle, leading off the base, using the hidden ball trick. The Cubs center fielder is the first victim deceived about a ball's location during the Fall Classic.
October 12, 1907
 		At Detroit's Bennett Park, right-hander Mordecai 'Three Finger' Brown throws a 2-0 shutout, beating the Tigers to capture the World Championship for the Cubs. Although Game 1 ended in a 3-3, 12-inning tie, Chicago becomes the first club to sweep a Fall Classic when the team wins the next four games.
May 21, 1907
 		After the Giants' 3-0 loss to the Cubs that drops New York out of first place, the players need to form a protective ring around umpires Hank O'Day and Bob Emslie. Pinkerton guards fire shots in the air to disperse unruly fans who have spilled onto the Polo Grounds field.
September 26, 1908
 		Cubs right-hander Ed Reulbach pitches two shutouts on the same day, whitewashing the Brooklyn Superbas in the opener 5-0 on a five-hitter and 3-0 on three hits in the nightcap. The entire Washington Park doubleheader takes less than three hours to complete.
October 8, 1908
 		In a make-up contest necessitated by Fred Merkle's baserunning blunder on September 23, Three Finger Brown outduels Christy Mathewson, 4-2, as the Cubs win the National League pennant by one game over the Giants in one of the most dramatic pennant races of all time.
October 14, 1908
 		In front of the smallest crowd in World Series history, Chicago, behind the strong pitching of Orval Overall, beat the Tigers in just 85 minutes to capture the Fall Classic. The 6,210 fans witnessing the fifth and final World Series game at Detroit's Bennett Park have no idea it will be the last time the Cubs will win a World Championship in the next 100+ years.
September 23, 1908
 		When Fred Merkle fails to touch second base after an apparent game-winning hit, scoring McCormick from third costs the Giants a 2-1 win over the Cubs, with the ump calling him out and ruling the game a tie. The play, dubbed 'Merkle's Boner,' will eventually cost the Giants the flag.
May 29, 1909
 		Recently elected William Howard Taft joins 14,000 fans at Pittsburgh's Exposition Park to watch the Pirates play the Cubs, becoming the first sitting president to attend a baseball game outside of Washington, D.C. The Commander in Chief proves to be a bad luck charm when the Bucs drop an 8-3 decision to Chicago, marking the only time the team loses in 19 games.

June 29, 1909
 		The Pirates host their last game at Exposition Park, defeating the Cubs, 8-1, in front of 5,545 fans at the small and cramped ballpark on the north side of the Allegheny River. The team will begin to play at Forbes Field tomorrow, a spacious venue constructed of concrete and steel in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh.


Pittsburgh's Exposition Park (1904)
Panoramic photographs (Library of Congress)

June 30, 1909
 		The Cubs spoil the Pirates' debut at Forbes Field, 3-2. The new state-of-the-art ballpark, named for General John Forbes, an officer in the French and Indian War, is the first stadium made completely of steel and poured concrete.
October 22, 1910
 		After three straight defeats and trailing Philadelphia by a run in the ninth, the Cubs tie the score, winning 4-3 in ten innings for their only World Series victory. The A's will easily take the Fall Classic in five games.
October 23, 1910
 		Jack Coombs wins his third game of the World Series when he goes the distance to beat the Cubs at Chicago's West Side Grounds, 7-2. In addition to winning Game 5 to give Philadelphia the world championship, the A's right-hander also had complete-game victories in Games 2 and 3 of the Fall Classic.
June 28, 1910
 		At Cincinnati's Palace of the Fans, Joe Tinker steals home twice, becoming the first major leaguer to accomplish the feat in the same game. The Cubs shortstop's thievery helps Chicago beat the Reds, 11-1.


Cubs shortstop Joe Tinker (1909-1911)
Library of Congress - Benjamin K. Edwards Collection.

October 20, 1910
 		A's starter Jack Coombs, pitching with one day of rest, throws a six-hit complete game, beating the Cubs, 12-5, to give Philadelphia a commanding 3-0 lead in the World Series. 'Colby Jack' also collects three hits and drives in three runs in the West Side Park contest.
July 12, 1910
 		The legendary verse detailing the Cubs' double-play combination of Tinker to Evers to Chance, entitled That Double Play Again, is published for the first time. When the 'New York Evening Mail' republishes the same poem six days later, the newspaper will use the title by which the poem is best known, Baseball's Sad Lexicon.

June 11, 1911
 		At Chicago's West Side Grounds, Heinie Zimmerman of the Cubs drives in nine runs to set a team record, tied by Sammy Sosa in 2002. The Windy City infielder hits two home runs, a triple, and two singles in the 20-2 rout of the Braves.
April 4, 1911
 		Hugh Chalmers, an auto manufacturer, introduces and sponsors the Most Valuable Player award. The first winners, selected by a vote of one baseball writer representing each franchise in the league, will be Tigers outfielder Ty Cobb and Cubs pitcher Frank Schulte.


1911 Cubs Outfielder Frank Schulte
American Tobacco Company Card
Library of Congress - Benjamin K. Edwards Collection
May 29, 1911
 		Riding the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Cubs complete their 191-mile journey from Columbus (OH) to their game in Pittsburgh in three hours and thirty-five minutes, setting a land-speed record. The trip will last seventy-five minutes longer than it will take Chicago to beat the Bucs at Forbes Field, 4-1.
July 4, 1911
 		🇨🇺 Armando Marsans and Rafael Almeida become the first Cuban natives to appear in a major league game as they debut for the Reds. Almeida strikes out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning, and Marsans singles in the 8-3 loss to the Cubs at Chicago's West Side Grounds.
October 11, 1911
 		Ty Cobb (Tigers - AL) and Frank Schulte (Cubs - NL) receive cars for being the first-ever Most Valuable Player in their respective leagues. The new honor, known as the Chalmers Award, is sponsored by Chalmers Automotive, a Detroit-based automobile company.
July 8, 1912
 		At Chicago's West Side Grounds, Giants southpaw Rube Marquard's consecutive winning streak is stopped at 19 when the Cubs defeat New York, 7-2. The future Hall of Famer will finish the season with a league-leading 26 victories for the eventual NL champs.
February 19, 1912
 		Cracker Jacks, a sugar-coated popcorn with a mixture of peanuts confection immortalized in the song, Take Me Out to the Ball Game, introduces 'A Prize in Every Box.' In 1914, the manufacturer will begin inserting the first of two company-produced baseball card issues featuring major league players, including those from the short-lived Federal League.

June 13, 1912
 		In the top of the ninth inning with no outs at New York's Polo Grounds, Christy Mathewson strands a runner on third base to record his 300th victory when the Giants edge the Cubs, 3-2. During his 17-year major league career, 'Big Six' will compile a 373-188 record.
December 15, 1912
 		The Cubs trade Joe Tinker with Harry Chapman and Grover Lowdermilk to the Reds for Red Corriden, Bert Humphries, Pete Knisely, Mike Mitchell, and Art Phelan. The former Chicago shortstop, immortalized in 1910 by Franklin Pierce Adams' baseball poem "Tinker to Evers to Chance," will serve as the player-manager for Cincinnati next season.
April 11, 1912
 		Redland Field, the steel and concrete ballpark named to match the team's moniker and hue, debuts with the hometown Reds beating the Cubs, 10-6. In 1934, the Cincinnati ballpark becomes known as Crosley Field, honoring the team owner Powel Crosley.
July 16, 1913
 		In a game against the Cubs, Superbas' second baseman George Cutshaw handles 14 chances without an error. The infielder's defensive prowess helps Brooklyn beat Chicago at Ebbets Field, 4-2.
January 8, 1913
 		Frank Chance, a strong disciplinarian, becomes the manager of a weak Highlander team. The former Cubs' skipper, who compiled a .664 winning percentage during his eight seasons in the Chicago dugout, will finish next to last place (57-94) and compiles a 117-168 record during his two-year stint in New York.


Yankee manager Frank Chance (1913)
Library of Congress - George Grantham Bain Collection
April 29, 1913
 		Wearing White Sox uniforms, the Reds are defeated by the Cubs, 7-2, at Chicago's West Side Park. Cincinnati forgot to pack uniforms and had to don those worn by their opponents' crosstown rivals.
August 18, 1913
 		In the top of the ninth inning at the Baker Bowl, the Cubs stroke nine straight hits, including six singles, two doubles, and a home run, off reliever Erskine Mayer. Chicago's late offensive barrage produces six runs, helping the team coast to an easy 10-4 victory over the Phillies.

(Ed. Note - Many sites erroneously list this game as being played on August 19, with Grover Alexander giving up the big inning. -LP)

September 14, 1913
 		Cubs right-hander Larry Cheney, giving up fourteen hits, earns his 20th victory, blanking the Giants at Chicago's West Side Grounds, 7-0. The contest marks the first time a team collects that many hits without scoring a run.
November 18, 1914
 		The Cubs hire future Hall of Fame catcher Roger Bresnahan to manage the team. The former Cardinal skipper stays for just one year, with Chicago finishing in fourth place with a 73-80 record.
February 13, 1914
 		The Cubs exchange second basemen with the Braves, sending future Hall of Famer Johnny Evers to Boston for Bill Sweeney. Boston's new middle infielder plays a pivotal role in the club's World Championship this season, garnering the Chalmers Award as the league's Most Valuable Player.


Bill Sweeney Baseball Card Portrait (1912)
Library of Congress - American Tobacco Company
June 17, 1915
 		Cubs right-handed reliever George Washington Zabel, called into the game with two outs in the bottom of the first inning, throws 18 and 1/3 innings of the Cubs' 4-3 victory over the Robins at Chicago's West Side Park. 'Zip,' establishing the major league record for the longest relief stint in one game, beats Brooklyn starter Jeff Pfeffer, who tosses a 19-inning complete game.

Cubs' reliever Zip Zabel (1914)
Library of Congress - George Grantham Bain Collection
August 31, 1915
 		In the first game of a doubleheader at the Polo Grounds, Cubs' right-hander Jimmy Lavender no-hits the hometown Giants, 2-0. Next season, the 31-year-old knuckleballer will stymie New York again, tossing a one-hitter, allowing only an infield safety to Benny Kauff.
September 4, 1916
 		Pitching his only game not wearing a Giant uniform, Reds' player-manager Christy Mathewson, beats his long-time nemesis Mordecai' Three Finger' Brown and the Cubs, 10-8. In the 25 contests, the two legends have faced one another, with Matty taking a 13-12 advantage in their final meeting by winning the last decision.
October 4, 1916
 		Reds right-hander Christy Mathewson faces Mordecai Brown of the Cubs in the career finale for each pitcher, marking the first time two future Hall of Famers have made their final appearance in the same game. Both Cooperstown-bound hurlers go the distance in Cincinnati's 10-8 victory at Chicago's Weeghman Park.
April 20, 1916
 		In Chicago, the Cubs play their first game at Weeghman Park, beating the Reds in 11 innings, 7-6. In 1926, the ballpark becomes known as Wrigley Field in honor of William Wrigley, the chewing gum mogul who gained full ownership of the team seven seasons ago.
December 11, 1917
 		The Phillies trade 30-year-old Grover Cleveland Alexander and catcher Bill Killefer to the Cubs for right-hander Mike Prendergast, who compiles a 13-15 record in his one-plus season with Philadelphia, and reserve backstop William Dillhoefer, who bats .091 in the eight games he plays for the team. From 1918 to 1926, 'Old Pete' compiles a 128-83 record in a Cubs uniform en route to a Hall of Fame career, including playing for the Cardinals.


Phillies' right-hander Grover Cleveland Alexander (1917)
Library of Congress - George Grantham Bain Collection
May 2, 1917
 		At Weeghman Park, southpaw Hippo Vaughn of Chicago and Reds righty Fred Toney throw no-hitters against one another through the first nine innings. The deadlock is broken in the top of the tenth with a one-out single by Larry Kopf, an error, and an infield hit by Jim Thorpe, and Toney then sets the Cubs down to preserve his extra-inning gem.
August 29, 1918
 		Cubs southpaw Lefty Tyler tosses a gem, beating the Reds at Wrigley Field, 1-0. The victory clinches the National League pennant for Chicago, ending the season 10.5 games ahead of the second-place Giants.
September 5, 1918
 		At Comiskey Park, Red Sox southpaw Babe Ruth the Red Sox six-hits the Cubs in the World Series's opening game, 1-0. The Fall Classic game, which started earlier than usual due to World War I, is played at the White Sox home field rather than Weeghman Park (renamed Wrigley Field in 1926) due to the larger seating capacity.
September 11, 1918
 		In the earliest conclusion of the Fall Classic, Boston's Carl Mays three-hits the Cubs 2-1, with the Red Sox winning the World Series in six games. Baseball shortened the regular season by a month to meet many major leaguers' obligation to leave their team after being drafted into the military to serve in World War I.
August 14, 1919
 		The Robins and Cubs split a doubleheader, needing only two hours and seventeen minutes to complete the contests. In the opener, the Cubs blank Brooklyn 2-0, in one hour and ten minutes, and their opponents take one hour and seven minutes to blank shut them out in the nightcap, 1-0.
September 2, 1920
 		Warren G. Harding, who will serve as the next president of the United States, throws three pitches for the Kerrigan Tailors, a semi-pro team, in an exhibition game against the Cubs. The contest, in which the Giants, Reds, and Indians declined to participate, was arranged in the presidential candidate's hometown to make him more appealing to the voters.
May 20, 1920
 		The Chicago police, dressed as soldiers and farmers, raid the Wrigley Field bleachers, arresting two dozen Cub fans for gambling. All bets are off when Grover Cleveland Alexander blanks Philadelphia, 6-0.
June 6, 1920
 		The Cardinals play their last game at Robison Field (renamed Cardinal Field in 1917), their home field since 1893, beating the Cubs, 5-2. Owner Sam Breadon agrees to a ten-year lease for $20,000 annually, allowing the team to share the Browns' Sportsman's Park, and the sale of the ballpark providing funds for Branch Rickey's idea of establishing a farm system, starting with an affiliation of a minor league team in Houston.
June 26, 1920
 		Lou Gehrig hits his first home run in a major league ballpark, going deep at Wrigley Field, known as Cubs Park then, in a high school championship game between the NYC School of Commerce and Chicago's Lane Tech. The 17-year-old first baseman, who will return to the 'Friendly Confines' in 1932 to hit two homers for the Yankees in Game 3 of the World Series, blasts a ninth-inning grand slam over the right-field wall, sealing a 12-6 victory for the visitors.
December 20, 1921
 		The Fall Classic changes to a best-of-seven series from a best-of-nine, the format used in 1903 and 1919 through 1921. Baseball Commissioner Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis cast the deciding vote, favoring the American League plan over the National League's desire to keep the existing number of games.
August 25, 1922
 		After leading 25-6, scoring ten second-inning runs and adding another 14 in the fourth, the Cubs need to hold on to defeat Philadelphia 26-23. The slugfest, which sets the major league mark for most tallies scored in one game and the most hits with a combined total of 51, ends with the Phillies leaving the bases loaded in the ninth.
May 30, 1922
 		Chicago outfielder Cliff Heathcote and Redbird right fielder Max Flack exchange their Cardinal and Cub uniforms after being traded for one another between games of a doubleheader. The fly chasers will both get hits for their new teams in the nightcap of the Cubs Park twin bill, in a sweep by the home team, 4-1 and 3-1.
May 7, 1922
 		Walter Mueller becomes the first player to drive in five runs in his major league debut. The 27-year-old rookie outfielder's offensive output, which includes a double and home run, helps the Pirates beat Chicago at Cubs Park, 11-5.
July 18, 1923
 		Phillies' owner William Baker demands the police arrest 11-year-old Robert Cotter for pocketing a foul ball hit into the Baker Bowl bleachers during the Phillies' game against the Cubs. After the young spectator spends the night in a house of detention for larceny, Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge Brown frees him, saying the boy was "following his most natural instincts," leading to the team being the first to allow fans to keep balls hit out of play.
March 7, 1923
 		Kenesaw Mountain Landis turns down the American Legion's request to discontinue major league morning games on Memorial Day. Although disappointed by the decision, the organization awards the baseball commissioner its Distinguished Service Medal in 1929.
June 25, 1924
 		The Pirates, trailing 7-2, scoring five ninth-inning runs, tie the game when left-hander Emil Yde's two-out bases-loaded double off Pete Alexander plates three runs. The Pittsburgh reliever, thrown out at home for the final out of the frame, redeems himself in the 14th inning, tripling in the winning run in the Bucs' 8-7 walk-off win over the Cubs at Forbes Field.
August 1, 1924
 		Dazzy Vance strikes out seven consecutive batters to establish a major league record when the Brooklyn Robins defeat the Cubs at Ebbets Field, 4-0. The future Hall of Famer will compile a 28-6 record for the Brooks this season, leading the National League in strikeouts with 262.
September 20, 1924
 		The 37-year-old righty Grover Cleveland Alexander goes the distance to earn his 300th victory when the Cubs beat the Giants in 12 innings, 7-3. 'Old Pete' will collect 373 wins during his 20-year career with National League teams, including stops in Philadelphia and St. Louis.
April 23, 1924
 		On WMAQ, Hal Totten, a Chicago Daily News reporter, does a play-by-play radio of the 12-1 Cubs' victory over the Cardinals. The broadcast of every Cub and White Sox home game of the season marks the first time a team's games will be heard regularly on the airwaves.
October 4, 1925
 		For the first time in the 50-year history of the franchise, the Cubs end the season in last place. The team, managed by Bill Killefer (33-42), Rabbit Maranville (23-30), and George Gibson (12-14), compiles a 68-86 record and finishes 27.5 games behind the first-place Pirates.
April 14, 1925
 		WGN broadcasts the first fully live regular season baseball game, detailing Grover Alexander and the Cubs' defeat of the Pirates on a chilly Opening Day, 8-2. Quin Ryan is behind the microphone doing play-by-play from a perch on the Wrigley Field roof.
April 18, 1925
 		The Cardinals rout the Cubs, 20-5, in a game that sees Rogers Hornsby score five runs. Redbirds' third baseman Les Bell leads the Wrigley Field 22-hit attack, compiling 12 total bases with a pair of home runs and two doubles.
September 22, 1925
 		Robins starter Burleigh Grimes accounts for seven outs in just three plate appearances in the team's 3-2 loss to Chicago, a 12-inning game played at Cubs Park. The Brooklyn right-hander follows grounding into two double plays by hitting into a 6-4-3-2 triple play.
December 3, 1926
 		In a Chicago Tribune article detailing the team's business side, the Cubs causally reveal Weeghman Park will now be known as Wrigley Field, reflecting the club's ownership by William Wrigley, Junior. The steel-and-concrete ballpark, originally named for the previous owner Charles H. Weeghman, served as the home for the Federal League's Chicago Whales until the Cubs moved to the new venue after the clubs merged under his ownership when the Federal League team folded.
June 22, 1926
 		The Cardinals pick up future Hall of Famer Grover Cleveland Alexander, placed on waivers by the Cubs. The acquisition of 'Old Pete' will prove pivotal to the Redbirds' World Series triumph over the Yankees when the 39-year-old right-hander wins Games 2 and 6 and saves Game 7 of the Fall Classic.
May 30, 1927
 		Cubs' shortstop Jimmy Cooney completes an unassisted triple play as he snares Paul Waner's liner, steps on second to double up Paul's brother, Lloyd, and then tags Clyde Barnhart coming from first for the third out.
May 21, 1927
 		For the second consecutive day, an umpire at Ebbets Field is the target of fan abuse. Arbitrator Frank Wilson needs a police escort after the Robins (Dodgers) drop a twin bill to Cubs.
September 15, 1928
 		The Braves play their ninth consecutive doubleheader, splitting the home twin bill with the Cubs, 5-2 and 1-6. The streak that began on September 4th sees the team drop 14 of 18 decisions, including losing eight consecutive games to the Giants.
September 4, 1928
 		The Braves start a streak of playing nine consecutive doubleheaders, establishing a major league record. Boston will drop 14 of the 18 contests played during the twin bill marathon, successively playing the Dodgers (2-2), Phillies (1-3), the Giants (0-8), and the Cubs (1-1).
November 7, 1928
 		The cash-strapped Braves send player-manager Rogers Hornsby, who will hit .380 along with 39 home runs and 149 RBIs for his new club, to the Cubs in exchange for $200,000 and hurlers Percy Jones, Harry 'Socks' Seibold, Bruce Cunningham, outfielder Fred Maguire, and catcher Lou Legett. Boston owner Emil Fuchs replaces the "Rajah', in the dugout, making him the last person to manage a major league club without professional playing experience until Ted Turner's one-game foray as a skipper, also with the Braves, in 1977.
October 5, 1929
 		On the season's next-to-last day, Reds reliever Rube Ehrhardt wins his first and only start, allowing five hits and issuing one walk when he blanks the first-place Cubs at Redland Field, 9-0. The shutout, which takes 75 minutes to complete, will be the 34-year-old right-hander's final major league appearance.
October 8, 1929
 		In front of 50,000 fans at Wrigley Field, surprise starter Howard Ehmke establishes a new World Series record, striking out 13 Cubs en route to a 3-1 A's victory in Game 1 of the Fall Classic. The mark will last 34 years until Dodger hurler Carl Erskine fans 14 Yankees in 1953.
July 3, 1929
 		The Cubs and the Reds become the first teams to combine in turning nine double plays in a major league contest. Chicago, responsible for five twin killings, beats Cincinnati at Wrigley Field, 7-5.
October 12, 1929
 		The A's, trailing 8-0 during Game 4 of the World Series, erupt for ten runs in the seventh inning off three Cub pitchers en route to a 10-8 victory. Chicago's Hack Wilson becomes one of the game's goats when he loses two balls in the sun in center field.
October 11, 1929
 		The Cubs become the first National League team to win a Fall Classic contest since 1926 when the Redbirds beat New York in Game 7. Chicago breaks the Senior Circuit's ten-game World Series skid in Game 3 with a 3-1 victory over Philadelphia at Shibe Park.
May 6, 1929
 		The American League announces the discontinuation of the league's MVP award. In 1931, the Junior Circuit resumes the honor, naming A's southpaw Lefty Grove (31-4, 2.06) its most valuable player.
July 27, 1930
 		Ken Ash, throwing just one pitch in relief of Larry Benton, is credited with a full inning of work when he induces Charlie Grimm to hit into a triple play in the Reds' 6-5 victory over the Cubs at Redland Field. The 28-year-old West Virginian right-hander, replaced for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the frame, gets the win due to Cincinnati taking the lead for good in that frame.
August 6, 1930
 		Gene Rye hits three homers in one inning, blasting a solo homer, a three-run shot, and a grand slam in the Waco Cubs' 18-run eight-inning eruption in their eventual 20-7 Texas League victory over the visiting Beaumont Exporters at Katy Park. The 24-year-old diminutive southpaw-swinging outfielder, called Half Pint by his teammates, will be signed by the Red Sox, spending the first two months of next season with the team before being released, hitting just .179 in 17 games.
July 6, 1930
 		Bill Veeck Sr.'s popular Ladies' Day promotion at Wrigley Field reaches new heights when more than 30,000 female fans attend the Cubs' doubleheader against Cincinnati. An over-capacity crowd packs the small ballpark with thousands of others, including late-arriving regular paying patrons who cannot gain admission into the North Side venue.

September 27, 1930
 		In a 13-8 victory over the Reds at Wrigley Field, Hack Wilson hits two home runs, establishing a new National League mark for homers. The Cub outfielder's total of 56 for the season will stand until Mark McGwire breaks the record in 1998.
September 28, 1930
 		In a 13-11 season-finale victory over the Reds, Cubs outfielder Hack Wilson drives in his 189th and 190th run to establish a new single-season major league record. The total will be revised to 191 in 1999 after baseball historian Jerome Holtzman finds a missing RBI in a game played in July 1930.
September 25, 1930
 		With four games remaining in the campaign, Cubs skipper Joe McCarthy (442-331) 'resigns' and is replaced by Rogers Hornsby, named by owner William Wrigley Jr. as Chicago's player-manager for next year. McCarthy, who was not offered a contract for the upcoming season with his team still mathematically alive in the pennant race, will agree in October to manage New York, winning seven World Series in his 15 seasons with the Yankees.
November 25, 1930
 		The Sporting News selects Giants' first baseman Bill Terry (.401, 14, 117) as the NL's Most Valuable Player, and Senator shortstop Joe Cronin (.346, 13, 126) receives the American League honor. The Associated Press also names Joe Cronin as its unofficial AL MVP, with the BBWAA choosing Hack Wilson, who gets a $1000 bonus from the Cubs for receiving the award, as its Senior Circuit honor.

(Ed. Note: The BBWAA begins casting official ballots for the league's MVPs next season.- LP)

May 30, 1930
 		Rogers Hornsby receives his MVP award and is given a thousand gold coins by National League president John Heydler at a ceremony at home plate before the Cubs' contest against St. Louis. Ironically, the 'Rajah' will break his ankle while advancing to third base during the Wrigley Field contest and will not play again until the middle of August.
April 12, 1931
 		Former Cubs pilot Joe McCarthy debuts as the Yankee manager, beating Boston at the Bronx ballpark, 6-3. The future Hall of Fame manager, the team's all-time leader in managerial wins with 1460, guides the club to eight pennants and seven World Championships during his 16-year tenure in the Bronx.
July 12, 1931
 		Thanks to an overflow crowd at Sportsman Park, routine fly balls become ground-rule doubles when the ball lands among the fans ringing the outfield walls. After collecting nine two-baggers in the opener, the Cubs and Cardinals combined to hit another twenty-three, including a record 13 by the Redbirds, in the nightcap, setting a major league mark of thirty-two doubles in the twin bill.
February 5, 1931
 		Hack Wilson, who set National League records last season when he drove in 191 runs and hit 56 home runs, a mark since surpassed in 1998 by Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, signs for $35,000. The 31-year-old Cub outfielder's 1930 RBI total remains one of the game's most enduring records.
May 18, 1931
 		Robins' right fielder Babe Herman hits for the cycle for the first of two times this season in the team's 14-4 rout of the Reds at Ebbets Field. In 1933, as a member of the Cubs, the Glendale (CA) native will again collect a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game, joining Bob Meusel as the only major leaguers to have accomplished the rare feat three times since 1900.
September 13, 1932
 		With their 100th victory, the Yankees clinch the AL pennant when George Pipqras beats the Tribe at Cleveland Stadium, 9-3. Yankee skipper Joe McCarthy, who captured a flag with the 1929 Cubs, becomes the first to win pennants in the American and National League.
October 1, 1932
 		In Game 3 of the World Series, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig become the first teammates to hit multiple homers in the same postseason game when their four round-trippers account for six runs in the Yankees' 7-5 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. On the same date, 78 years later, the feat is accomplished again when a pair of Padres, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Will Myers, go deep twice in the second game of the 2020 NL Wild-Card series.
October 1, 1932
 		In the fifth inning of Game 3 of the World Series, baseball lore has Babe Ruth pointing to the outfield, predicting that he will hit a home run on the next pitch before he takes Cubs pitcher Charlie Root deep for the second of his two home runs in New York's 7-5 victory at Wrigley Field. Although no definitive proof exists, the 'Bambino' continued to embellish the account of his 'Called Shot' throughout his lifetime, with the Chicago right-hander who threw the pitch denying the Yankee slugger had ever made the gesture to his dying day.

August 2, 1932
 		Cubs GM Bill Veeck, Sr. announces Charlie Grimm will take over for Rogers Hornsby, who was fired today as the skipper of the second-place club. The popular 'Jolly Cholly,' who inherits the job partly due to his predecessor's indebtedness to his players to cover gambling debts, starts by winning 20 of 25 games as the team's player-manager and will lead the team to the National League pennant this season.
July 6, 1932
 		Violet Valli shoots Cubs shortstop Billy Jurges, her ex-boyfriend, twice at the Hotel Carlos. The 24-year-old infielder will return to the lineup two weeks later, continuing to contribute to the team's pennant-winning season.

(Ed. Note: A week after the shooting, the judge dismissed the case against the showgirl when the Chicago ball player appeared in court, stating that he would not testify and wanted the charges dropped.- LP)

September 20, 1932
 		The Cubs clinch the National League pennant when they beat Pittsburgh, 5-2, thanks to Kiki Cuyler's seventh-inning bases-loaded triple. The Wrigley Field contest features rookie second baseman Billy Herman's 200th hit of the season.
September 12, 1932
 		In the bottom of the ninth, Johnny Frederick hits his major league record-setting sixth pinch-homer of the season, giving the Dodgers a 4-3 victory over the Cubs. The Brooklyn outfielder's major league mark remains for 68 years until another Dodger, Dave Hansen, strokes seven round-trippers coming off the bench in 2000.
October 2, 1932
 		The Yankees win their twelfth consecutive World Series game and sweep the Fall Classic for the third time. The Bronx Bombers collect 19 hits, clubbing the Cubs at Wrigley Field, 13-6.
March 29, 1933
 		After missing half of last season when he broke his leg, Cubs outfielder Kiki Cuyler breaks his other leg and will miss nearly three months. The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer has led the league in stolen bases four times and will finish with 328 career steals.

Kiki Cuyler (1925)
Library of Congress - George Grantham Bain Collection
July 30, 1933
 		Dizzy Dean sets a modern major league record when he strikes out 17 in the Cardinals’ 8-2 victory over the Cubs. Batterymate Jimmie Wilson also sets a new mark by recording 18 putouts in the Sportsman's Park contest.
September 30, 1933
 		At Sportsman's Park in the Cubs' 12-2 rout of the Cardinals, Babe Herman hits for the cycle, becoming the first player in baseball history to do it three times. The Chicago outfielder also accomplished the rare feat twice, playing for the Dodgers in 1931.
August 1, 1933
 		Carl Hubbell's 45.1 consecutive scoreless innings streak ends when Randy Moore strokes a two-run single in the sixth inning of the Giants' 3-1 loss to Boston at the Polo Grounds. By blanking Boston for the first five frames, the future Hall of Fame southpaw surpasses Ed Ruelbach's National League mark of 44 innings established in 1908 with the Cubs.
August 8, 1933
 		William Veeck, president of the Cubs, proposes a series of Midsummer Classic games. Although the idea receives some support, it will be 64 years before a team from the American League plays a club from the National League during the regular season.
March 11, 1933
 		A significant earthquake during an exhibition game in L.A. sends the Cubs and Giants scurrying to second base until the tremors stop. The seismic event, which takes place along the 46-mile-long Newport-Inglewood Fault, is estimated at a magnitude of 6.3.
March 11, 1933
 		Rogers Hornsby returns to the Cardinals as a player after being fired as the Cubs' manager last August. After a six-year absence, the 'Rajah's' return to the Redbirds will be short-lived when he is claimed on waivers in July by the crosstown AL's Browns, who make him the skipper of the last-place club, replacing the recently-resigned Bill Killefer.
August 22, 1933
 		Bill Veeck suggests a mid-summer series of interleague games and proposes a split-season schedule format. Although the Cub president's concept of games between the two circuits received some support, Senator owner Clark Griffith opposed the proposal, calling the American League a major league, not in need of grandiose schemes he deemed as "Hippodrome stuff."
June 8, 1934
 		The Reds become the first team to travel in an airplane when Cincinnati GM Larry MacPhail flies 19 players to Chicago for a series against the Cubs. In 1946, New York will be the first team to fly regularly, using a chartered Douglas DC-4 that will become known as the 'Yankee Mainliner.'
July 17, 1934
 		Cubs right-hander Lon Warneke, with his team ahead of New York, 3-1, loads the bases in the seventh inning with an intentional pass to face opposing pitcher Roy Parmalee. The strategy backfires when the hurler hits a grand slam, a drive that barely clears the right-field wall, proving to be the difference in the Giants' 5-3 victory in the opener of a twin bill at the Polo Grounds.
January 10, 1934
 		The late Bill Veeck Sr., a former sportswriter who won three pennants (1918, 1929, and 1932) during his reign in Chicago's front office, is replaced by William Walker as the Cubs' president. The 56-year-old baseball executive, whose son will become a Hall of Fame major league owner, died of leukemia during the World Series last season.
November 22, 1934
 		The Cubs trade Guy Bush, Jim Weaver, and Babe Herman to the Pirates for Larry French and Freddie Lindstrom.
July 2, 1934
 		At Wrigley Field, with two out in the bottom of the seventh inning, veteran ump Bill Klem's delayed call of the infield fly rule leads to the Cardinals, trailing by four runs, successfully protesting their game against the Cubs with the Redbirds. The contest resumes from the point-of-the-protest, on July 31, with St. Louis losing 7-1.
April 17, 1934
 		On Opening Day at the newly-named Crosley Field, Reds' announcer Red Barber calls his first play-by-play for a major league team. The 26-year-old future Hall of Fame broadcaster had never attended a major league game before today's 6-0 loss to the Cubs.
March 25, 1935
 		The Cubs sell 32-year-old right-hander Pat Malone to the Yankees. The former 20-game winner (1929, 1930) will go 12-4 in 1936 but will post only a 19-13 record in his three-year tenure with the Bronx Bombers.
October 7, 1935
 		In the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 6, the Tigers win their first World Series in franchise history when Goose Goslin singles home Mickey Cochrane to give the team a dramatic 4-3 walk-off victory over the Cubs. Tommy Bridges goes the distance, giving up 12 hits, to win the Navin Field.
September 27, 1935
 		The Cubs clinch their 14th National League pennant when the team beats the second-place Cardinals in the first game of a doubleheader sweep at Sportsman's Park, 6-2. The victory marks Chicago’s 20th consecutive win, a streak extended to the National League record of 21 with a 5-3 triumph in the nightcap.
August 21, 1935
 		At Braves Field, Cardinals' first baseman Ripper Collins does not make a putout during the team's 13-3 nine-inning loss in Boston. The St. Louis infielder, who will also not make a putout playing first for the Cubs in a game against Brooklyn in 1937, is the only player who accomplished the rare feat twice in the major leagues.
September 19, 1935
 		The Cubs win their 16th consecutive game as they beat Carl Hubbell, completing a four-game sweep of the Giants. The mark is the most since the 1924 Dodgers won 15 straight games.
September 29, 1935
 		Augie Galan, who makes a league-leading 748 plate appearances while playing the full 154-game schedule, ends the season without hitting into a double play. The Cubs center fielder did line into an eleventh-inning triple play in the team's 3-2 loss to the Reds in April at Wrigley Field.
April 14, 1936
 		At Sportsman's Park, Eddie Morgan, appearing as a pinch-hitter in the Cardinals' 12-7 loss to the Cubs, hits a home run in his first major league first at-bat. During his brief stint with St. Louis and Brooklyn, the 21-year-old rookie's round-tripper will be his lone career homer.
June 25, 1937
 		Augie Galan becomes the first National Leaguer to hit a homer from each side of the plate. The switch-hitter's pair of round-trippers, a homer from the left side off Freddie Fitzsimmons in the fourth frame and from the right side in the eighth against Ralph Birkofer, helps the Cubs beat Brooklyn at Wrigley Field, 11-2.
June 29, 1937
 		In a 10-2 loss to Brooklyn, Chicago's first baseman Ripper Collins does not make a putout during the nine-inning game. Although this is just the third occurrence of the rare feat, it is the second time for the Cubs infielder, who also didn't make a putout playing first for the Cardinals in a game against the Braves two seasons ago.
July 5, 1937
 		Frank Demaree goes 6-for-7 (three doubles and three singles) in the first game of a doubleheader, helping the Cubs edge the Cardinals, 13-12, in 14 innings. The Californian adds two more singles in Chicago's 9-7 victory in the Wrigley Field nightcap.
September 17, 1938
 		In the top of the seventh inning of the Cubs' 4-0 victory over New York at the Polo Grounds, Ripper Collins hits his last career home run, finishing with 135 round-trippers during his nine-year tenure in the major leagues. The Chicago first baseman remains the all-time switch-hitter home run leader for 18 years until Yankee slugger Mickey Mantle surpasses his total in 1956.
February 3, 1938

The University of Illinois suspends Lou Boudreau for taking illegal payments from the Indians. The 19-year-old hoopster goes on to have a 15-year Hall of Fame baseball career in the big leagues as a player-manager for Cleveland and the Red Sox, and, as a broadcaster, he will be traded to the Cubs by radio station WGN to become the team's skipper.

September 28, 1938
 		With darkness descending at Wrigley Field, Gabby Hartnett homers in the ninth with two outs on an 0-2 pitch thrown by Mace Brown, giving the Cubs' a 6-5 walkout victory over the Pirates. The catcher's 'Homer in the Gloamin', giving the team its ninth consecutive win, proves significant in their quest for the National League pennant.
October 9, 1938
 		Sweeping the Cubs in four games, the Bronx Bombers become the first team in major league history to win three consecutive World Series. Red Ruffing goes the distance, beating Chicago, 8-3, at Yankee Stadium.
April 16, 1938
 		The Cardinals deal a declining Dizzy Dean to Chicago for RHP Curt Davis, LHP Clyde Shoun, outfielder Tuck Stainback, and $185,000. During his four years in the Windy City, the future Hall of Fame right-hander will compile a 16-8 record for the Cubs.
June 12, 1939
 		The Baseball Hall of Fame, with much of its funding provided by the Singer Sewing Machine Company, is dedicated in Cooperstown, a site selected due to an erroneous report that claimed Abner Doubleday had invented the game in the small town. The players chosen from the first four Hall of Fame induction elections become the first members enshrined.

May 1, 1939
 		At Comiskey Park, the White Sox defeat the Cubs and Dizzy Dean, 4-1, in an exhibition game to benefit Monty Stratton. The former pitcher, who lost his leg in an off-season hunting accident, tries to pitch in the game and receives a new car and nearly $30,000 from the contest receipts.
July 3, 1939
 		Cardinal first baseman Johnny Mize accumulates 13 total bases, hitting two home runs, a triple, and a double. The 'Big Cat's' offensive output contributes to the Redbirds' 5-3 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
August 6, 1939
 		The West wins the first of two Negro League East-West All-Star Games this season, defeating the East 4-2 behind a strong outing by Ted 'Doubleduty' Radcliffe in the Comiskey Park. The estimated crowd of 40,000 is more than double the 18,198 fans at Wrigley Field, watching the Cubs lose to the Bees, 9-8.
August 14, 1939
 		In an evening event that attracts over 30,000 Windy City patrons to Comiskey Park, the White Sox beat the Browns, 5-2, in the first major league night game ever played in Chicago. Their crosstown rivals will take another 49 years before play under lights when the Cubs finally install illumination in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field under the threat of not being able to play postseason contests in their home ballpark.
June 13, 1940
 		In the inaugural Hall of Fame game, the Red Sox beat the Cubs at Doubleday Field, 10-9. Future Hall of Famer Ted Williams hits two home runs during the six-inning rain-shortened exhibition.
October 2, 1940
 		The Sullivans become the first father and son to have played in a World Series when Billy Jr. is the Tigers' backstop in Game 1 of the Fall Classic at Crosley Field. The Detroit catcher's dad, Bill Sr., appeared in the postseason in 1906, playing the same position for the White Sox when he went 0-for-21 in the Hitless Wonders' six-game triumph over the Cubs.
April 26, 1941
 		Wrigley Field becomes the first ballpark to employ an organ to entertain fans when Roy Nelson provides the fans with a pregame serenade of classic and soulful tunes before Chicago drops a 6-2 decision to Max Lanier and the Cardinals. The organ, removed after the Cubs' homestand, will not return permanently to the 'Friendly Confines' until 1967.
December 8, 1941
 		Following yesterday's attack on Pearl Harbor, Cubs' owner Phillip K. Wrigley donates 165 tons of steel, slotted to be used for the proposed light standards at Wrigley Field, to the war effort. After President Franklin Roosevelt requested more major league night baseball games, the team looked into the possibility of using wooden poles and second-hand equipment to illuminate the Northside ballpark, but the War Production Board rejected the plan on three occasions.
September 27, 1942
 		On the last day of the regular season, the Cardinals clinch the National League pennant as sore-armed hurler Ernie White throws a five-hit complete-game, beating the Cubs in the first game of a twin bill, 9-2. The Redbirds also win the nightcap to finish the season with 11 victories in their final 12 games.
February 12, 1942
 		The White Sox and Cubs issue a 150-word joint statement that eliminates the Northside team's possibility of renting Comiskey Park as a venue for National League night games next season. The Chicago rivals agree it is in the city's best interest to retain the north-south boundary that demarcates the fans' loyalty to the two Windy City clubs.
January 4, 1942
 		With 78% of the vote, Rogers Hornsby becomes the 14th player elected to the Hall of Fame. Former Cubs' first baseman Frank Chance (58%) and southpaw Rube Waddell (54%) are not chosen by the writers this year, but the Old Timers Committee will select both in 1946.
September 11, 1942
 		Paul Gillespie homers in his first major league at-bat, hitting a solo shot off Harry Feldman in the second inning of the Cubs' 4-3 loss to New York at the Polo Grounds. The Chicago reserve catcher will become the first of only two players in baseball history, along with John Miller (1966-1969), to a hit home run in their first and last big-league at-bats when he blasts a round-tripper in his final plate appearance in 1945.
April 15, 1942
 		At Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, Hiram 'Hi' Bithorn becomes the first Puerto Rican to play major league baseball. The Cubs' right-hander from Santurce makes a relief appearance, allowing no runs or hits during his two innings of work in Chicago's 4-2 loss to the Redbirds.
May 13, 1942
 		Braves' pitcher Jim Tobin, en route to a 6-5 victory over the Cubs, becomes the first modern-day hurler to hit three home runs in one game, equalling the feat of Guy Hecker, who hit three inside-the-park round-trippers playing for Louisville in 1886. 'Ironsides,' who pinch-hit a homer in the eighth inning of yesterday's contest, would have hit five consecutive blasts if his first-inning fly ball against the fence had gone out.
September 16, 1942
 		The Phillies, bowing to the Cubs in the nightcap of a twin bill, 4-1, become the first major league team to have five consecutive 100-loss seasons. From 1938 to the end of this season, the team will compile a 227-532 (.299) record under three different managers.
January 27, 1943
 		The Reds trade pitcher Paul Derringer to the Cubs for cash. The 36-year-old right-hander, known as Oom Paul due to his 6-foot-3 height and 205+ pound frame, will post a 33-38 (.465) record with an ERA of 3.71 during his three-year tenure with Chicago, but in his final season, the right-hander goes 16-11, helping the team clinch the National League pennant.
June 25, 1943
 		With the first pitch thrown at 6 p.m., the Cubs right-hander Hi Bithorn shuts out the Cardinals, 6-0, in a twilight game at Wrigley Field. Under current baseball interpretations, the two-hour, 17-minute contest, played on one of the longest daylight days of the year, would be considered a night game, but no lights are needed (good thing because there aren't any).
March 18, 1943
 		Spring training camps began opening in northern locations due to wartime travel restrictions. Some of the locales include Bear Mountain, NY (Dodgers); French Lick Springs, IN (Cubs and White Sox); Asbury Park, NJ (Yankees); Medford, MA (Red Sox); and Wallingford, CT (Braves).
July 11, 1944
 		At Pittsburgh's Forbes Field, Phil Cavaretta sets an All-Star Game record by reaching base five consecutive times. The 27-year-old Cub first baseman's triple, single, and three walks helped the National League beat the Junior Circuit, 7-1.
July 23, 1944
 		In the eighth inning of the second game of a doubleheader, Giants manager Mel Ott orders pitcher Andy Hansen to issue an intentional walk with the bases loaded to Bill Nicholson. The free pass to Swish, who has hit four home runs in the twin bill, doesn't work when the Cubs score three runs to tie the game.
July 3, 1945
 		At Braves Field in Boston, the Cubs tally the most runs in their post-1900 history when they blast the Braves, 24-2. Phil Cavarretta, Don Johnson, and Stan Hack each score five times, tying a major league mark.
October 6, 1945
 		To promote his nearby Billy Goat Tavern, William Sianis buys a ticket to Game 4 of the Fall Classic ticket for his pet goat, Murphy. The bar owner, a Greek immigrant, becomes so upset when the Wrigley Field ushers ask his four-legged guest to leave he places a curse on the team, preventing the Cubs from winning a World Series again.
July 12, 1945
 		Tommy Holmes goes 0-for-4 in the Braves' 6-1 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field to end his consecutive-game hitting streak at 37, which sets a modern National League record. The mark will stand for 33 years until Pete Rose surpasses it in 1978 en route to establishing a new standard of 44, remaining a game shy of the record set by Willie Keeler's 45-game streak over the 1896 and 1897 seasons with the NL's Baltimore Orioles.
September 29, 1945
 		Paul Gillespie becomes the first of only two players, joined by John Miller in 1966, to hit a home run in their first and last big-league at-bats. The wartime Cubs reserve catcher went deep against the Giants at the Polo Grounds on September 11, 1942, and ends his career with a two-run round-tripper off Pirate right-hander Rip Swell in the team's 5-0 victory at Forbes Fields.
September 15, 1946
 		In Brooklyn, a giant swarm of gnats engulfs Ebbets Field at the end of the fifth inning during the second game of a doubleheader. Due to the bothersome insects and impending darkness, the umpires call the nightcap, resulting in a 2-0 Dodger victory over the Cubs.
April 20, 1946
 		The Cubs are shut out by Cardinal southpaw Harry Brecheen in their home opener at Wrigley Field, 2-0. The game is the first in the club's history to be televised, with 'Whispering' Joe Wilson doing the play-by-play on Chicago's WBKB.
May 2, 1946
 		Boston GM Eddie Collins announces the club will install lights at Fenway Park before the 1947 season. The Red Sox will be the 14th club out of 16 major league teams to play night games in their home park, leaving Wrigley Field (Cubs) and Briggs Stadium (Tigers) in the dark.
June 23, 1946
 		At the Polo Grounds, Eddie Waitkus and Marv Rickert hit back-to-back inside-the-park home runs in the fourth inning. However, the Cubs still lose to the Giants, 15-10.
April 15, 1947
 		In his National League debut, Hank Greenberg has the lone RBI in the Pirates' 1-0 win when his sixth-inning double off Cubs right-hander Hank Borowy plates Billy Cox from second base in the Forbes Field contest. Pittsburgh bought the slugging first baseman from the Tigers in the off-season for $75,000.
September 22, 1947
 		On an off day, the Dodgers clinch the National League pennant when the Cubs beat the Cardinals in the nightcap of twin bill's nightcap. Although it is past midnight when the good news about their beloved team reaches the borough, Brooklynites begin to gather on Flatbush for an impromptu celebration.
December 14, 1948
 		The Phillies have a busy day when they purchase Ken Trinkle from the Giants and trade pitchers Walter Dubiel and Dutch Leonard to the Cubs for first baseman Eddie Waitkus and pitcher Hank Borowy. Ruth Ann Steinhagen, a female fan obsessed with former Cub corner infielder, is distraught by the trade and will try to kill him when he returns to Chicago with his new team.
July 18, 1948
 		After the first two Cubs get on base in the bottom of the ninth inning at Wrigley Field, Phillies 21-year-old rookie right-hander Robin Roberts appears to pitch out of trouble by getting the next two batters out. However, the future Hall of Famer plunks the next two batters, Phil Cavarretta and Andy Pafko, with a pitch, giving Chicago a 3-2 walk-off victory.
April 16, 1948
 		The future superstation WGN-TV televises a baseball game for the first time. With Jack Brickhouse doing the play-by-play, the White Sox beat the Cubs 4-1 in the first game of the Windy City Classic played at Wrigley Field.
September 6, 1948
 		After 2,592 plate appearances, Emil Verban hits his first and only major league home run, establishing the mark for the longest homerless streak to start a career. The Cubs' second baseman hits the historic home run off Johnny Vander Meer in the seventh inning of the team's 3-1 loss to Chicago at Crosley Field.
August 4, 1948
 		Ernie Harwell, filling in for Red Barber, recovering from a bleeding ulcer, calls his first major league game as the Dodgers beat the Cubs at Ebbets Field, 5-4. To obtain the future Hall of Fame broadcaster, Brooklyn general manager Branch Rickey trades minor league catcher Cliff Dapper to the Atlanta Crackers.
September 8, 1949
 		Red Schoendienst steals the team’s last stolen base of the season when he takes second base in the Cardinals’ 8-0 victory over the Cubs at Sportsman's Park. The Redbird third baseman will lead the club with eight pilfered bags, accounting for more than half of the all-time National League low of 17 the entire club will swipe this season.
June 12, 1949
 		After piloting the team for 13 seasons, Charlie Grimm ends his tenure as the Cubs manager by splitting a doubleheader with the Braves. The 19,802 fans in Braves Field give the skipper, who will stay in the organization as Boston's vice-president, a long-standing ovation when he takes his position in the third-base coaching box for the last time.
April 19, 1949
 		Pirates right-hander Rip Sewell establishes a National League record when he throws his third Opening Day shutout, blanking the Cubs, 1-0, at Wrigley Field. Rick Mahler (Braves, 1982, 1985,1987) and Chris Short (Phillies, 1965, 1968, 1970) will match the record of the 42-year-old veteran hurler, who also threw zeros to start the 1943 and 1947 seasons.
June 15, 1949
 		Shortly after 1 a.m., Ruth Ann Steinhagen shoots Eddie Waitkus in the chest with a rifle at Chicago's Edgewater Beach Hotel after luring him to her room with an urgent note delivered by the bellhop. The obsessed fan, who had become infatuated with the first baseman when he played in Chicago, apparently became agitated because the Cubs traded the All-Star infielder to the Phillies.
August 19, 1949
 		The Phillies host 'Eddie Waitkus Night' at Shibe Park and shower their injured first baseman with gifts. In uniform for the first time since June, the All-Star infielder had been shot in the chest at Chicago's Edgewater Beach Hotel by Ruth Ann Steinhagen, an obsessed fan upset with his trade from the Cubs to Philadelphia.
July 6, 1949
 		Walker Cooper goes 6-for-7, helping the Reds rout the Cubs at Crosley Field, 23-4. The 34-year-old Cincinnati catcher, acquired in a trade with the Giants last month, collects three home runs and three singles, scores five runs, and drives in ten runs.
July 27, 1950
 		Del Ennis drives in seven runs with a seventh-inning bases-loaded double and a grand slam in the next frame. The 25-year-old right fielder's late-inning power surge helps the Phillies rout the Cubs at Shibe Park, 13-3.
June 25, 1950
 		Hank Sauer enjoys a 4-for-4 day at the plate, stroking two home runs and two doubles. The 33-year-old All-Star outfielder's 12 total bases help the Cubs defeat Philadelphia at Shibe Park, 11-8.
January 6, 1950
 		Uncomfortable with front office duties, Charlie Grimm leaves the Cubs as a vice president to manage the Dallas Eagles. 'Jolly Cholly,' who led the team to National League pennants in 1932, 1935, and 1945, signs for a record salary of $90,000 to be the skipper of the Texas League team.
December 14, 1950
 		The owners choose Lou Perini (Braves), Phil Wrigley (Cubs), Del Webb (Yankees), and Ellis Ryan (Indians) to select a new commissioner as soon as possible. Three days ago, the group did not renew Happy Chandler's contract to serve a second term as baseball's leader in a close vote, 9-7.
May 14, 1950
 		Johnny Hopp helps the Pirates crush the Cubs, 16-9, when he goes 6-for-6, including a pair of homers, in the nightcap of a doubleheader sweep at Wrigley Field. The 33-year-old All-Star first baseman is called 'Hippity' by his teammates.
February 16, 1950
 		The BBWAA does not select any players for the Hall of Fame this season, with former Giants Mel Ott (69%) and Bill Terry (63%) as the top vote-getters. 'Master Mel' gets the nod next season, and 'Memphis Bill' enters in 1954 after both get named 75% of the writers' ballots required for induction.
July 26, 1951
 		In a 9-1 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Jim Russell becomes the first player in major league history to hit a home run from both sides of the plate in two different games. Mickey Mantle surpasses the Dodger outfielder's accomplishment in 1956 when he goes deep right and left-handed in the same game for the third time.
November 18, 1951
 		PCL's Los Angeles Angels infielder and future star of TV's The Rifleman, Chuck Connors, citing he wants to stay in California, becomes the first player to refuse to participate in the major league draft. The former Cub first baseman's desire not to leave the Pacific Coast League allows the minor leagues to ask for more money for big-league talent.
June 15, 1951
 		The Cubs trade Andy Pfako along with Johnny Schmitz, Wayne Terwilliger, and Rube Walker to the Dodgers for Bruce Edwards, Joe Hatten, Eddie Miksis, and Gene Hermanski. The deal, which prevents the coveted 'Handy Andy' from going to the rival Giants, is the first of many to be made by Buzzy Bavasi, Brooklyn's new general manager.
September 21, 1951
 		In his major league debut, Cardinals hurler Jack Collum throws a two-hit shutout against the Cubs at Sportsman's Park, 6-0. The 24-year-old rookie southpaw, who developed a natural screwball due to losing part of his index finger in a farm accident, will post a 32-28 record during his nine-year tenure with six big-league teams.
April 17, 1951
 		Before the Cubs' home opener, Sam Snead tees off from home plate, sending a golf ball soaring over the 89-foot Wrigley Field scoreboard in center field. 'Slammin' Sammy' won three Masters, three PGA Championships, and one British Open during his nearly 40 years as a professional golfer.
July 10, 1951
 		In the second All-Star Game played in Detroit, the National League beat their AL rivals at Briggs Stadium, 8-3. Although their team's circuit loses, the 52,075 Motor City fans witness home runs hit by hometown favorites George Kell and Vic Wertz.
June 29, 1952
 		Trailing 8-2 with two outs and none on in the top of the ninth inning, the Cubs stage an incredible comeback, beating the Reds at Crosley Field, 9-8. Chicago puts nine consecutive runners on base thanks to five hits, two walks, an HBP, and an error to take the lead by scoring seven runs in the final frame.
June 14, 1952
 		Warren Spahn goes the distance in the Braves' 3-1 loss to the visiting Cubs, whiffing 18 batters in 15 innings. The Boston southpaw, who homers for the team's lone run, becomes the sixth pitcher to compile 18 or more strikeouts in a game but the first hurler who needed extra frames to accomplish the feat.
June 11, 1952
 		At Wrigley Field, 35-year-old Hank Sauer, the NL's eventual MVP, hits three solo shots off Phillies southpaw Curt Simmons. The Cubs All-Star outfielder's trio of round-trippers accounts for all of Chicago's offense when the team beats the visiting Phillies, 3-2.
June 19, 1952
 		Carl Erskine throws a no-hitter against the Cubs in the Dodgers' 5-0 victory at Ebbets Field. A third-inning walk to the opposing pitcher, which accounts for the only runner to reach base, may have resulted from skipper Chuck Dressen telling the 25-year-old right-hander to speed up his pitches due to an impending storm.
October 2, 1952
 		Carl Erskine strikes out 14 Yankees in Game 3 to establish a new World Series mark. The Dodger hurler's performance bests the record of A's Howard Ehmke, who struck out 13 Cubs in Game 1 of the 1929 Fall Classic.
June 4, 1953
 		As part of a ten-player swap, the Pirates deal Ralph Kiner, Joe Garagiola, George Metkovich, and Howie Pollet to the Cubs for Bob Addis, Toby Atwell, George Freese, Gene Hermanski, Bob Schultz, Preston Ward, and $150,000. Frank Thomas, who will hit 30 home runs and collect 102 RBIs to establish new rookie records for the Bucs, replaces Kiner, a perennial All-Star outfielder.
September 17, 1953
 		Ernie Banks becomes the first black player to appear in a Cubs game. The former Kansas City Monarch infielder, who makes an error and is hitless in three at-bats, will hit 512 home runs and win the MVP award twice during his 19-year Hall of Fame career.
September 20, 1953
 		Gene Baker, the other half of the Kansas City Monarchs double-play duo along with Ernie Banks, joins his former Negro League teammate, making his major league debut with the Cubs as a pinch-hitter against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. In 1961, Pittsburgh names the former Chicago second baseman the Class D Batavia Pirates (NY) skipper, making him the first black manager in organized baseball.
September 8, 1954

"It's not a record, but being traded four times when there are only eight teams in the league tells you something. I thought I was modeling uniforms for the National League." - JOE GARAGIOLA, JOE GARAGIOLA, former major leaguer and television personality, reflecting on his nine-year baseball career.

The pennant-bound Giants select catcher Joe Garagiola, known more for his glove than his bat, off waivers from the second-division Cubs. The 28-year-old backstop plays only five games for New York before retiring at the end of the season, becoming a baseball broadcaster and colorful television personality that includes stints on The Today Show, Saturday Game of the Week for NBC, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

April 13, 1954
 		On Opening Day at Busch Stadium, Wally Moon hits a home run off Paul Milner in his first major league at-bat in the Cardinals' 13-4 loss to the Cubs. The 24-year-old Redbird center fielder, the eventual National League's Rookie of the Year, also homers in the last at-bat of his freshman season.
March 29, 1954
 		The Cubs fire skipper Phil Cavarretta after telling reporters the team had little chance to finish in the first division. The 36-year-old player-manager, who compiled a 169-213 (.442) record during his three years at the helm, is the first to lose a managerial position during spring training.
November 28, 1955
 		Monte Irvin's tenure with the Giants ends when the former Negro League standout is claimed in the Rule V draft by the Cubs. The future Hall of Fame outfielder will retire after playing one season in Chicago, finishing his brief eight-year major league career with a .293 batting average.
May 11, 1955
 		At Wrigley Field, with the help of an Ernie Banks first-inning grand slam off Russ Meyer, Chicago snaps Brooklyn's 11-game winning streak, 10-8. The bases-filled homer will be Mr. Cub's first of five this season.
May 12, 1955
 		After Sam 'Toothpick' Jones walks the bases full in the bottom of the ninth, the Cubs right-hander whiffs Dick Groat, Roberto Clemente, and Frank Thomas to preserve his 4-0 no-hitter against the Pirates. Unfortunately, only 2,918 fans are on hand at Wrigley Field to witness the first no-hitter ever thrown by a black player and the ninth rookie to throw a hitless game.
September 19, 1955
 		In a 6-5 Cubs' extra-inning loss to the Cardinals, Ernie Banks hits his fifth grand slam of the season to establish a new major league mark, previously shared with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, among the others who also connected four times with bases full. The Chicago infielder hits his historic four-run homer off 19-year-old flamethrower Lindy McDaniel, making his first major league start after receiving a $50,000 bonus.
August 4, 1955
 		Ernie Banks hits three home runs in a game for the first of four times in his career when the Cubs outslug the Pirates, 11-10 at Wrigley Field. The Chicago first baseman accomplishes the feat off three different Buc hurlers, going deep off Lino Donoso in the first, connecting in the fourth off Max Surkont, and adding a two-run blast in the eighth off Dick Littlefield to give the team the lead for good.
April 20, 1955
 		🇵🇦 Humberto Robinson, a native of Colon, becomes the first player from Panama to appear in a major league game when he comes out of the Braves' bullpen in a 9-5 victory over the Cubs. The 24-year-old right-handed reliever earns a save, striking out Hank Sauer, the only batter he faces in the Wrigley Field contest.
January 24, 1955
 		Cubs business manager Jim Gallagher, chairman of the nine-man rules committee, announces the two leagues will implement an existing rule during spring training that requires a hurler to throw the ball when the bases are empty within 20 seconds after taking a pitching position. The mandate, which results in the umpire calling a ball when the tosses are tardy, will not be in effect during the season.
September 2, 1955
 		In the second inning of the Cubs' 12-2 rout of St. Louis at Wrigley Field, Ernie Banks sets the record for home runs hit by a shortstop when he hits a two-run, two-out shot off Redbird southpaw Paul LaPalme for his 40th round-tripper. 'Mr. Cub' will extend the mark to 44 homers this season and boosts the total to 48 in 1958.
July 21, 1956
 		In a 13-6 defeat to the Cubs, Dodgers' shortstop Pee Wee Reese becomes one of five active players to collect 2000 hits, and teammate Junior Gilliam sets a major league record by handling 12 assists at second base.
May 12, 1956
 		At Ebbets Field, Carl Erskine tosses his second career no-hitter when he holds the crosstown rival Giants hitless in the Dodgers' 3-0 victory. The 29-year-old right-handed 'Oisk' also threw a no-no against the Cubs in 1952.
May 29, 1956
 		Gus Bell connects for three consecutive home runs, helping the Reds beat the Cubs, 10-4. The Cincinnati center fielder collects 14 total bases, going 5-for-5 while collecting seven RBIs in the Wrigley Field contest.
November 14, 1956
 		The Pirates threaten to move the franchise from Pittsburgh unless the city builds a new municipal stadium to replace the 47-year-old Forbes Field. The second division club attracted 949,878 fans, outdrawing the Phillies, Cubs, and Giants for the fifth-best total of the eight National League teams.

(Ed. Note: The Bucs will continue to play at their home ballpark for another 14 years until the team begins playing at Three Rivers Stadium in 1970.- LP)

July 13, 1956
 		At Wrigley Field, Ernie Banks plays in his 394th consecutive contest to tie Al Simmons' mark for straight games played after breaking in as a rookie. Mr. Cub's single drives in the decisive run in the Cubs' 7-6 victory over Pittsburgh.
May 2, 1956
 		During a game where 48 players see action, Chicago's third baseman Don Hoak strikes out a record six times against six different New York pitchers. The Giants outlast the Cubs in the 17-inning Wrigley Field marathon, 6-5.
July 25, 1956
 		Roberto Clemente becomes the first player to hit an inside-the-park walk-off grand slam when he connects off Cubs right-hander Jim Brosnan, giving the Pirates a dramatic 9-8 victory. Last season, the Pittsburgh right fielder's first-ever career round-tripper, the first of nine IPHRs he hits during his 18 years with the Bucs, accomplishing the feat seven times at spacious Forbes Field.
September 3, 1957
 		Braves left-hander Warren Spahn, with his 8-0 whitewashing of the Cubs at Wrigley Field sets a National League mark for shutouts thrown by a southpaw. The future Hall of Famer has held his opponents scoreless 41 times, breaking the record previously shared by Eppa Rixey and Larry French.
April 24, 1957
 		Three Cubs pitchers walk nine players in the fifth inning of a 9-5 loss to the Reds at Crosley Field. Moe Drabowsky starts the frame with four walks, Jackie Collum adds three free passes, and Jim Brosnan issues two bases on balls to set a new National League record.
September 2, 1957
 		At Wrigley Field, the Braves sweep the Cubs, 23-10 and 4-0. In the opener, Frank Torre crosses the plate in the first, second, third, fourth, sixth, and ninth innings, tying a major league record by scoring six times in one game.
June 11, 1957
 		The Dodgers' Roy Campanella surpasses former Cub and Giant backstop Gabby Hartnett to establish a new National League mark when he hits his 237th career round-tripper as a catcher. Campy's historic home run comes off Ray Crone in the seventh inning of Brooklyn's 7-2 loss to the Braves at Ebbets Field.
August 1, 1957
 		Gil Hodges, in a 12-3 win over the Cubs, hits his 13th and last career grand slam in Brooklyn Dodger history. The first baseman's bases-loaded shot off Dick Littlefield establishes a new National League record, previously shared by Rogers Hornsby and Ralph Kiner.
May 26, 1957
 		Cubs rookie Dick Drott establishes a franchise record when he strikes out 15 batters en route to a complete-game victory over Milwaukee at Wrigley Field. The 20-year-old right-hander's mark, accomplished in his seventh major league start, will be matched by Burt Hooton (1971) and Rick Sutcliffe (1984) and will remain the standard for a nine-inning game until Kerry Wood's 20-K performance in 1998.
May 1, 1957
 		The Cubs trade Gene Baker and Dee Fondy to the Pirates for Dale Long and Lee Walls, who will combine to hit 45 home runs for their new team. Fondy will hit .313 for the Bucs, but in December, Pittsburgh trades the first baseman to the Reds for Ted Kluszewski.
May 24, 1957
 		In his first big-league at-bat, Frank Ernaga hits a third-inning home run to deep left field off future Hall of Fame southpaw Warren Spahn in Chicago's 5-1 victory over Milwaukee. The rookie right fielder follows his Wrigley Field round-tripper with a three-bagger in the next frame to become the first Cubs player to have hit a home run and a triple in his major league debut.
February 3, 1957
 		At a New York BBWAA meeting, Walter O'Malley passes a note to Cubs owner Phil Wrigley, who controls LA's territorial rights, offering Brooklyn's Texas League team in Fort Worth in return for the Cubs' Los Angeles PCL minor league franchise. The swap of farm teams will be announced on February 21st, clearing the Dodgers' path to move to the West Coast.
June 2, 1957
 		Moe Drabowsky sets a National League record for the most hit batters in a single game when he plunks four Reds in the Cubs' 4-3 loss at Crosley Field. Cincinnati's right fielder Frank Robinson is drilled in consecutive innings by the right-hander, born in Ozanna, Poland.
June 6, 1957
 		After an 86-minute delay, the first fog out in major league history occurs at Ebbets Field when the umpires call off the Dodgers' game against the Cubs due to extremely poor visibility. The postponement occurs with Brooklyn having a 1-0 lead with one out in the bottom of the second inning.
January 30, 1958
 		Commissioner Ford Frick announces the fans will no longer vote in selecting participants for the All-Star Game, with teams now chosen by major league players and coaches. The change prevents the stuffing of the ballot box, as happened when fans, spurred on by ballots published daily in the Cincinnati Times-Star, local broadcast media, and Burger Beer supplying ballots to taverns, elected eight Reds to start last season's Midsummer Classic.

(Ed. Note: The commissioner replaced the Reds' fan selections of Wally Post and Gus Bell in the NL lineup with Willie Mays and Hank Aaron. -LP)

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May 20, 1958
 		The Cardinals trade Alvin Dark to the Cubs in exchange for hurler Jim Brosnan. Both players will be productive on their new teams during the remainder of the season, with 'Blackie' hitting .297 in 114 games for Chicago, and the newest Redbird right-hander will compile an 8-4 record for St. Louis.
May 13, 1958
 		As a pinch-hitter, Stan Musial collects his 3000th hit in the sixth inning off Moe Drabowsky in the Cardinals' 5-3 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. 'The Man,' the youngest player to reach the milestone, is the eighth major leaguer to accomplish the feat.
July 1, 1958
 		At Wrigley Field, Cubs relievers trick San Francisco's outfielder Leon Wagner into looking under the bullpen bench for Tony Taylor's ball, which is in play, instead of a rain gutter 45 feet away from where the ball landed. In the meantime, the batter scurries around the bases for an inside-the-park home run when the rookie cannot find the ball.
November 25, 1958
 		The BBWAA selects Ernie Banks as the National League's Most Valuable Player, the first of two consecutive MVP awards the Cub shortstop will win. The 27-year-old former Negro League standout, who batted .314 and hit 47 home runs, easily outdistanced Giant outfielder Willie Mays for the honor.
April 24, 1958
 		At the Los Angeles Coliseum, 26-year-old right-hander Gene Fodge, who gives up ten hits in his complete-game performance, picks up his only major league victory when the Cubs beat the Dodgers, 15-2. Outfielder Lee Walls carries the day with three homers and eight RBIs.
November 4, 1959
 		Ernie Banks (.304, 45, 143) becomes the first National Leaguer to win consecutive MVP awards. 'Mr. Cub,' playing for a fifth-place team, garners 10 of the writers' 21 first-place votes, with Eddie Mathews (5) and Hank Aaron (2) of the Braves and Dodger Wally Moon (4) found on top of the remaining ballots.
September 12, 1959
 		En route to a 21-15 season with the Giants, 33-year-old Toothpick Sam Jones throws a four-hitter against Philadelphia to become the second black major leaguer to win twenty games. In 1955, the right-hander from Ohio lost twenty games pitching for the Cubs.
December 6, 1959
 		The Reds trade Frank Thomas to the Cubs for reliever Bill Henry. The deal, which includes Lou Jackson and Lee Walls coming to Cincinnati, gives the team a southpaw out of the bullpen who will save 17 games in the upcoming season.
April 21, 1959
 		At Wrigley Field, Stan Musial breaks up Glen Hobbie's no-hitter with a two-out seventh-inning double. The 23-year-old right-hander settles for a one-hitter, going the distance in the Cubs' 1-0 victory over the Cardinals.
January 16, 1960
 		The Cubs trade Alvin Dark, along with John Buzhardt and Jim Woods, to the Phillies in exchange for Richie Ashburn. After a slow start in Philadelphia, the team deals the 'Swamp Fox' to the Braves, where he hits .298 for Milwaukee before retiring as a player at the end of the season to become the skipper for the Giants, the team he served as captain during their 1951 and 1954 World Championship campaigns.
August 27, 1960
 		Ernie Banks knocks in his 100th run of the season when he grounds out in the first inning of the Cubs' 5-4 victory over Philadelphia at Wrigley Field. The Chicago infielder, finishing the season with 117 RBIs, will be the last National League shortstop to reach the milestone until 1985, when Hubie Brooks accomplishes the feat with the Expos.
June 26, 1960
 		With the help of Ron Santo, making his major league debut, the Cubs sweep a doubleheader from first-place Pittsburgh, 7-5 and 7-6. The rookie third baseman, who will be elected into the Hall of Fame posthumously by the Veterans Committee in 2012, goes 3-for-7, driving in five runs during the twin bill at Forbes Field.
January 11, 1960
 		The Phillies send fan-favorite Richie Ashburn, the National League's top hitter in 1958, to the Cubs in exchange for infielders Alvin Dark and Jim Woods, along with right-hander John Buzhardt. 'Whitey,' a future Hall of Famer, will play center field and hit .291 batting leadoff for Chicago this season.
June 21, 1960
 		Richie Ashburn plays his first game in Philadelphia since being traded to the Cubs in the offseason. 'Whitey,' a fan favorite during his dozen years with the Phillies, strikes out looking to start his 1-for-6 day in an extra-inning loss at Shibe Park.
May 15, 1960
 		After being traded from the Phillies, Don Cardwell no-hits the Cardinals in his Cub debut. Thanks to three outstanding defensive catches, including Walt Moryn's game-ending grab, the Winston-Salem, NC native becomes the first pitcher to keep the opponents hitless in a first start after being traded.
December 21, 1960
 		Cub owner P.K. Wrigley announces the club will not have a manager next season but will use a college of coaches instead. The 'faculty' of head coaches for the upcoming campaign will include El Tappe, Charlie Grimm, Goldie Holt, Bobby Adams, Harry Craft, Rube Walker, Ripper Collins, and Vedie Himsl.
September 13, 1960
 		In the top of the fifth inning at Crosley Field, Danny Murphy hits a two-out, three-run home run in an 8-6 loss to the Reds. The 18-year-old right-fielder becomes the youngest Cubs player ever to homer.
December 23, 1960
 		Former first baseman Ripper Collins, who played with the Cardinals' Gashouse Gang, joins the Cubs' college of coaches, a group of interim skippers that will manage the team for part of the season. The original 'faculty' will include El Tappe, Goldie Holt, Bobby Adams, Harry Craft, Rube Walker, Vedie Himsl, and Charlie Grimm.
July 26, 1960
 		The Phillies end their scoreless streak of thirty-eight consecutive innings when Johnny Callison plates Tony Gonzalez with a sixth-inning single in the team's 4-3 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Philadelphia's drought began when the team failed to score in the last six frames of a 3-0 win against the Giants at Candlestick Park and continued being shut out in three straight games (2-0, 2-0, and 9-0) by the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
December 8, 1961
 		The Mets purchase outfielder Richie Ashburn from the Cubs. The veteran outfielder, the club's first-ever representative on the National League's All-Star team, will be given a boat after being named the Most Valuable Player of the last-place team, which unfortunately will sink before he uses it.
July 18, 1961
 		In consecutive doubleheaders played at Busch Stadium, Cardinal first baseman Bill White ties Ty Cobb's 49-year-old record by collecting 14 hits in four games when he goes 3-for-4 in both ends in today's sweep over the Cubs. Ironically, the future NL president started the streak on the day the Georgia Peach died, going 8-for-10 in yesterday's twin bill and against Chicago.

(Ed. Note: Entry inspired by a question asked by J. Stevens. LP)
September 1, 1961
 		In his first major league at-bat, Cuno Barragan hits his only big-league home run, taking Dick LeMay deep over the left-field fence at Wrigley Field in the second inning of the Cubs' 4-3 loss to San Francisco. The 29-year-old catcher will play in 69 games for Chicago over three seasons.
August 11, 1961
 		In front of packed County Stadium in Milwaukee, Warren Spahn scatters six hits to beat the Cubs, 2-1, for his 300th victory. *The 40-year-old Braves' southpaw, who finishes his career with 363 wins, the most of any left-hander in the game's history, is the thirteenth major league hurler to reach the milestone.
July 11, 1961
 		On a windy day at Candlestick Park, the NL beats the American League, 5-4, in the first two All-Star Games. The contest features a record seven errors and the memorable sight of a 165-pound pitcher Stu Miller balking after being blown off the mound by a gust of wind, an exaggerated fact perpetrated over the years, according to the right-hander.
September 26, 1961
 		With an 8-3 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field, the Reds clinch their first National League pennant since 1940. Cincinnati will lose the World Series to the Yankees, four games to 1.
March 11, 1961
 		At Palm Springs, former president Dwight Eisenhower is a no-show at the Angels' first-ever exhibition game, an 8-3 victory over the Cubs. Ike had been scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch but decided to go fishing instead.
January 12, 1961
 		The Cubs name Charlie Grimm and Rube Walker to the team's college of coaches, which calls for a different coach to manage the team during each month of the season. The Cubs will finish with a 64-90 record, a slight improvement over the previous year; however, the team will post the worst mark (59-103) in franchise history next season, finishing in ninth place, six games behind the new Houston club in the expanded National League.
August 14, 1961
 		The Phillies drop their seventeenth consecutive game, a 9-2 defeat to the Cubs' Dick Ellsworth, and, for the eleventh straight time, the opposing pitcher throws a complete game against the team. The last-place club, extending their losing skein to 23 contests, finishing with a 47-107 record, 46 games behind the league-leading Reds.
September 24, 1961
 		En route to hitting more than twenty homers in the next 12 seasons, Billy Williams blasts his 25th home run in the team's 4-2 victory over the Braves at County Stadium, setting a Cubs' rookie record. The eventual NL Rookie of the Year's mark will last until 2015, when another ROY, Kris Bryant, goes deep 26 times.
September 22, 1961
 		In the Orioles' 8-5 victory over the White Sox at Comiskey Park, Jim Gentile hits his fifth grand slam of the year to tie the major league record established in 1955 by Cubs shortstop Ernie Banks. Each of the first baseman's four-run homers has come with Chuck Estrada pitching for Baltimore.
November 30, 1961
 		The BBWAA selects Billy Williams (.278, 25, 86) as the National League's Rookie of the Year. The writers name the Cubs' outfielder on ten of the 16 ballots cast by the writers, with the runners-up, Braves catcher Joe Torre (5) and southpaw teammate Jack Curtis (1), receiving the remaining votes.
September 20, 1961
 		In a 13-inning contest, Sandy Koufax goes the distance, beating the Cubs, 3-2, in the last regular-season game played at the LA Memorial Coliseum, a venue originally built for the 1932 Olympics. The Dodgers are leaving the only home they have known since moving from Brooklyn four seasons ago to play in a brand new stadium in Chavez Ravine, located a few miles from downtown Los Angeles.
March 25, 1962
 		The Cubs, who haven't had a manager since 1960, tap Elvin Tappe to be the team's first head coach of the campaign after he posted a 42–54 record last year, the best by far of the four who led the club as members of Chicago's college of coaches. When he gets off to a 4–16 start as the skipper, the 35-year-old veteran returns to the bench, playing 26 games as a backup catcher for the ninth-place team.
June 17, 1962
 		In a play indicative of the struggling Mets, first baseman Marv Throneberry's apparent first-inning triple becomes an out on an appeal play for missing second base in an 8-7 loss to the Cubs at the Polo Grounds. According to legend, when New York manager Casey Stengel questions the call, he is told by an umpire, "Don't bother arguing, Casey, he missed first base, too."
May 29, 1962
 		Buck O'Neil, previously a scout with the Cubs, becomes the first black coach in major-league baseball. The future Hall of Famer is not assigned in-game base coaching duties and does not participate in Chicago's College of Coaches system, a revolving managerial position.
May 20, 1962
 		Ken Hubbs collects eight singles in eight trips to the plate during the Cubs' doubleheader sweep of the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium. The BBWAA will select Chicago's second baseman as the National League's Rookie of the Year.
June 17, 1962
 		Gene Woodling, purchased from the Senators for a reported $45,000, substantially more than the $20,000 waiver fee, becomes the first major leaguer to play for the Yankees and the Mets. In his National League debut, the 39-year-old outfielder goes 2-for-4, scoring two runs for the new expansion team in an 8-7 loss to the Cubs at the Polo Grounds.
November 11, 1962
 		His major league peers select second baseman Ken Hubbs as the Gold Glove recipient for his position. The 21-year-old Cubs infielder is the first rookie to be honored with the prestigious fielding award.
September 30, 1962
 		The Mets finish their inaugural season with 120 losses, a 20th-century record when the team drops a 5-1 decision to the Cubs at Wrigley Field. In his last career at-bat, New York catcher Joe Pignatano hits into an eighth-inning triple play with Richie Ashburn and Sammy Drake aboard, with the base runners also appearing in their last major league game.
May 30, 1962
 		The Mets complete their first-ever triple play when shortstop Elio Chacon snags Willie Davis's liner and flips the ball to Charlie Neal to double off Maury Wills at second, with the third out coming on a ball thrown to Gil Hodges to catch Jim Gilliam off first base. New York will be the victim of the only other triple killing this season when Joe Pignatano, in his final major league at-bat, pops out to Cubs second baseman Ken Hubbs, who starts a 4-3-6 play in the eighth in the season finale played a Wrigley Field.
September 28, 1962
 		In front of only 595 fans at Wrigley Field, the Cubs (58-101) beat the Mets (39-118) in the first meeting in major league history between two 100-loss teams before the start of the series. The New York expansion team will split the remaining two games, finishing the season 40-120 to establish the record for the most losses in baseball's modern era.
July 23, 1962
 		The first telecast of a major league via satellite includes a portion of the Cubs' 4-3 victory over the Phillies from Wrigley Field. Chicago broadcaster Jack Brickhouse provides the play-by-play of the Telstar Communications transmission.
July 13, 1962
 		Rookie right-hander Cal Koonce one-hits the Reds, yielding only a fourth-inning single to Don Blasingame in the Cubs' 1-0 victory at Wrigley Field. The hit by the Cincinnati second baseman marks the first of four times, one shy of the major league record shared by Cesar Tovar and Eddie Milner, that he will collect his team's only hit in a game.
April 10, 1962
 		At Houston's Colt Stadium, thanks to a pair of three-run home runs by Roman Mejias, the Colt .45s defeat the Cubs in their first-ever major league game, 11-2. Former Yankee hurler Bobby Shantz gets the win for the new franchise on owner Judge Hofheinz's 50th birthday.
April 24, 1962
 		Dodger southpaw Sandy Koufax ties his major league record, which he shares with Bob Feller when he strikes out 18 batters in a nine-inning contest during the team's 10-2 rout of the Cubs at Wrigley Field. In 1938, nineteen-year-old right-hander Bob Feller established the record, whiffing 18 batters in the Indians' 4-1 loss to the Tigers at Cleveland Stadium.
July 28, 1963
 		Dick Ellsworth strikes out Cardinals' left fielder Stan Musial three times in the Cubs' 5-1 victory at Wrigley Field. It will be the only time 'Stan the Man' is whiffed three times in a game during his 22-year career, a span of 3,026 contests.
August 31, 1963
 		With two outs in the bottom of the ninth at Wrigley Field, Ellis Burton hits an ultimate grand slam (a walk-off bases-loaded homer when a team is down three runs) off Houston hurler Hal Woodeshick, giving the Cubs a dramatic 6-5 victory. Chicago had been trailing 5-2 before the switch-hitting center fielder hit his Sayonara Slam, the most memorable of his 17 career round-trippers.
September 10, 1963
 		In the first inning of an 8-0 rout of the Cubs at Sportsman's Park, Cardinals left fielder Stan Musial becomes the first grandfather in big league history to hit a home run. The 42-year-old new grandpa accomplishes the feat in his first at-bat since his grandson's birth earlier in the day.
August 9, 1963
 		One loss shy of tying the major league record of 19 consecutive defeats, Roger Craig switches his uniform number to 13 to change his luck. The change of works when Jim Hickman lofts a short fly ball in the ninth inning with two outs and the bases-full in a tie game that barely ticks the upper-deck overhang in left field at the Polo Grounds for a walk-off grand slam, giving the Mets an improbable 7-3 victory over the Cubs.
September 3, 1963
 		Ron Santo ties the National League record by a third baseman for errors committed in an inning. The Cub infielder's three miscues in the second frame lead to a seven-run outburst and an eventual 16-3 victory for the Giants at Candlestick Park.
February 20, 1963
 		The Cubs officially end their radical approach of using multiple field bosses when the team hires Bob Kennedy as their only manager. With the "College of Coaches" system disbanded, the club will post an 82-80 record under their lone skipper.
June 11, 1963
 		After the Cubs intentionally walked Brock Davis to load the bases, Colt .45s third baseman Bob Aspromonte blasts a tenth-inning walk-off grand slam off Lindy McDaniel, lifting the team to a 6-2 victory over the Cubs. Chicago had tied the Colt Stadium contest in the top of the ninth on a triple by Dick Bertell, a walk to Bob's brother Ken, and Don Landrum's RBI single.
August 9, 1963
 		Lindy McDaniel becomes the second pitcher in major league history to give up a pair of game-ending grand slams in the same season when Mets pinch-hitter Jim Hickman goes deep to give the Mets a dramatic 7-3 victory over the Cubs at the Polo Grounds. The Chicago right-hander, who also allowed Houston's Bob Aspromonte to end a game with a base full walk-off round-tripper in June, joins Satchel Paige (1952) in accomplishing the infamous deed.
September 21, 1963
 		When first base umpire Doug Harvey tosses skipper Danny Murtaugh and coach Frank Oceak, Gene Baker takes over the club's reins in the final two innings, becoming the first black to manage a major league team. The former Kansas City Monarchs, Chicago Cubs, and Pirates infielder's historic moment is spoiled when Willie Davis hits a three-run walk-off home run, giving the Dodgers a 5-3 victory over the Bucs in the Chavez Ravine contest.
July 14, 1964
 		The Cubs overcome making five errors in the top of the third inning and beat the Mets, 4-2. The Chicago miscues, including shortstop Andre Rodgers and catcher Dick Bertell committing two each and first baseman Ernie Banks contributing to the total by dropping a pop fly, account for all of New York's scoring at Wrigley Field.
May 26, 1964
 		In front of a meager crowd of 2,503 fans at Wrigley Field, the visiting Mets set a franchise record for runs scored, routing the Cubs, 19-1. New York's 25-year-old first baseman Dick Smith, batting leadoff, becomes the first player in franchise history to get five hits in a game, nearly twenty percent of his season total of 21, when he collects a double, a triple, and three singles.
June 15, 1964
 		In a six-player transaction, Chicago deals unknown outfielder Lou Brock, who will become a fixture with the Redbirds for the next fifteen years, amassing 3,023 career hits, to St. Louis for right-hander Ernie Broglio. The trade, believed to be a steal for the Cubs, will become infamous when the former 20-game winner pitches poorly for his new team, posting a 7-19 record during his brief two-and-half seasons with the team, and the 24-year-old they gave up enjoys a Hall of Fame career.
June 16, 1964
 		In a 7-1 victory over the Astros, Cardinal third baseman Ken Boyer hits for the cycle. In the same game, Lou Brock, recently obtained from the Cubs for Ernie Broglio, makes his debut in a St. Louis uniform with two hits, including a triple, and the fleet outfielder also steals a base.
February 13, 1964
 		At the age of twenty-two, Cubs' second baseman Ken Hubbs dies when the red and white Cessna 172 plane he is piloting crashes one quarter-mile south of Bird Island in Utah Lake during a winter storm. The 1962 National League Rookie of the Year took flying lessons for the past two off-seasons to overcome his fear of flying, obtaining his license last month.
September 15, 1964
 		At Wrigley Field, Larry Jackson fires a six-hitter, beating the Reds, 6-1, to become the season's first 20-game winner. The 33-year-old right-handed workhorse will finish the campaign with a 24-11 record for the eighth-place Cubs.
October 25, 1965
 		The Cubs end their college of coaches experiment by hiring Leo Durocher, who signs a three-year deal and is given complete authority on the field. The Lip's assessment that Chicago is "not an eighth-place ball club" will prove to be correct when his team finishes tenth next season.
March 19, 1965
 		During spring training, Jack Quinlan, best known for doing play-by-play for the Cubs on WIND (1955-56) and WGN (1957–64), dies in an auto accident after leaving a golf outing. The popular 38-year-old broadcaster's partners included Lou Boudreau and Charlie Grimm.

September 9, 1965

"And there's 29,000 people in the ballpark and a million butterflies." - VIN SCULLY, setting the stage in the ninth inning of Sandy Koufax's gem.

At Dodger Stadium, Sandy Koufax throws a perfect game against the Cubs, the southpaw's record fourth no-hitter, beating Bob Hendley's one-hit effort, 1-0. In the fifth inning, the Chicago left-hander gives up an unearned run, yielding the game's only hit in the seventh-inning double to Lou Johnson on a ball that barely rolls to outfield grass.

September 23, 1965
 		In an 11-5 complete-game victory at Wrigley Field, Jim Bunning breaks the Phillies' season record for strikeouts when Cubs shortstop Jimmy Stewart becomes his 242nd victim. The right-hander, who finishes the campaign fanning 268 batters, surpasses the mark established in 1915 by Pete Alexander.
December 2, 1965
 		The Cubs trade pitcher Lindy McDaniel and outfielder Don Land-rum to the Giants for catcher Randy Hundley and pitcher Bill Hands. Chicago's new acquisitions will play a major role in rebuilding the 'lovable losers' into contenders later in the decade.
November 26, 1965
 		Dodgers second baseman Jim Lefebvre is selected as the National League Rookie of the Year, receiving 13 of 20 first-place votes to easily outdistance runners-up Astro second baseman Joe Morgan (4) and Giants reliever Frank Linzy (3). Frenchy hit a team-leading 12 home runs (tied with Lou Johnson) and led the league with 14 game-winning hits (tied with Cubs outfielder Billy Williams) for the eventual World Champs.
August 19, 1965
 		At Wrigley Field, Reds' hurler Jim Maloney no-hits the Cubs, 1-0, with the only run scoring on a Leo Cardenas homer in the tenth inning. The Fresno native had also no-hit the Mets for ten innings earlier in the season but lost the game in the eleventh when Johnny Lewis homered.
September 2, 1965
 		Cubs' first baseman Ernie Banks hits his 400th career home run, a three-run round-tripper off Cardinal hurler Curt Simmons in the third inning, helping Chicago defeat St. Louis at Wrigley Field, 5-3. Mr. Cub will finish his 19-year career with 512 home runs, including 277 home runs stroked as a shortstop, the record at the time of his retirement.
May 1, 1965
 		After a 6-4 victory in the first game of the Astrodome twin bill, Dave Giusti and the Astros beat the Cubs again in the nightcap of a day-night doubleheader, 6-1, to extend the first-place team's winning streak to double digits. The ten consecutive victories will remain a club record until 1999.
December 7, 1966
 		The Cubs trade Dick Ellsworth to the Phillies for right-hander Ray Culp and cash. During his eight-year tenure in Chicago, the southpaw authored a 22-win (1963) and 22-loss (1966) season while compiling 84 victories, the most by a Northside hurler during the decade.
July 5, 1966
 		Three seasons after trading future Hall of Famer Lou Brock to the Cardinals for Ernie Broglio, the Cubs send the beleaguered right-hander to their PCL farm team in Tacoma (WA), never returning to the major leagues. During his dismal tenure with Chicago, the former 20-game winner compiled a woeful 7-19 record and an ERA of 5.40.
July 12, 1966
 		The National League All-Stars edge the AL, 2-1, in a game played at the newly-built Busch Stadium when hometown favorite Tim McCarver scores the winning run on Dodger shortstop Maury Wills's tenth-inning walk-off single, with Giants hurler Gaylord Perry getting the victory by tossing a scoreless ninth and tenth inning. The 105-degree weather and the 113 degrees on the playing surface cause nearly 150 people to need treatment for heat exhaustion.
July 13, 1966
 		After being released by Houston earlier in the month, 39-year-old Robin Roberts signs as a free agent with the Cubs. The right-hander will finish the season 2-3 for his new team, ending his 19-year Hall of Fame career with 286 victories.
May 29, 1966
 		For the second consecutive day, Ron Santo delivers a walk-off home run in extra-innings against Atlanta when his 10th-inning blast gives the Cubs a 3-2 victory at Wrigley Field. Yesterday, the third baseman ended the game with a three-run, 12th-inning homer, beating the Braves, 8-5.
May 31, 1966
 		Ron Santo establishes a National League record when he appears in his 364th consecutive game at third base. The Cubs infielder's streak, which started on April 19, 1964, will end at 390 contests after Jack Fisher fractures his cheek with a pitch.
June 26, 1966
 		Ron Santo is struck in the face by a pitch thrown by Mets' starter Jack Fisher. The Cubs third baseman's fractured cheek ends his record consecutive games at the hot corner at 390, but his 27-game hitting streak, one shy of the franchise mark, stays intact with a first-inning single.
July 4, 1966
 		Ron Santo sets a franchise record in his first game after being sidelined for a week with a fractured cheekbone, hitting in his 28th consecutive game. The streak will end when the Cubs' third baseman is held hitless in the nightcap of the twin bill against Pittsburgh.
August 26, 1966
 		After seeing a caricature of himself on the scoreboard, an angry Leo Durocher calls the Astrodome's press box to have it removed. When nothing happens, the enraged Cubs manager rips the phone from the dugout wall and tosses it onto the infield.
July 30, 1966
 		In the franchise's fifth season, the Mets experience their first winning month when they beat Chicago at Shea Stadium, 6-3. The Amazins will finish July with another victory tomorrow with an 18-14 record en route to finishing the campaign 29 games below .500.

(Ed. Note: For the first time in their existence, the Mets are not last-place, team, finishing ninth 7½ games in front of the Cubs. - LP)

August 29, 1966
 		Getting the Cubs' 4-2 win in relief, Robin Roberts becomes the first and only pitcher to beat the Boston, Milwaukee, and Atlanta Braves. On Independence Day in 1948, the future Hall of Famer went the distance to notch his third big league victory, beating the Boston Braves at Shibe Park in his rookie year with the Phillies.
September 25, 1966
 		The Mets, for the first time in the franchise's five-year history, will not end their season in last place. The Amazins, who will finish ahead of the Cubs, clinch ninth place by beating Cincinnati at Crosley Field, 8-4.

April 21, 1966
 		The Phillies obtain Larry Jackson and Bob Buhl from the Cubs in exchange for future Hall of Fame hurler Ferguson Jenkins, outfielder Adolfo Phillips, and first baseman/outfielder John Herrnstein. The right-handers will collectively post a 47-53 record for Philadelphia as Chicago's new moundsman will win twenty or more games for six consecutive seasons starting in 1967.
June 1, 1966
 		Ron Santo, who will establish a modern-day Cubs mark by hitting in 28 consecutive games, goes hitless the day after the streak begins, but his run at the record stays intact. The Cubs' infielder receives four walks and is hit by a pitch in his five plate appearances, keeping his one-game streak alive in the team's 4-3 loss to Philadelphia at Connie Mack Stadium.
September 21, 1966
 		The smallest crowd in the 46-year-old history of Chicago's Wrigley Field watches the Cubs beat Cincinnati, 9-3. The 530 fans in attendance for the Wednesday afternoon contest see Billy Williams and Adolfo Phillips go deep in a game that takes only two hours and twenty-four minutes to complete.
July 4, 1967
 		Opposing his younger brother, Joe, Phil Niekro goes the distance, getting the victory when the Braves beat the Cubs at Atlanta Stadium, 8-3. Joining Jesse and Virgil Barnes, who opposed one another five times as starters in the 1920s, the Niekros become the second pair of siblings to start in the same major league game.
July 2, 1967
 		After the Cubs' 4-1 victory over the Reds, many of the 40,464 patrons stay at Wrigley Field, awaiting the outcome of the Cards/Mets game, hoping for a New York victory, putting the Cubs in first place by half of a game. The enthusiastic fans refuse to leave the 'Friendly Confines' until the flags above the scoreboard reflect the home team's current position at the top of the standings, a task usually accomplished the next day.
July 3, 1967
 		Billy Williams, Ron Santo, and Randy Hundley all homer for the Cubs in the first, and Rico Carty and Felipe Alou also go deep for the Braves in the same inning in Chicago's 12-6 victory at Atlanta Stadium. The five round-trippers at the 'Launching Pad' tie a major league record for home runs hit by two teams in the same inning, but the barrage marks the first time the feat occurs in the opening frame.
September 27, 1967
 		Ferguson Jenkins posts the first of his six 20-game win seasons when the Cubs beat the Reds at Crosley Field, 4-1. The Canadian right-hander will lead the American League with 25 victories after Chicago deals the future Hall of Famer to the Rangers in 1974.
September 10, 1967
 		At Candlestick Park, Giants right-hander Gaylord Perry's 40-inning team record consecutive scoreless streak ends when the Cubs score an unearned run in the seventh inning of a 2-1 victory over Fergie Jenkins and the Cubs. The future Hall of Famer will match his franchise mark with another string of scoreless innings in 1970.
August 3, 1967
 		The Braves set a club mark by hitting seven home runs in a 10-3 victory over the Cubs, thanks to Tito Francona, Joe Torre (2), Clete Boyer (2), Denis Menke, and Hank Aaron all contributing to the record. Atlanta's round-trippers come during the first five frames of the Wrigley Field contest, and all are solo shots, except for Boyer's two-run blast in the third inning.
April 20, 1967
 		Tom Seaver, a right-hander the Mets obtained in a lottery drawing that included the Braves, Phillies, and Indians, gets his first major-league win when the team beat the Cubs, 6-1. The 22-year-old rookie, who will become known as the 'Franchise,' goes 7.2 innings, giving up eight hits and one run in the Shea Stadium contest.
September 11, 1968
 		Tying a dubious major league record, Cubs right-hander Ferguson Jenkins loses his fifth 1-0 decision of the season when the Mets and Jim McAndrew beat Chicago with a lone run at Wrigley Field. The Canadian-born hurler will finish the season with a 20-15 record but is 20-6 in games where his team scores a run.
October 10, 1968
 		In the fifth inning of Game 7 of the World Series, Dal Maxvill pops out to first base, becoming the first major leaguer to go 0-for-22 in the Fall Classic. The Cardinal shortstop surpasses the single series infamous mark previously shared by Gil Hodges (1952 - Dodgers), Red Murray (1911 - Giants), Billy Sullivan (1906 - White Sox), and Jimmy Sheckard (1906 - Cubs).
July 11, 1968
 		After whiffing in the first inning, Bill Hands grounds out in his next at-bat, ending his major league record-setting streak for consecutive strikeouts. The Cubs' right-hander, who goes the distance, blanking New York at Shea Stadium, 2-0, sets the dubious mark when he strikes out in fourteen straight plate appearances.
July 10, 1968
 		The American League and National League agree on next year's expansion and playoff format. Each league will divide its twelve teams into two six-team divisions, playing a best-of-five game league championship series to determine the pennant winner.
January 28, 1968
 		Former Senator and Tiger outfielder Goose Goslin, a career .316 hitter, and Kiki Cuyler, a .321 career hitter who won four stolen base crowns while running the bases for the Pirates and Cubs, are elected into the Hall of Fame by a unanimous vote of the Veterans Committee. Goslin believed his interview shared in Lawrence Ritter's 1966 book, The Glory of Their Times: The Story Of The Early Days Of Baseball Told By The Men Who Played It, paved the way for his enshrinement into Cooperstown.
May 12, 1968
 		The Mets play their 1000th game in franchise history, losing to Chicago at Wrigley Field in the first game of a doubleheader, 4-3. The Amazins compiled a 332-664 record with four contests ending in a tie but will start their next 1000 matchups with a resounding 10-0 rout of the Cubs in the nightcap.
June 20, 1968
 		In a pitching duel between future Hall of Famers, Bob Gibson beats Ferguson Jenkins and the Cubs, 1-0, thanks to Curt Flood's third-inning single plating Lou Brock, who tripled to right field with two outs. The two-hour and five-minute Busch Stadium contest is the fourth straight loss for Chicago without scoring a run, including three by 1-0 scores.


Baseball-Reference.com
July 24, 1968
 		Chicago reliever Hoyt Wilhelm breaks Cy Young's record when he makes his 907th career appearance, pitching a third of an inning in which he gives up a run on two hits to be on the short side of the team's 3-2 loss to Oakland. The 45-year-old knuckleballer, who will retire in 1972 after pitching in 1,070 games, will finish his 21-year major league career with a 143-122 (.540) won-loss record and 228 saves, hurling for the Giants, Cardinals, Indians, Orioles, White Sox, Angels, Braves, Cubs, and Dodgers.
May 22, 1968
 		At Wrigley Field, Pirates' slugger Willie Stargell hits three home runs and barely misses a fourth in a 13-6 rout over the Cubs. 'Pops' also hit a single and a double that bounced off the left-field fence railing back onto the playing field.
April 13, 1969
 		After the Cubs, scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth, rally to beat the Expos, 7-6, twenty-seven-thousand fans spontaneously swarm Wrigley Field in an early-season frenzy. The fans' reaction marks the first animated display of affection for the team since 1960 when Don Cardwell threw his no-hitter on Chicago's north side.
June 11, 1969
 		The Cubs trade Adolfo Phillips and right-hander Jack Lamabe to the Expos for Paul Popovich, acquired today by Montreal, along with Ron Fairly from the Dodgers in exchange for Maury Wills and Manny Mota. Chicago's latest infielder, a solid switch-hitting utility player, will play a prominent role for his new team, filling in for injured second baseman Glenn Beckert and batting .312 overall in 60 games.
May 28, 1969
 		The day after becoming a father, Randy Hundley hits a grand slam and a double, driving in five runs in the Cubs' 9-8 victory over the Giants at Candlestick Park. The Chicago backstop's eight-pound, four-ounce baby boy named Todd will follow in his footsteps, becoming a major league catcher, receiving for the Mets, Dodgers, and Cubs.
July 9, 1969
 		Tom Seaver's near-perfect game, immortalized as "The Imperfect Game," is broken up when Cubs rookie outfielder Jim Qualls, a lifetime .223 hitter, singles into center field. The 24-year-old right-hander, who tosses five one-hitters for the Mets, will finally get his no-no in 1978 against St. Louis, pitching for the Reds.

May 13, 1969
 		With his daughter Jan and her classmates in attendance at chilly Wrigley Field, first baseman Ernie Banks drives in seven runs with two three-run homers and a double in the Cubs' 19-0 rout of San Diego. Following the consecutive no-run performances by Ferguson Jenkins and Ken Holtzman, Dick Selma adds another, making it the first time in 60 years that the team has shut out its opponents in three consecutive games.
July 14, 1969
 		At Wrigley Field, Bill Hands and the Cubs edge Tom Seaver and the Mets, 1-0. After the game's last out, Ron Santo jumps up and clicks his heels for the first time, a move the third baseman will repeat each time Chicago wins for the rest of his career.

June 29, 1969
 		Billy Williams plays in his 896th consecutive game to surpass Stan Musial's mark established in 1957, when the Cubs sweep a doubleheader from the Cardinals 3-1 and 12-1, with the Chicago outfielder going 4-5 with a single, a double, and two triples in the nightcap. The team honors the accomplishment with an emotional ceremony between games of the twin bill on 'Billy Williams Day' before a crowd of 41,060 at Wrigley Field that visibly moves Sweet Swingin' Billy from Whistler, Alabama.
July 8, 1969
 		At Shea Stadium, Cubs' centerfielder Don Young is criticized by teammate Ron Santo for his two misplays, helping the Mets score three ninth-inning runs in a 4-3 walk-off loss that cuts Chicago's division lead to four games over the surging New York team. The emotional third baseman, soundly booed by the hometown fans in his first game back at Wrigley Field, will apologize for his remarks tomorrow.
May 7, 1969
 		Willie Davis, furious with the Wrigley Field Bleacher Bums because of their continual verbal abuse of him, tells his Dodgers teammates that he wants to hit a home run in the middle of the group, accomplishing the feat in the sixth inning to tie the score. The LA center fielder exacts a bit more revenge on the heckling horde when his 12th-inning two-run round-tripper proves to be the difference in the 4-2 defeat of the Cubs.
August 25, 1969
 		The Cubs trade Joe Niekro, Gary Ross, and Francisco Libran for right-hander Dick Selma. The 22-year-old never became a favorite of Chicago skipper Leo Durocher due to his insistence on throwing a knuckleball, the signature pitch that results in 221 career victories.
August 13, 1969
 		After being swept in a three-game series by Houston at the Astrodome, the eventual World Champion Mets fall ten games behind the front-running Cubs in the first-ever NL East race. The third-place New York team will finish the season at a torrid 39-11 pace, finishing eight games in front of Chicago.

July 13, 1969
 		Assisting a young man who fell from the Wrigley Field bleachers, Chicago outfielder Willie Smith provides a boost to help the fan climb back into the stands and avoid a $25 fine. Next season, the Cubs will install a three-and-half-foot chain-link fence atop the left-field wall.
May 24, 1969
 		For the first time since the start of the season, a span of forty-one games, Don Kessinger does not reach base. The Cubs Gold Glove shortstop grounds out four times and hits into a fly-ball double play in his last at-bat during Chicago's 7-5 loss to the Padres at San Diego Stadium.
September 10, 1969
 		At Shea Stadium, the Mets move into first place for the first time in their history. With their doubleheader sweep of Montreal, a 3-2 win in the opener, and a 7-1 victory in the nightcap, the Mets take a one-game lead when the Phillies beat the second-place Cubs, 6-2.

September 28, 1969
 		Bill Hands tosses a complete game limiting the Pirates to six hits in the Chicago’s 3-1 victory over the Pirates at Forbes Field. The 29-year-old right-hander joins teammate Ferguson Jenkins as 20-game winner making them the first pair of Cubs hurlers to accomplish the feat since Ron Warneke and Bill Lee reached the plateau in 1935.
April 9, 1969
 		Billy Williams strokes four consecutive doubles, helping the Cubs beat Philadelphia at Wrigley Field, 11-3. The Chicago outfielder's quartet of two-baggers ties the major-league record for doubles, shared by 29 players, and last accomplished in 1963 by Detroit center fielder Billy Bruton.
September 23, 1969
 		In his last major league at-bat, John Miller homers, making the Dodger only the second player, joining Cubs' backup catcher Paul Gillespie's accomplishment in 1945 to hit a home run in his first and last plate appearance in the major leagues. In 1966, as a Yankee, he went deep in the first of only 61 big league career at-bats in which he would collect only ten hits, including the two memorable round-trippers, to start and end his 32-game career.
August 19, 1969
 		At Wrigley Field, Ken Holtzman no-hits the Braves, 3-0, with Ron Santo's first-inning homer off Phil Niekro providing all of the Cubs' runs. The 23-year-old southpaw's second career no-hitter is the fifth of the season and the first since 1923 in which no batters strike out when Sad Sam Jones accomplished the feat with the Yankees.
January 1, 1970
 		One-time New York batboy Chub Feeney begins his 16-year presidency of the National League, taking over for Warren Giles, who held the position for 18 years. The Dartmouth College graduate was Charles Stoneham's grandson, the Giants' late owner.
September 3, 1970
 		Cubs outfielder Billy Williams asks to be benched, thus ending his National League record for consecutive games at 1,117, a mark Steve Garvey will better in 1983 when he plays in 1,207 straight contests. During the streak, Chicago's future Hall of Famer becomes known as the 'Iron Man,' authoring a book with that title in 1970.
June 28, 1970
 		In the final two games at Forbes Field, the Pirates sweep a doubleheader from the Cubs, 3-2 and 4-1, to gain a first-place tie with the Mets. After returning from their 18-day road trip, the team will play at Three Rivers Stadium, abandoning the old Pittsburgh ballpark that served as the Bucs' home since 1909.
May 12, 1970
 		At Wrigley Field, only 5,264 fans are in attendance to see Ernie Banks hit his 500th career home run, but on hand to witness the historic home run is Frank Secory, one of the umpires of the 1953 contest in which Mr. Cub hit his first round-tripper. The second-inning line drive hit off Braves' pitcher Pat Jarvis into the left-field bleachers, bounces back onto the field, and the Atlanta outfielder Rico Carty gives the Cubs' first baseman the ball.
April 30, 1970
 		Billy Williams becomes the first National Leaguer to play in 1000 consecutive games. The Cubs' outfielder streak, which started in 1962, will end in two seasons after the future Hall of Famer plays in 1,117 straight contests, setting a National League record.
July 6, 1970
 		Ron Santo drives in ten runs, helping the Cubs sweep a doubleheader against Montreal at Wrigley Field. The third baseman's two-run homer in the opener gives the team a 3-2 victory, and his eight RBIs, including another two round-trippers, contribute to the club's 14-2 rout in the nightcap.
May 13, 1970
 		With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning at Wrigley Field, Gary Gentry gives up his only hit, a short fly hit by Ernie Banks that outfielder Dave Marshall gets a glove on but cannot hold. The Mets right-hander settles for a one-hit 4-0 victory over the Cubs, just missing the opportunity of being the first hurler in franchise history to throw a no-hit game if official scorer Jim Enright had ruled differently on the blooper to left field.
November 30, 1970
 		The Cubs trade veteran knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm to the Braves for Hal Breeden, a minor league first baseman, used sparingly before being dealt to the Expos at the start of the 1972 season. Atlanta releases Old Sarge in June, but he will finish his 21-year Hall of Fame career, playing with the Dodgers for the next two years.
June 17, 1970
 		At Candlestick Park, Willie Mays (615) and Ernie Banks (504) both homer in the Cubs' 6-1 victory over the Giants. The round-trippers mark the first time in baseball history that two players with 500 career home runs have gone deep in the same game.
December 1, 1971
 		The Cubs announce Ernie Banks will serve as a coach next season, ending the infielder's 19-year Hall of Fame career. 'Mr. Cub', the team's first black player, won back-to-back MVP awards in 1958-59, and in 1999 was named to Major League Baseball's All-Century Team.
August 24, 1971
 		At Wrigley Field, Ernie Banks hits the final home run of his career in the Cubs' 5-4 loss to Cincinnati. Mr. Cub's 512th round-tripper, tying him for seventh place on the all-time list with Eddie Mathews, comes in the fourth frame off right-hander Jim McGlothlin, a two-out solo shot to left field that ties the score at 3-3.
September 24, 1971
 		In the top of the fourth inning of a losing effort to Philadelphia, Cubs' starter Milt Pappas strikes out the side, throwing just nine pitches. Greg Luzinski, Don Money, and Mike Anderson are the right-hander's immaculate inning victims.
August 28, 1971
 		The Cubs pay tribute to a longtime fan favorite with 'Ron Santo Day' at Wrigley Field. With 34,988 to honor the veteran third baseman, he goes 1-for-3 and scores a run, but it isn't enough when Atlanta spoils the special day, beating Ferguson Jenkins and the hometown team, 4-3.
September 15, 1971
 		In his second major-league start, Cubs rookie Burt Hooton ties a franchise record for a nine-inning game when he strikes out 15 batters, going the distance in the team's 3-2 victory over New York at Shea Stadium. The 21-year-old right-hander matches the mark established by Dick Drott against Milwaukee in 1957.
June 17, 1971
 		Don Kessinger goes 6-for-6, stroking five singles and a double. The Cubs' leadoff hitter's perfect performance at the plate contributes to the team's 7-6 ten-inning victory over the Cardinals at Wrigley Field.
March 12, 1971
 		The Cubs catcher Randy Hundley suffers a badly sprained knee and will play only nine games this season. In 1968, the venerable backstop caught 160 games for Chicago, starting 156 of those contests and playing every inning in 146 of those games.
December 3, 1971
 		The Cubs send 25-year-old right-hander Jim Colborn, Brock Davis, and Earl Stephenson to the Brewers for outfielder Jose Cardenal. Chicago's newest flycatcher will have a productive stay in the Windy City, batting .296 during his six-year tenure with the team.
November 29, 1971
 		After being swept in the ALCS by the Orioles, the A's bolster their starting rotation, acquiring Ken Holtzman from the Cubs for veteran center fielder Rick Monday, who hits .270 during his five seasons with the Northsiders. The 26-year-old southpaw, who recorded only nine wins with the Chicago last season, rebounds with a 19-11 record and becomes a mainstay in Oakland's rotation behind Vida Blue and Catfish Hunter.
August 7, 1972
 		The Hall of Fame inducts pitchers Sandy Koufax (1st yr, 86.9%), the author of four no-hitters, and three hundred game winner Early Wynn (4th yr, 76.0%). Yogi Berra (2nd yr, 85.6%), who retired as the AL leader for catcher putouts with 8,723, is also enshrined in Cooperstown.
September 16, 1972
 		Glen Beckert goes 0-for-6 in the Cubs' 18-5 victory over the Mets at Wrigley Field, leaving 12 men on base to set a new major league mark. The Chicago second baseman strands the bases loaded in the first and seventh, leaves two runners on twice when he bats two times in the team's seven-run third and fails to plate other teammates in the fifth and seventh, the first of his two plate appearances in the frame.
August 6, 1972
 		The postponement of the second game of the Midland Cubs and Amarillo Giants doubleheader becomes necessary when thousands of grasshoppers, swarming from their nests behind the center-field wall, invade Christensen Stadium. The massive cluster of insects emerges when the ballpark's lights turn on, making play impossible when infielders can't see their outfielders through the hordes of fluttering invaders.
August 26, 1972
 		Ron Santo's three-run home run off Ron Bryant is the difference in the Cubs' 10-9 victory over San Francisco at Wrigley Field. The third-inning round-tripper, the first of a pair he hits in the game, is the third baseman's 2,000th career hit and drives in his 1,200th run.
November 22, 1972
 		In the last three years, Johnny Bench wins his second National League MVP award, easily outdistancing runner-up Cubs' left fielder Billy Williams by 52 points. The 24-year-old Cincinnati catcher, a significant cog in the Big Red Machine, hit a league-leading 40 home runs en route to driving in 110 for the National League champs.
April 16, 1972
 		On the second day of the season, 22-year-old Burt Hooton, making his fourth career start, no-hits the Phillies at Wrigley Field, 4-0. The Cubs right-hander, who pitched 21.1 innings for the team last season, becomes the 12th rookie to throw a no-hitter.
July 11, 1972
 		After collecting three hits in the first game of a twin bill at Wrigley Field, Billy Williams adds five safeties in the nightcap, going 8-for-8 in the doubleheader split with the Astros. The Cub outfielder's accomplishment falls short of the major league mark of nine, shared by nine players, with Lee Thomas of the Angels the last to accomplish the feat in 1961.

(Ed. Note: En route to 22-for-38 performance at the plate, Sweet Swingin' Billy continues his torrid hitting streak by collecting seven hits in ten at-bats in his next two contests. - LP)

May 16, 1972
 		First baseman Greg Luzinski rings the replica of the Liberty Bell hanging in dead center field on the fourth level with a Ruthian blast at Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium off Burt Hooton. The 500-foot clanger, overshadowed by Rick Monday's three routine round-trippers, will account for the Phillies' only run when they lose to the Cubs, 8-1.

July 27, 1972
 		In his managerial debut, Cubs skipper Whitey Lockman watches Fergie Jenkins throw a one-hitter to blank the Phillies at Veterans Stadium, 4-0. Willie Montanez's fourth-inning double spoils the Canadian right-hander's bid for a no-hitter.

(Ed. Note: The former Giants' first baseman/outfielder succeeded his old mentor, Leo Durocher, who the third-place team dismissed after he compiled a mediocre record of 46–44 midway through the season. - LP)

July 25, 1972
 		Cubs general manager John Holland announces Whitey Lockman will manage the Cubs, replacing Leo Durocher, who 'stepped down' as the team's skipper after posting a 535-526 (.504) record during his seven years at the helm. The Astros will hire 'Leo the Lip' to replace Harry Walker at the end of next month.
September 20, 1972
 		With a 6-2 complete-game victory over Montreal at Wrigley Field, Milt Pappas wins his 200th major league game. The Cubs' right-hander becomes the first hurler to reach the milestone without benefiting from a 20-win season.
September 2, 1972
 		After retiring twenty-six consecutive batters, Cubs starter Milt Pappas walks pinch-hitter Larry Stahl on a 3-2 pitch, losing a bid for a perfect game. 'Gimpy' retires the next batter, Gary Jestadt, to preserve his 8-0 no-hitter against the Padres at Wrigley Field.

October 25, 1973
 		The Cubs trade six-time 20-game winner Ferguson Jenkins to the Rangers for utility player Vic Harris and rookie third baseman Bill Madlock, who will win two batting titles during his three-year tenure in Chicago. Fergie will continue his winning ways with Texas, posting a 25-12 (.676) record in the first year with Texas, averaging 15½ victories a season in his six-year stay in the Lone Star State.
December 5, 1973
 		Veteran third baseman Ron Santo thwarts the Cubs' plan to trade him when he becomes the first player to invoke the new 10 and 5 rule. The team wanted to send their 33-year-old infielder to the Angels for two pitchers, but his 10+ years in the major leagues, including his 5+ seasons with Chicago, gave him the right to veto the deal.
December 11, 1973
 		Cubs third baseman Ron Santo, who avoids a trade to the Angels by becoming the first player to invoke the new 10 and 5 rule, agrees to be traded to the south side of Chicago to play for the rival White Sox. In return for the 33-year-old infielder, who will play just one season with the Pale Hose before retiring, the Cubs receive southpaw Jim Kremmel (the player to be named later), Ken Frailing, Steve Stone, and Steve Swisher.
November 7, 1973
 		In a deal that proves beneficial to Chicago, the Cubs trade second baseman Glenn Beckert and minor league prospect Bobby Fenwick to the Padres for outfielder Jerry Morales. Their new fly chaser will spend four productive years in his first tenure with the club, including an All-Star selection in 1977, with their former infielder playing only 73 games before being released at the start of the 1975 season.
October 1, 1973
 		A day after the regular season ends, the Mets, in front of only 1,913 fans at a cold and damp Wrigley Field, beat the Cubs, 6-4, in the first game of a scheduled make-up doubleheader, with the nightcap, an unnecessary contest for the final standings, officially canceled due to wet grounds. The Amazins', who spent two months in the cellar before winning 23 of their remaining 32 games, clinch the NL East with their 82nd victory, the lowest number of wins ever recorded to capture a title.
May 8, 1973
 		After the ejection of Whitey Lockman in the 11th inning of a Jack Murphy Stadium contest place, Ernie Banks fills in for the departed Cubs' skipper in the team's 3-2 overtime victory over the Padres. Although Frank Robinson usually gets the credit, the Chicago coach technically becomes the first black to manage a major league team.
May 12, 1974
 		In a 4-3 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Bronx native Ed Kranepool collects his 1000th major league hit. The James Monroe High School graduate will play his 18-year career with the Mets, retiring as the all-time franchise leader with 1,418 hits.
August 27, 1974
 		Benny Ayala becomes 40th major leaguer and the first player in National League in 13 years to homer in his first major league at-bat, going deep off Astros' hurler Tom Griffin in the second inning of New York's 4-2 win at Shea Stadium. In 1961, Cubs rookie Cuno Barragan also accomplished the feat in the Senior Circuit, hitting what proved to be his only big-league home run.
July 7, 1974
 		The Cubs snap Buzz Capra's nine-game winning streak when the team beats the Braves at Wrigley Field, 4-3. The 26-year-old All-Star right-hander establishes a franchise mark for consecutive victories, finishing the season with a 16-8 record, posting a major league-leading ERA of 2.28.
July 24, 1974
 		Whitey Lockman becomes the team's director of player development and will be replaced as the Cubs manager by third base coach Jim Marshall. During his three-year stint in the dugout, the Lowell, North Carolina native compiled a 157-162 (.492) record.
August 20, 1974
 		In an 18-8 rout of the Cubs, the Dodgers collect 24 hits and set a club record with 48 total bases, including Davey Lopes' three home runs, double, and single. The Dodger second baseman's 15 total bases are the most ever for a leadoff hitter.
August 21, 1975
 		At Wrigley Field, the Reuschel brothers of the Cubs join forces to blank the Dodgers, 7-0. Rick goes 6â…“ innings, and Paul finishes the game for the first shutout thrown by siblings.
August 5, 1975
 		In the Phillies' 13-5 victory, Cubs starter Bill Bonham gives up a major league record of seven hits to the first seven batters he faces in the Veterans Stadium contest. The former UCLA hurler, who doesn't record an out, is replaced by Ken Crosby, who promptly gives up a single to Johnny Oates.
September 16, 1975
 		Rennie Stennett ties a major league mark established in 1892 with his 7-for-7 performance in a nine-inning game. The Pirates' second baseman gets two hits in one inning twice, the first and fifth frames, in the Bucs' 22-0 rout of the Cubs at Wrigley Field, the most one-sided shutout since 1900.
February 3, 1975
 		The special Veterans Committee selects second baseman Billy Herman (Cubs, Dodgers, Braves, and Pirates), skipper Bucky Harris (Senators, Tigers, Red Sox, Phillies, and Yankees), and outfielder Earl Averill (Indians, Tigers, and Braves) to the Hall of Fame. An outspoken Averill had informed his family about declining the honor if he was an inductee posthumously; fortunately, eight years before his passing, he will be enshrined in Cooperstown.
September 24, 1975
 		Tom Seaver learns the adage the "third time's the charm" isn't always true when he loses his bid for a no-hitter in the ninth inning for the third time in his career. After striking out Don Kessinger and Rick Monday, rookie outfielder Joe Wallis, playing in his 15th career game, singles to right field for the Cubs' first hit off the Mets' starter in the Wrigley Field contest.
July 26, 1975
 		At Wrigley Field, Bill Madlock collects six hits in a game when he singles five times and triples in the Cubs' 9-8 ten-inning loss to New York. 'Mad Dog,' finishing with a .354 average, will win the first of his four batting titles (1975, '76, '81, '83) this season.
September 18, 1975
 		Rusty Staub becomes the first Mets player in the franchise's 14-year history to drive in one hundred runs in a season. A fifth-inning two-run blast off Donnie Moore accounts for Le Grand Orange's 100th RBI, contributing to the team's 7-5 comeback victory over the Cubs at Shea Stadium.
July 7, 1975
 		During an 8-6 loss to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium, Giants outfielders Gary Thomasson, Bobby Murcer, and Chris Arnold each nail a baserunner trying to score. The rare feat last occurred in 1905 when Cubs flycatcher Jack McCarthy accomplished the feat with his three outfield assists.
April 25, 1976
 		During the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium, Rick Monday becomes a national hero when he takes away an American flag about to be set on fire by two trespassers (a father and son) in the outfield. The Cubs' 30-year-old fly chaser, who served six years in the Marine Reserves, will be presented the flag a month later in a pregame ceremony at Wrigley Field by LA executive Al Campanis as a gesture of patriotic thanks.

June 25, 1976
 		After striking out leading off the game, his 21st consecutive hitless at-bat dating back to June 6, Mike Phillips hits for the cycle in the Mets' 7–4 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The New York third baseman doubles in the third, triples in the fifth, and homers in the seventh, completing the feat with a single in the eighth inning.
April 17, 1976
 		At Wrigley Field, Mike Schmidt hits four home runs in one game, including the game-winner, when the Phillies come back from an 11-run deficit to beat the Cubs in ten innings, 18-16. The Phillies' slugging third baseman is the first National Leaguer, third overall, to hit his homers consecutively.

April 14, 1976
 		At Wrigley Field, Dave Kingman launches a homer down the left-field line that hits a house 530 feet from home plate. The Cubs and the Northside home survive the right fielder's blast, with Chicago defeating the Mets in the Wrigley Field contest, 6-5.
July 8, 1976
 		Twenty-six-year-old southpaw Randy Jones, en route to a 22-14 record, posts the most victories at the All-Star break in National League history, winning his 16th game of the season in the Padres' 6-3 defeat of the Cubs at Wrigley Field. In the second half of the season, the eventual Cy Young Award winner's good fortune runs out when he loses seven games by a run, including two 1-0 losses.
December 14, 1977
 		The Red Sox Fergie Jenkins, a future Hall-of-Famer, to the Rangers for a 23-year-old pitcher named John Poloni, who will never play in another big-league game. In his second stints with the Rangers and the Cubs, the Canadian right-hander will post a 69-56 record with a 3.71 ERA during the remaining six years of his career.
May 22, 1977
 		The Red Sox (6) and Brewers (5) collectively hit 11 home runs, tying a major league record in Boston's 14-10 victory at Fenway Park. The round-tripper riot equals the total collected by the Yankees/Tigers in 1950 and matched by the Cubs/Mets in 1967.
January 11, 1977
 		The Dodgers swap first baseman/outfielder Bill Buckner and shortstop Ivan DeJesus to the Cubs for Rick Monday in a trade that benefits both teams. In subsequent transactions with the Phillies and Red Sox, respectively, after their many productive seasons in Chicago, the team deals the players for Ryne Sandberg (1982) and Dennis Eckersley (1984), each a future Hall of Famer.
November 30, 1977
 		Dave Kingman, joining his fifth team this year, signs as a free agent with the Cubs. Sky King, put on waivers in September by the Padres after a midseason trade with the Mets, was selected by the Angels, who dealt the much-traveled slugger to the Yankees a week later.
September 8, 1977
 		Cubs' relief pitcher Bruce Sutter strikes out the first six batters he faces, including three men in the ninth on nine pitches. The future Hall of Famer will earn his sixth victory in seven decisions when the Cubs beat Montreal in 10 innings at Wrigley Field, 3-2.
July 13, 1977
 		In a game against the Cubs with New York third baseman Lenny Randle at the plate in the sixth inning, Shea Stadium goes dark when the Big Apple suddenly experiences a blackout that eventually suspends the contest. During the delay, the Mets' players drive their cars onto the field, amusing the crowd by performing various antics in front of the headlights.

(Ed. Note: My thanks to Anthony Ventarola for submitting this event -LP).

April 27, 1977
 		The Cardinals snap a three-game losing streak, routing the Cubs at Wrigley Field, 20-3. Redbirds' shortstop Garry Templeton crosses home plate five times, which is a team record.
February 5, 1977
 		The Cubs deal southpaw Darold Knowles to the Rangers for a player to be named later and cash. The left-hander will post a 5-2 record for Texas, and outfielder Gene Clines, who made part of the trade ten days later, will help his new club, batting a respectable .293 while playing 101 games for Chicago.
February 11, 1977
 		The Cubs trade two-time NL batting champ Bill Madlock and Rod Sperring to the Giants for Bobby Murcer, Steve Ontiveros, and a minor leaguer. During the 1979 season, San Francisco trades the fiercely competitive 'Mad Dog' to the Pirates, where he will play a major role in the team's world championship that season and win two more batting crowns during his seven-year tenure in Pittsburgh.
July 2, 1977
 		The Cubs commit five errors in one inning, a feat that will not occur again until 2017 when the Mariners accomplish the dubious deed. Chicago's first-frame woes, which include two misplays each by second baseman Manny Trillo and pitcher Bill Bonham, and one by left fielder Gene Clines, lead to four Cardinals runs en route to a 10–3 loss to the Cardinals before a packed house at Busch Stadium.
May 17, 1977
 		At Wrigley Field, the Cubs tie a franchise record, hitting seven home runs during a 23-7 pounding of the Padres. Larry Biittner goes deep twice, with Dave Rosello, Gene Clines, Bobby Murcer, Jerry Morales, and Steve Ontiveros also clearing the ivy.
July 6, 1977
 		After 1,887 plate appearances without a home run from the start of his career, Cubs outfielder Greg Gross finally goes deep when he homers off Don Stanhouse, a three-run shot to left field with two outs in the sixth inning, in the team's 8-6 victory over the Expos at Wrigley Field. The 24-year-old's homerless drought establishes a new major league record, far surpassing runner-up Duane Kuiper, who recorded his first round-tripper needing 355 fewer trips to the plate to accomplish the feat.
May 16, 1978
 		Pete Rose surpasses Mickey Mantle for the most runs scored by a switch-hitter when he crosses the plate for 1677th time in his career, tallying on Del Unser's single in the third inning of the Phillies 13-0 rout of the Cubs at Wrigley Field. 'Charlie Hustle' will extend the mark to 2,165 before ending his 24-year tenure in the major leagues in 1986.
April 25, 1978
 		The Phillies replace their Revolutionary Era twin mascots, Philadelphia Phil and Philadelphia Phillis, with the Phillie Phanatic, who debuts at Veterans Stadium in a game against the Cubs. According to his official biography, the large, furry, green bipedal flightless bird with an extendable tongue, a native of the Galápagos Islands, is the team's biggest fan.
April 14, 1978
 		The biggest Opening Day crowd, 45,777, attends the Wrigley Field opener against Pittsburgh. Although the team gives up an early 3-0 lead, the hometown fans will not go home disappointed when Larry Biittner homers leading off in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Cubs a 4-3 walk-off victory.
June 12, 1978
 		The Cubs sent 22-year-old rookie relief pitcher Ron Davis to the Yankees to complete a trade made two days ago, bringing Ken Holtzman to Chicago. The deal turns out better for New York when the reliever posts a 27-10 (.730) record during his four years in the Bronx, and the 33-year-old southpaw starter Holtzman, in his second stint in Windy City, compiles a 6-12 mark before retiring after two seasons of rejoining the team on the Northside.
July 16, 1978
 		Tulsa southpaw starter Dave Righetti, who doesn't get the decision when the Drillers lose in the tenth, strikes out 21 Midland Cubs over nine innings, establishing a Texas League record. In the off-season, the 19-year-old Ranger farmhand becomes part of a ten-player trade that sends him to the Yankees.
September 7, 1978
 		In a 9-4 victory over the Expos, Mets backstop John Stearns establishes a new mark for National League catchers with his 25th stolen base. Johnny Kling swiped 24 bases catching for the Cubs in 1902.
January 13, 1978
 		At 90, Hall of Fame manager Joe McCarthy dies of pneumonia in a Buffalo (NY) hospital. The former Cubs (1926-30), Yankees (1931-46), and Red Sox (1948-50) skipper compiled a 1460-867 (.627) record, winning nine pennants and seven World Championships during his 24-year tenure in the dugout.
August 27, 1978
 		Joe Morgan hits his 200th home run when he goes deep off Mike Krukow in the third inning of the Reds' 5-1 loss to the Cubs at Riverfront Stadium. The Cincinnati second baseman becomes the first major leaguer to reach the milestone, having also stolen 500 bases.
May 14, 1978
 		In a contest best remembered for Tommy Lasorda's postgame rant, Dave Kingman hits three home runs, accounting for eight RBIs against the Dodgers in the Cubs' 10-7 victory at Chavez Ravine. The third-year manager takes exception to radio reporter Paul Olden asking his opinion about the Chicago slugger's performance, responding with an obscenity-laced tirade that has become legendary.

June 3, 1978
 		The Braves and the Cubs tie a major league record, using 14 hurlers in a single game. Each team uses seven pitchers when Chicago beats Atlanta at Wrigley Field, 8-6.
July 28, 1978
 		At Candlestick Park, the Giants beat the Cubs 9-8 in a game that began at Wrigley Field. The Chicago contest, interrupted three times by rain, was suspended with a man on first and two out in the top of the eighth inning because of darkness.
September 11, 1979
 		The Expos beat the Cubs at Olympic Stadium, 8-6, for their 82nd win of the campaign. The victory ensures Montreal a winning season for the first in the 11-year history of the franchise.
July 28, 1979
 		Cubs' slugger Dave Kingman, who hit a pair of round-trippers yesterday, becomes the sixth player in major league history to hit three home runs in one game twice in the same season. Sky King's trio of long flies isn't enough when Chicago drops the Shea Stadium contest to the Mets, 6-4.
March 7, 1979
 		The Hall of Fame's Special Veterans Committee selects former center fielder Hack Wilson, who compiled a .307 batting average playing mostly for the Giants and the Cubs during his 12-year major league career. The committee also chooses former National League president Warren Giles, who spent 18 years in the post, for induction in Cooperstown this summer.
November 28, 1979
 		Right-hander Rick Sutcliffe, who compiled a 17-10 record on a losing Dodger team, is named on 20 of 24 writers' ballots to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Outfielders Jeffrey Leonard of the Astros and Scot Thompson of the Cubs garnered the remaining four votes.
August 13, 1979
 		Against the team that traded him, Lou Brock reaches the 3000 hits milestone when his line drive caroms off Dennis Lamp's pitching hand in the 3-2 Cardinal victory over the Cubs at Busch Stadium. The 40-year-old Redbird outfielder, who will retire at the end of the season with a lifetime .293 batting average, is the fourteenth major leaguer to reach the coveted plateau.

August 24, 1979
 		The Phillies retire the uniform No. 1 in honor of Hall of Fame outfielder Richie Ashburn, considered one of the best leadoff hitters and defensive players during his 12 years with the Phillies. After brief stints with the Cubs and the expansion Mets, 'Whitey' returned to Philadelphia, becoming a beloved broadcaster for the team until he died in 1997.
May 17, 1979
 		The Phillies beat the Cubs in a fifty-hit slugfest in the Windy City, 23-22. The 11 home runs hit in the game tie a major league mark, shared by Chicago and their opponents, 1967 Reds and 1977 Mets, while playing in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.
August 5, 1979
 		The Hall of Fame enshrines outfielders Willie Mays (Giants, Mets) and Hack Wilson (Giants, Cubs, Dodgers, and Phillies). Baseball administrator Warren Giles, who served as the president of the National League from 1951 to 1969, is also inducted during the Cooperstown ceremony.
December 9, 1980
 		The Cubs trade reliever 27-year-old Bruce Sutter to the Cardinals for outfielder Leon Durham and infielder Ken Reitz. The future Hall of Fame closer will lead the league in saves in three of the four years during his four-year tenure with the Redbirds, averaging nearly 32 per season.
September 8, 1980
 		Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends Ferguson Jenkins indefinitely due to the drug arrest in Toronto last month. The suspension will last only two weeks before independent arbiter Raymond Goetz surprisingly reinstates the Cubs right-hander.
May 4, 1981
 		In the first inning, Jose Cruz's three-run home run proves to be the difference in the Astros' 5-4 win over Chicago. The Houston left fielder's brother, Hector, homers for the Cubs in the sixth frame of the Wrigley Field contest, making the natives of Arroyo (PR) the tenth different pair of siblings to go deep in the same game.
May 16, 1981
 		Astros' shortstop Craig Reynolds hits three triples in one game, helping Houston beat the Cubs, 6-1. The Texas native, who is only the 29th player since 1920 to have accomplished this feat, scores only one run but drives in four with his three-baggers in the Astrodome contest.
November 18, 1981
 		Mike Schmidt (.316, 31, 91) becomes the third player in National League history to win consecutive Most Valuable Player Awards. The Phillies' slugging third baseman joins Ernie Banks (Cubs, 1958-59) and Joe Morgan (Reds, 1975-76) in winning the honor in back-to-back seasons.
March 28, 1981
 		The White Sox trade southpaw Ken Kravec to the Cubs for Dennis Lamp, who will post a 25-21 (.543) record during his three seasons with the South Side club. With the departure of Kravec, the recently acquired Carlton Fisk has an opportunity to return to his iconic uniform #27 but chooses to stay with his new reverse digits of 72, which Chicago will retire in 1997.
August 22, 1982
 		The Cubs pay tribute to Ernie Banks, who played his last game in 1971 when the team retires his uniform number #14 that he wore for 19 seasons. The Hall of Famer becomes the first player in the franchise's 106-year history to be honored in this manner.
January 27, 1982
 		The Cubs trade Ivan DeJesus to the Phillies in exchange for Larry Bowa and a promising youngster named Ryne Sandberg. Dallas Green, the team's new GM, had seen the potential of the future Hall of Fame second baseman while managing in Philadelphia.
July 31, 1982
 		Phillies' second baseman Manny Trillo boots Bill Buckner's grounder to end his errorless streak at 479 chances, setting a major league record. The eighth-inning miscue does not lead to a run in Philadelphia's 2-0 victory over Cubs at Veterans Stadium.
May 13, 1982
 		The Cubs become the first major league team to win 8,000 games when Allen Ripley and Lee Smith combine to shut out Houston in the team's 5-0 victory at the Astrodome. The milestone comes in the 15,337th contest in the 107-year franchise history.
May 25, 1982
 		Future Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins reaches the 3,000 strikeout plateau when he whiffs Gary Templeton in the third frame of the Cubs' 2-1 loss to San Diego at Jack Murphy Stadium. Next season, the 39-year-old Canadian-born right-hander will finish his 19-year major league career with 3,192 K's in 4,500.2 innings.

August 18, 1982
 		In the franchise's second-longest game in terms of innings, the Cubs lose to the Dodgers, 2-1. The six-hour and 10-minute Wrigley Field contest played over two days, ends with Dusty Baker's sacrifice fly that plates Steve Sax and 21 innings to complete.

(Ed. Note: In 1927, the Cubs beat Boston 4-3 at Braves Field in a 22-inning marathon. -LP)

August 4, 1982
 		After driving in the winning run in the Mets' 7-4 victory over the Cubs, Joel Youngblood, traded to the Expos during the game, flies to Philadelphia and singles for Montreal to become the first player to have a hit for two different teams on the same day in different cities. The 30-year-old All-Star collects his two historic hits off two future Hall of Famers, a single off Ferguson Jenkins in Chicago and gets his other off Steve Carlton in the City of Brotherly Love.
January 25, 1983
 		The White Sox trade pitchers Warren Brusstar and Steve Trout to the Cubs for Dick Tidrow and Randy Martz, shortstop Scott Fletcher, and first baseman Pat Tabler. Trout will be the key player in the deal as the left-hander will post a 43-38 record during his five seasons on the north side of Chicago.
June 20, 1983
 		Yankee outfielder Bobby Murcer retires as an active player, ending his 17-year major league career with a .277 lifetime batting average and 252 home runs. The popular outfielder, who also played for the Giants and Cubs, becomes a mainstay in the broadcast booth until he succumbs to a brain tumor in 2008.
April 16, 1983
 		Padres' first baseman Steve Garvey appears in his 1,118th straight game, breaking the National League record established by Hall of Fame outfielder Billy Williams playing for the Cubs in 1970. In his return to Dodger Stadium, the former LA infielder for 13 seasons sees his consecutive game streak end at 1,207, the third-longest span in major league history, suffering a dislocated thumb due to a collision at home plate in July.
April 29, 1983
 		After a 7-2 loss to L.A. at Wrigley Field, Cubs manager Lee Elia launches into an obscenity-laced tirade that will become a much-reported story on the airwaves and in print for days to come. The Chicago skipper's rant clearly shows his frustration with the team's fan base, "the (bleepers) don't even work. That's why they're out at the (bleeping) game. They oughtta go out and get a (bleeping) job and find out what it's like to go out and earn a (bleeping) living. Eighty-five percent of the (bleeping) world is working. The other 15 come out here. A (bleeping) playground for the (bleepers). Rip them (bleepers)! Rip them (bleeping) (bleepers) like the (bleeping) players!"
May 25, 1984
 		The Cubs trade 35-year-old Bill Buckner to the Red Sox for infielder Mike Brumley and right-hander Dennis Eckersley, who will compile a 27-26 record over three seasons as a starter for Chicago. Boston's new first baseman will enjoy five solid years with the club, although the Fenway Faithful best remembers him for his Game 6 error in the 1986 World Series.
March 26, 1984
 		In a spring training deal, the Phillies trade outfielders Gary Matthews, Bob Dernier, and right-handed reliever Porfi Altamirano to the Cubs for right-hander Bill Campbell and Mike Diaz, a utility player. The former Philadelphia fly chasers, who will each receive consideration for the MVP award, play a pivotal role in Chicago's first-place finish this season in the National League Eastern Division.
June 23, 1984
 		In a game best remembered for Ryne Sandberg's two late-inning game-tying home runs, Willie McGee hits for the cycle in St. Louis' 12-11 loss in 11 innings to the Cubs. With his triple in the second inning, a fourth-frame single, a sixth-inning home run, and an RBI double in the tenth, the Cardinals center fielder drives in six runs in the Wrigley Field contest.
September 3, 1984
 		Rick Sutcliffe, in the Cubs' 5-4 victory over Philadelphia at Veterans Stadium, strikes out 15 batters, tying a franchise record shared by Dick Drott (1957) and Burt Hooton (1971). The trio's accomplishment will remain the standard for a nine-inning game until Kerry Wood fans 20 Astros in 1998.
May 27, 1984
 		Mario Soto, Cincinnati's starting pitcher, is ejected from the game when he shoves Steve Rippley, the third base umpire who initially called Ron Cey's foul ball down the left-field line a home run. The Reds' right-hander also attack Cubs coach Don Zimmer, prompting NL president Chub Feeney to suspend the fiery fireballer for five games, the first of the two suspensions he receives this season.
October 7, 1984
 		In a game best remembered for Cubs' first baseman Leon Durham's seventh-inning error on an easy ground ball, the Padres win the NLCS when Tony Gwynn's seventh-inning two-run double breaks a 3-3 tie en route to a 6-3 victory at Jack Murphy Stadium. Chicago had a 2-0 game advantage and a 3-0 lead in the decisive Game 5 but could not end their thirty-nine-year World Series appearance drought.
June 13, 1984
 		The Indians trade Rick Sutcliffe, George Frazier, and Ron Hassey to the Cubs for Joe Carter, Mel Hall, Don Schulze, and minor league hurler Darryl Banks. After the midseason trade, the 28-year-old right-hander, who will go on to win the NL Cy Young award, posts a 16-1 record for Chicago, leading the team to the NL East flag.
October 6, 1984
 		At Jack Murphy Stadium, Steve Garvey launches the franchise's first postseason walk-off homer, a two-run shot off future Hall of Fame closer Lee Smith in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Padres a 7-5 walk-off win over the Cubs in Game 4 of the NLCS. After losing the first two contests of the best-of-five NLCS, the victory brings the series to a decisive fifth game that San Diego will win to capture the National League pennant.

September 7, 1984
 		On his way to hurling a one-hitter, Dwight 'Doc' Gooden fans Cub Ron Cey for his 228th strikeout, setting a National League rookie record. The Mets phenom passes Grover Cleveland Alexander, who established the mark in 1911 with 227.
September 24, 1984
 		The Cubs clinch the National League East flag with a 4-2 victory over Pittsburgh at Three Rivers Stadium. Rick Sutcliffe's two-hitter gives the Northsiders their first title since 1945.
November 13, 1984
 		Chicago second baseman Ryne Sandberg (.314, 19, 84) is overwhelmingly selected as the National League's Most Valuable Player, receiving 22 of the 24 first-place votes in the BBWAA balloting. The Gold Glove infielder known as Ryno becomes the first Cub to capture the award since the writers honored Ernie Banks in 1959.

(Ed. Note: Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez and Padres outfielder Tony Gwynn received the other first-place votes cast by the writers. - LP)

June 23, 1984
 		In a nationally televised game, Cubs' second baseman Ryne Sandberg hits a leadoff solo home run in the ninth off Cardinal reliever Bruce Sutter to tie the score 9-9, then hits a two-run, two-out homer in the tenth, knotting the game at 11. Chicago wins the Wrigley Field contest, 12-11, in the next frame on an RBI single by Dave Owen.
March 25, 1985
 		The news is terrible for the Cubs when Circuit Court Judge Richard L. Curry rules that the existing laws banning night games are constitutional. The Chicago's west-side club brought suit after giving up a home playoff game last season due to Wrigley's lack of lights.

Chicago Tribune: No Lights at Wrigley Field, Judge Rules
April 15, 1985
 		In a 2-1 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Mike Schmidt plays in his 1,795th game wearing a Phillies uniform, breaking Richie Ashburn's franchise record. The first-ballot Hall of Famer will extend the streak to 2,404 contests before retiring in 1989.
August 4, 1985
 		On the same day Tom Seaver wins his 300th game, Mets' phenom Doc Gooden records his 11th consecutive game, breaking Tom Terrific's franchise mark established in 1969. The 20-year-old right-hander, going the distance, beats the Cubs at Wrigley Field, 4-1, to improve his record to 17-3 this season.
August 5, 1985
 		In the Mets' 7-2 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Darryl Strawberry belts three home runs, propelling the team into first place with a half-game lead over the Cardinals in the National League East. Eleven years and one day later, the 'Straw' will enjoy his second three-homer game, going deep for the Yankees three times against the White Sox in a 9-2 win in the Bronx.
September 2, 1986
 		The Astros and Cubs use a major league record 53 players in the game. Billy Hatcher's home run off Greg Maddux in the top of the 18th inning is the difference in Houston's 8-7 victory at Wrigley Field.
September 3, 1986
 		After each team scores three times in the seventeenth inning to remain tied, the Astros finally edge the Cubs, 8-7, thanks to Billy Hatcher's home run in the top of the next frame. The Wrigley Field contest, suspended yesterday at the end of the 14th due to darkness, ended with the score knotted at 4-4.
May 21, 1986
 		Rafael Ramirez strokes four doubles in seven trips to the plate. The infielder's quartet of two-baggers helps the Braves edge the Cubs in 13 innings at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, 9-8.
September 29, 1986
 		Mike and Greg Maddux become the first siblings to start a game against one another. In the rookie match-up, Cubs' righty Greg beats his older brother and the Phillies in the 'City of Brotherly Love,' 6-3.
September 2, 1987
 		Kevin Bass becomes the first National Leaguer to homer from both sides of the plate twice in one season when he goes deep twice in the Astros' 10-1 rout of the Cubs at the Astrodome. The Houston right fielder also accomplished the last month against San Francisco.
January 30, 1987
 		The Cubs trade veteran third baseman Ron Cey to the A's for infielder Luis Quinones. After he plays 45 games, Oakland releases the 39-year-old 'Penguin,' who retires with a .261 lifetime batting average after spending 17 years in the major leagues.
March 6, 1987
 		Free agent Andre Dawson signs a blank contract to join the Cubs. The former player for the Expos will win the National League MVP, making him a bargain at $500,000, the amount Chicago decided to pay the All-Star outfielder.
November 13, 1987
 		Jim Frey, the team's former manager and broadcaster, is named the Cubs' Director of Baseball Operations. The first major move made by the skipper of the 1984 Chicago squad that won the NL East title will be to name long-time friend Don Zimmer as Chicago's field boss.
November 18, 1987
 		Andre Dawson (.287, 49, 137) becomes the first major leaguer to win the MVP award playing for a last-place club. The Cubs outfielder easily outdistances runners-up shortstop Ozzie Smith and first baseman Jack Clark, teammates on the Cardinals.
November 20, 1987
 		Longtime-friend Jim Frey hires Don Zimmer, former Padres, Red Sox, and Rangers skipper, to manage the Cubs. In his last managerial stint, Popeye compiled a 265-258 (.507) record during his three-year tenure in Chicago.
April 3, 1987
 		The Cubs trade starter Dennis Eckersley and prospect Dan Rohn to the A's for three minor leaguers who will never appear in a major league game. The future Hall of Famer known as 'Eck' becomes one of the game's top relievers, saving 320 games during his nine-year tenure with Oakland.
August 13, 1987
 		Billy Williams joins Ernie Banks as the second Cubs player to be honored by having his uniform #26 retired by the team. Sweet Swingin' Billy from Whistler (AL) played 16 of his 18 major league seasons in the Windy City, hitting .296 and 392 home runs for the team that plays on the Northside of Chicago.
September 29, 1987
 		Don Mattingly sets a major league record by hitting his sixth grand slam of the season, surpassing the mark shared by Ernie Banks (1955 Cubs) and Jim Gentile (1961 Orioles). The Yankees' first baseman will not hit any other round-trippers with the bases loaded during his 14-year career.

January 14, 1987
 		The BBWAA elects hurler Catfish Hunter and outfielder Billy Williams (Cubs, A's) to the Hall of Fame. The right-hander, an ace with the A's and Yankees, became one of the game's first big-money free agents, and the Chicago flychaser established a National League record by playing in 1,117 consecutive games.
April 29, 1987
 		Andre Dawson hits for the cycle in the Cubs' 8-4 victory over San Francisco at Wrigley Field. The 'Hawk,' who enjoys a five-hit day, completes the feat with a sixth-inning triple, one of only two he will collect for the entire season.
June 3, 1987
 		Three players hit grand slams in the Cubs' 22-7 rout of the Astros at Wrigley Field. Chicago's Keith Moreland and Brian Dayett go deep with the bases loaded, and Billy Hatcher adds one for Houston.
September 22, 1987
 		Chicago sends Dickie Noles to the Tigers for a player to be named later. Next month, the right-handed pitcher returns to the Cubs as that player to be named later.
November 10, 1987
 		In the closest voting in the history of the National League Cy Young Award, Phillies' closer Steve Bedrosian narrowly edges Cubs right-hander Rick Sutcliffe by two points (57-55) to cop the prestigious pitching prize. 'Bedrock' is the third reliever in the National League, joining Mike Marshall (Dodgers, 1974) and Bruce Sutter (Cubs, 1979) in accomplishing the feat.

September 30, 1988
 		President Ronald Reagan throws two ceremonial first pitches at Wrigley Field before the Cubs' 10-9 loss to the Pirates. 'Dutch,' a former play-by-play announcer, then participates in the broadcast with Harry Caray, spending the first inning and a half in the WGN booth.
February 23, 1988
 		Facing the loss of the 1990 All-Star game and possible postseason games, the Chicago City Council passes an ordinance, 29-19, allowing the Cubs to play 18 night games a season through the year 2002 at Wrigley Field, the last major league ballpark without lights. The legislation prohibits beer sales after 9:20 p.m. and organ music ten minutes later.
August 8, 1988
 		In the first scheduled night game at Wrigley Field, the Cubs play host to the Phillies. The game does not become official when the contest ends in the third inning because of a fierce thunderstorm.
April 12, 1988
 		Bobby Witt ties an American League record, committing four balks in the Rangers' 4-1 loss in Detroit. The major league record for the most balks in one game is five, established in 1963 by Braves' right-hander Bob Shaw, which included three in the third inning of the team's 7-5 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
August 9, 1988
 		After 5,687 consecutive contests occur during the day at the Chicago Northside ballpark dating back to 1914, the first official major league night game takes place at Wrigley Field, with the hometown Cubs taking a 6-4 decision from the Mets. Originally, last night's contest against the Phillies would have been the ballpark's first evening tilt, but rain washed out the scheduled historic event after the third inning.
July 25, 1988
 		The Cubs test their $5 million lighting system before their historic first night game at Wrigley Field scheduled for August 8th against the Phillies. Six banks of lights on 33-foot steel towers along the first-base and third-base baselines illuminate the field during the charity event in which players take batting practice and participate in a home run derby.
August 6, 1988
 		Goose Gossage becomes the second player in major league history to record 300 career saves when he faces one batter and gets the final out in the Cubs' 7-4 victory over Philadelphia at Wrigley Field. The future Hall of Fame right-handed reliever joins Rollie Fingers, who reached the milestone in 1982.
October 9, 1989
 		Televising the deciding Game 5 of the NLCS, a 3-2 Giants victory over the Cubs from Candlestick Park, NBC broadcasts its final edition of the network's Game of the Week. Next season, CBS's sporadic and less frequent coverage of a regular-season weekly game led many to believe the organization was only interested in airing the All-Star Game and postseason contests.
June 2, 1989
 		The Orioles, known as the Browns when the club played in St. Louis, become the fifth franchise in baseball history to record their 3,000th victory. The other clubs which have reached the milestone include the Cubs, Giants, Pirates, and Yankees.
July 29, 1989
 		The White Sox trade left fielder Fred Manrique and franchise home run leader Harold Baines to the Rangers for outfielders Scott Fletcher, Sammy Sosa, and southpaw Wilson Alvarez. Three seasons later, the Pale Hose will send Slammin' Sammy to the Cubs, where the Dominican slugger will hit 545 home runs during his 13-year stay with their crosstown rivals.
April 28, 1989
 		Entering the game against Padres with two outs in the ninth inning, Cubs' closer Mitch Williams records a save without throwing a pitch. The 24-year-old reliever picks off Carmelo Martínez at second base, giving Chicago a 3-1 victory in the Wrigley Field contest.
August 19, 1989
 		Cubs' center fielder Jerome Walton extends his hitting streak to 29 games in an 8-4 loss to Houston at the Astrodome. With his seventh-inning single, the 24-year-old rookie establishes the longest consecutive-game hit mark in modern franchise history, surpassing the mark set by Ron Santo in 1966.
August 18, 1989
 		With his third-inning single off Jim Clancy, Jerome Walton extends his consecutive-game hitting streak to 28 games in a 6-5 loss to Houston at the Astrodome. The 24-year-old freshman outfielder ties a modern Cubs record established by Ron Santo in 1966.
April 25, 1989
 		With former players on hand, including Billy Herman, Andy Pafko, and Billy Williams, the Cubs celebrate the 75th anniversary of Wrigley Field with a 4-0 victory over L.A. at the Friendly Confines. The 'ceremonial' first pitch of the game, a spitball, is thrown by 97-year-old Bob Wright, who appeared in two games for Chicago in 1915 when the team played their home games at West Side Park.
May 14, 1989
 		In his first at-bat as a Cub, Lloyd McClendon hits a three-run homer in a 4-0 victory over Atlanta at Wrigley Field. The 30-year-old utility player, obtained in an off-season trade from Cincinnati for Rolando Roomes, plays a vital role for the division champs, hitting .286 and 12 home runs in 259 at-bats.
October 13, 1989
 		In a nationwide poll of sportswriters and broadcasters, Orioles' skipper Frank Robinson is named the Associated Press Manager of the Year, easily outdistancing the runner-up, Don Zimmer of the Cubs. The Hall of Famer guided a young group of players in one of the greatest comeback seasons in the game's history, finishing the campaign 32½ games better than the club's last-place finish the previous year.
April 9, 1989
 		On a frigid Sunday afternoon, Rick Sutcliffe adds to the wind chill, striking out 11 batters in the Cubs' 8-3 win over Pittsburgh. Despite a temperature of 33 degrees and a stiff breeze making it feel like eight above, 11,387 fans brave the elements to watch the right-hander's complete-game effort at Wrigley Field.
November 21, 1990
 		Danny Jackson and the Cubs agree to a four-year deal valued at $10.5-million, making him the second-highest paid player on the team. The 28-year-old southpaw will post a 5-14 record before being traded to the Pirates for Steve Buechele on July 11, 1992.
December 10, 1990
 		Maniford Harper, known to his friends as Hack, is true to his word when he is buried in a Cub uniform, keeping to the arrangements that made him a central Illinois celebrity in 1980. The 75-year-old Washburn (IL) native's devotion to the team began when, as a polio-stricken 11-year-old, Chicago legend Hack Wilson, among several players visiting the local Shriners Hospital, put his hand on the boy's shoulder and correctly predicted, 'Kid, stick it out. Someday you're gonna walk'.
May 27, 1990
 		Giants' hurler Rick Reuschel joins Frank Tanana, becoming one of two pitchers to give up round-trippers to the future all-time major league home run leaders Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds, who takes him deep in the team's 5-2 loss to the Pirates. In 1973, while pitching for the Cubs in his sophomore season, the right-hander served up the 691st of 755 career round-trippers blasted by Bad Henry.
August 28, 1990
 		Ryne Sandberg becomes the first second baseman to hit 30 home runs in consecutive seasons when he homers to deep left field off Bill Gullickson leading off the fourth inning in the Cubs' 5-2 victory over Houston at the Astrodome. 'Ryno' will finish the season with 40 round-trippers, the most in the National League.
May 18, 1990
 		At the Astrodome, Cubs' second baseman Ryan Sandberg's errorless game streak ends after 123 games and 582 chances when his errant throw to first base trying to rob Eric Anthony of an infield single allows Ken Caminiti to advanced to third. The seven-time Gold Glove second baseman surpasses the marks for the position previously established by Joe Morgan (91 games) and Manny Trillo (479 errorless plays).
April 23, 1990
 		White Sox utility player Steve Lyons plays all nine positions during an exhibition game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. 'Psycho,' however, will not join the small list of players, including Bert Campaneris (1965 A's) and Cesar Tovar (1968 Twins), who have accomplished the feat in a major league game.
June 14, 1990
 		The National League announces plans to expand from 12 to 14 teams. The two new franchises that will begin playing in 1993 are the Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies.
May 22, 1990
 		During the Cubs' 2-1 victory against the Reds in a 16-inning contest at Wrigley Field, Andre Dawson is walked five times intentionally to set a major league record. Yankees outfielder Roger Maris established the previous mark of four free passes in a game on this date in 1962 and then equaled by Padres shortstop Gerry Templeton in 1985.
May 13, 1991
 		In the broadcast booth at Wrigley Field, Skip Caray and Chip Caray, the Braves' play-by-play announcers, join Cubs legend Harry Caray, the patriarch of the three-generation broadcasting family. The 77-year-old grandfather, known for his warm relationship with the Chicago fans, takes tremendous pride that his son and grandson have chosen to be baseball broadcasters.
November 19, 1991
 		Cal Ripken Jr. (.323, 34,114) wins his second American League Most Valuable Player Award, joining the 1987 selection of Cub outfielder Dawson as the second player from a sixth-place club to get an MVP nod from the BBWAA. The 31-year-old Oriole shortstop, who also copped the honor in 1983, receives 15 of the 28 first-place votes cast by writers to easily outpoint (318-286) Tiger first baseman Cecil Fielder, the runner-up for the second straight year.
January 8, 1991
 		Right-handers Gaylord Perry, who won 314 games, 1971 Cy Young Award recipient Fergie Jenkins, and All-Star infielder Rod Carew, the 16th member of the 3,000-hit club, are elected into the Hall of Fame. None of the three players selected by the baseball writers have ever appeared in a World Series.
June 28, 1991
 		In the Reds' 8-5 victory over Houston at Riverfront Stadium, Barry Larkin hits three consecutive home runs to join Ernie Banks (1955 Cubs) and Freddie Patek (1980 Angels) as the only shortstops to go deep three times in a game. The trio of round-trippers also gives the future Hall of Famer a major league record-tying five homers over a two-game span.
December 19, 1991
 		The Orioles sign former 1984 Cy Young Award winner Rick Sutcliffe (6-5, 4.10) as a free agent after the Cubs declined to offer him a contract due to recurring arm problems. During his two seasons with the Birds, the right-hander will compile a 26-25 record for the club and becomes Baltimore's starter in the team's first game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
May 23, 1991
 		With his fourth-inning swipe of second base at Shea Stadium, Andre Dawson becomes the third member of the 300/300 club with his 300th stolen base. The 36-year-old Cubs outfielder, who has also hit 354 home runs, joins Bobby Bonds and Willie Mays in reaching the milestone.
March 30, 1992
 		The White Sox trade Sammy Sosa and pitcher Ken Patterson to the crosstown rival Cubs in exchange for 32-year-old All-Star slugger George Bell, who spends two seasons with his new team before retiring. Sosa will pass Ernie Banks as the franchise's all-time home run leader, going deep 545 times during his 13-year tenure with the North Siders.
September 27, 1992
 		Gary Carter doubles deep to right field in the seventh inning in his last major league at-bat, driving in Larry Walker with the lone run in the Expos' 1-0 victory over the Cubs. The Montreal fans show appreciation for one of the most beloved and talented players in franchise history with a long and loud standing ovation, causing the Kid to make two curtain calls to acknowledge the enthusiastic crowd when removed from the game.

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July 6, 1992
 		Commissioner Fay Vincent, using his 'in the best interest of baseball' power, mandates the National League's realignment next season, forcing teams to be more geographically correct in their respective divisions. The plan, approved by 12 of the 14 NL owners in March, but blocked by Tribune Co., owner of the Chicago franchise, will send the Cubs and the Cardinals to the West Division, with the Braves and Reds moving to the East.
July 12, 1992
 		In the Braves' 7-4 victory over Chicago at Wrigley Field, Jeff Blauser becomes the fourth shortstop to hit three home runs in a game, joining the ranks of Ernie Banks (Cubs, 1955), Barry Larkin (Reds, 1991), and Freddie Patek (Angels, 1980). The Atlanta infielder had hit only 39 homers in the past six seasons.
September 20, 1992
 		Phillies' second baseman Mickey Morandini catches Jeff King's line drive, steps on second, doubling up Andy Van Slyke, and tags Barry Bonds to complete an unassisted triple play in a 3-2 loss to the Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium. The triple killing is the first in the National League since 1927, when Cubs' shortstop Jimmy Cooney accomplished the rare feat in a contest against the Pirates.

December 9, 1992
 		Free agent Greg Maddux signs the richest guaranteed contract ever given to a pitcher, a five-year, $28 million contract with the Braves. The current Cy Young Award winner leaves the Cubs, his team for the previous seven seasons, after contract talks become contentious.
June 16, 1993
 		The Cubs celebrate the 100th anniversary of Cracker Jack with a party at Wrigley Field that includes distributing the candy-coated popcorn and peanut treat introduced at the Chicago World Fair in 1893, free of charge to all of the fans attending the game against Florida. Sailor Jack, the company's mascot, throws out the ceremonial first pitch.

September 27, 1993
 		Cubs' reliever Randy Myers tosses a perfect ninth inning to become the first National League pitcher to record 50 saves in a season when the team beats the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine, 7-3. The 30-year-old southpaw closer, best known for being one of the Reds' Nasty Boys, will finish the season with a major-league-leading 53 saves.
April 14, 1993
 		After establishing the all-time career major league record last night with his 358th save, Cardinal reliever Lee Smith breaks the National League mark, recording his 301st in the Senior Circuit when he tosses a perfect 15th frame in the Cardinals' 2-1 victory at Dodger Stadium. The right-handed reliever will extend the big league mark to 478, pitching for the Cubs (1980-1987), Red Sox (1988-1990), Cardinals (1990-1993), Yankees (1993), Orioles (1994), Angels (1995-1996), Reds (1996), and Expos (1997).
May 9, 1993
 		During the Cubs' 5-4 loss to the Padres at Wrigley Field, Mark Grace becomes the tenth play in franchise history to hit for the cycle. The 29-year-old first baseman, sometimes called Amazing by his teammates, accomplishes the feat when he blasts a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom ninth inning off Rich Rodriguez.

April 5, 1993
 		On Opening Day, Greg Maddux, signed as a free agent in the offseason, allows no runs and scatters five hits to his former team over 8.1 innings. Mike Stanton gets the last two outs in the Braves' 1-0 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
July 15, 1993
 		Cal Ripken, Jr. hits his 278th homer as a shortstop, breaking Ernie Banks' record. The Hall of Famers will play different infield positions during their careers, with 'Mr. Cub' going deep a total of 512 times for Chicago, and the 'Iron Man' clearing the fences on 431 occasions for the Orioles.
November 3, 1993
 		Greg Maddux (20-10, 2.36) wins his second Cy Young Award when he easily outpoints Bill Swift of the Giants and teammate Tom Glavine on ballots cast by the BBWAA. The 27-year-old right-hander becomes the first hurler to win the prestigious pitcher prize in back-to-back seasons for different teams, having copped the award with the Cubs last season.
May 8, 1994
 		The Colorado Silver Bullets become the first women's team to play a men's professional team. The Northern League's All-Stars beat the ladies, 19-0, with one-time Cubs slugger Leon Durham hitting two homers and former Red Sox hurler Oil Can Boyd making a start for the All-Stars.
March 31, 1994
 		The Mets trade hard-luck right-hander Anthony Young to the Cubs for shortstop Jose Vizcaino. While with New York, A-Yo dropped 27 consecutive decisions, 14 as a starter and 13 as a reliever, establishing the major league record for the most consecutive losses by a pitcher.
June 13, 1994
 		At age 34, Cubs' second baseman Ryne Sandberg suddenly retires, walking away from $16 million. 'Ryno' will return to the Chicago lineup in 1996 to play for two more seasons before completing his 16-year Hall of Fame career.
April 4, 1994
 		On Opening Day at Wrigley Field, in the Cubs' 12-8 loss to New York, Tuffy Rhodes, who had hit only five round-trippers in his first 280 major league at-bats, blasts three home runs on Opening Day, becoming the first player to homer in his first three at-bats of the season. The three solo round-trippers, all off Mets right-hander Dwight Gooden, will account for nearly half of the outfielder's total for the year when he finishes the campaign with only eight round-trippers.

May 2, 1994
 		Changing their jersey color from white to blue to snap a losing skid doesn't work when the Cubs lose their record eleventh consecutive game. Chicago is limited to two hits by John Smiley in the Reds' rout at Wrigley Field, 9-0.
April 4, 1994
 		Before the Cubs' 12-8 Opening Day loss to the Mets at Wrigley Field, First Lady Hillary Clinton becomes the first wife of a sitting president to throw the season's ceremonial first pitch. Bill's spouse then joins Harry Caray in the broadcast booth and sings "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" with the beloved announcer during the seventh-inning stretch.

May 6, 1994
 		The Cubs' 10-1 victory over the Pirates ends Anthony Young's 27-game losing streak as a starter and snaps Chicago's record 14-game drought at home. The hard-luck pitcher, who set a major league record with 27 consecutive losses while pitching for the Mets, 14 in a starting role and 13 as a reliever, had also made 27 straight starts without a win, although he threw 13 quality games in which his teams posted a 4-23 record.
June 25, 1995
 		The Astros rout the Cubs, 19-6, to set a club record for runs in one game. After scoring a lone tally in the fourth, Houston puts up crooked numbers for the rest of the game, including a nine-run eighth inning.

September 19, 1995
 		Ken Caminiti, in the Padres' 15-4 rout of the Rockies at Jack Murphy Stadium, becomes the first major leaguer to hit homers from both sides of the plate in the same game three times in one season, accomplishing the feat in just four contests. The San Diego third baseman also went yard facing a Cub right-hander and southpaw on September 16 and 17.
September 28, 1995
 		A fan takes exception when a Cub reliever gives up a two-run, pinch-hit home run to James Mouton, giving the Astros an eighth-inning 9-7 lead. As the Houston pinch-hitter rounds the bases, the 27-year-old spectator leaves his seat and heads toward the mound, where Randy Myers, who, in addition to his pitching prowess, is well trained in the martial arts, immediately pins the trespasser to the ground.
March 7, 1995
 		The Veterans Committee selects former players Richie Ashburn, Vic Willis, Leon Day, and past president of the National League, William Hulbert, for induction into the Hall of Fame. Day, a Negro League right-hander, who played with Baltimore's Black Sox and Elite Giants and the Brooklyn and Newark Eagles, will be dead of a heart attack in less than a week after hearing the good news.
July 12, 1995
 		In a scene reminiscent of yesteryear, the first basemen leave their mitt in the field between innings throughout Montreal's 3-2 victory over the Cubs. The Expos' first baseman David Segui is sharing his glove with Chicago's Mark Grace, whose equipment did not arrive at Olympic Stadium due to a shipping error.
September 17, 1995
 		Ken Caminiti ties Eddie Murray's 1987 major league mark, becoming the first National Leaguer to hit a homer from both sides of the plate in consecutive games, going deep off RHP Turk Wendell and southpaw Roberto Rivera of the Cubs. The switch-hitting third baseman homered right-handed off Larry Casian and cleared the fence in deep right-center field yesterday, batting lefty on a pitch thrown by Steve Trachsel.
April 29, 1995
 		Unlike yesterday's Opening Day crowd, which was supportive, some of the 28,244 fans at today's Wrigley Field game show their displeasure with the recent baseball strike by littering the field with magnetic souvenir schedules. In the eighth inning of the Cubs' 5-4 victory over Montreal, the incident delayed the contest by five minutes.
June 23, 1996
 		In a 5-4 Cubs loss in San Diego, Brant Brown continues his torrid pace at the plate, collecting two hits in three at-bats at Jack Murphy Stadium. The rookie first baseman has collected 15 hits, including four home runs, in his first 34 career major league at-bats.
July 25, 1996
 		Rockies left-hander Bruce Ruffin strikes out four batters in one inning, a feat accomplished only 25 times in major league history. The opportunity for the rare occurrence happens when Cubs' catcher Scott Servais strikes out swinging but reaches first base safely after whiffing on the southpaw's wild pitch.
July 11, 1996
 		The United States Postal Service issues' Mighty Casey", commemorative that depicts the title character of Ernest L. Thayer's immortal poem, 'Casey at the Bat.' The maligned Mudville outfielder joins Paul Bunyan, John Henry, and Pecos Bill in a pane of four postage stamps commemorating American folk heroes.

Might Casey stamp
September 7, 1996
 		With 129 at-bats and a mediocre .254 batting average at the start of his major league career, Scott Rolen suffers a broken arm when hit by a pitch thrown by Cubs' right-hander Steve Trachsel, causing him to miss the remainder of the season. The hit-by-pitch will be a lucky break (pun intended) when the Phillies' third baseman, technically still a freshman due to having one less at-bat last season, wins the National League Rookie of the Year award.
May 16, 1996
 		In a 13-1 rout over the Astros, Sammy Sosa becomes the first Cub to hit two home runs in one inning. The slugger accomplishes the feat leading off the seventh with a solo shot off Jeff Tabaka and then hits a two-run round-tripper off Jim Dougherty later in the frame.

June 2, 1996
 		In St. Louis, Darryl Kile ties a major league record by hitting four batters. The Astros right-hander becomes the first National League player to do it since Moe Drabowsky accomplished the feat on the same date while toiling for the Cubs in 1957.
September 14, 1996
 		Todd Hundley, the son of former Cubs backstop Randy Hundley, passes Roy Campanella as the all-time leader in homers by a catcher. The 27-year-old All-Star 41st round-tripper of the season, which also establishes the single-season record for the Mets, helps the team come back from a five-run deficit and eventually beat the Braves, 6-5.

September 16, 1996
 		Benito Santiago hits a trio of home runs in his three first at-bats in the Phillies' 6-1 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The 31-year-old native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, also went deep in his last at-bat in yesterday's contest in Chicago, giving the Philadelphia backstop four consecutive homers in four at-bats.
September 25, 1997
 		NBC's hit TV show "ER" airs live, using the Cubs telecast in the background in various scenes to authenticate the telecast's claim of not being pre-recorded. The medical drama cuts to the game just as Brad Ausmus hits a three-run homer, much to the Astros' catcher's delight, who is taping his favorite program to watch later, not knowing he would be part of the cast.

December 23, 1997
 		The Cubs trade outfielder Doug Glanville to the Phillies for second baseman Mickey Morandini, who hits a respectable .272 in 298 games during his two years with Chicago. Philadelphia's newest player becomes a clubhouse leader, enjoying his most productive years in the majors by providing excellent defense in the outfield while handling a bat and stealing bases in his six-seasons stint in Philadelphia.
May 15, 1997
 		In an 8-2 win over San Diego, the Cubs score half their runs when Brian McRae, Doug Glanville, and Sammy Sosa all triple in the bottom of the seventh inning off Friar right-hander Tim Scott. Chicago third baseman Jose Hernandez also chips in with a run-producing three-bagger during the fourth inning of the Wrigley Field contest.
September 25, 1997
 		Eleven years to the day the club won its last title, the Astros clinch the NL Central Division by beating the Cubs, 9-1. Houston manages to capture the flag despite being only five games over .500.
April 26, 1997
 		In the Cubs' 7-6 win over the Pirates at Wrigley Field, Ryne Sandberg hits his 267th career home run as a second baseman, breaking Joe Morgan's record for the most homers at that position. The mark will remain until 2004, when Jeff Kent of the Astros records his 268th dinger as a second sacker.
April 19, 1997
 		The Cubs lose their 13th consecutive game to match the longest losing streak in their 122-year history. Reliever Turk Wendell, wearing #13, is tagged with the loss when Chicago drops a 6-3 decision to the Mets at Shea Stadium.
November 5, 1997
 		After the Royals turn down the opportunity, the Brewers become the first major league baseball team to switch leagues this century, moving from the American League to the Senior Circuit when baseball's executive council unanimously approves the shift. The franchise, an American League club since playing one season in Seattle in 1969, joins the Astros, Cardinals, Pirates, Reds, and Cubs as the sixth team in the N.L. Central Division, with the Tigers going from the AL East to the AL Central, taking the Brewers' spot, and the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays going to in the AL East.
April 16, 1997
 		The Cubs set the record for the worst start in National League history when they extend their losing streak to 12 games with a 4-0 loss to Colorado at Wrigley Field. Chicago surpasses the previous Senior Circuit mark of 0-11, established in 1884 by the Detroit Wolverines.
May 26, 1997
 		For the first time in twenty years, two inside-the-park homers are hit in the same inning when Sammy Sosa of the Cubs and the Pirates infielder Tony Womack both circle the bases for round-trippers five minutes apart in the sixth frame of the Cubs' 2-1 victory at Three Rivers Stadium. Ranger teammates Bump Wills and Toby Harrah hit back-to-back inside-the-park home runs on consecutive pitches at Yankee Stadium in 1977.
April 20, 1997
 		In the second game of a doubleheader, the Cubs stop their season-opening losing skid at 14 games, beating the Mets, 4-3. By dropping the opener, Chicago set a National League record (0-14) for the most consecutive losses to start a season and has the second-worst mark behind the Orioles, the losers of 21 decisions before winning a game in 1988.
April 10, 1997
 		Alex Fernandez, making his first appearance in Chicago since leaving the White Sox after signing with the Marlins as a free agent in the offseason, comes within two outs from pitching a no-hitter at Wrigley Field. Cubs' pinch-hitter Dave Hansen's infield hit off the pitcher's glove breaks up the no-no, but the right-hander's one-hitter hands the Northsiders a 1-0 loss, with the team falling to 0-8, the worst start in the club's 122-year history.
July 29, 1998
 		Jon Garland, the Cubs' first-round draft pick last season, is traded in a deadline deal for White Sox reliever Matt Karchner, who will struggle with a 5.14 ERA in 29 appearances for the crosstown rivals. The Pale Hose's rookie right-hander will spend his first eight seasons with the South Siders, compiling a 92-81 (.532) record and an ERA of 4.41 for his new team.
September 2, 1998
 		Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa hits his 56th homer of the season, tying the franchise record established in 1930 by Hack Wilson. The right fielder's solo round-tripper in the sixth inning of the Wrigley Field contest off Jason Bere contributes to Chicago's 4-2 victory over Cincinnati.
July 7, 1998
 		In a game remembered more for 'Glory,' a patriotic-colored Beanie Baby souvenir given to the fans, the American League beats the senior circuit, 13-8, in the thin air at Coors Field in Denver. The 21-run total surpasses the previous record set in 1954, when the AL beat the National League in Cleveland's Municipal Stadium, 11-9.

September 25, 1998
 		The Bronx Bombers, with a 6-1 win over the Devil Rays at Yankee Stadium, set an American League record with their 112th win to surpass the 1954 Indians. The 1906 Cubs, who finished the season with a 116-36 record, are the only team to end a campaign with more victories than the 1998 New York club, who will finish the campaign with 114.
September 25, 1998
 		Sammy Sosa hits #66 and his final round-tripper of the season, a 462-foot blast at the Astrodome, to take the lead in the home run race. Less than an hour later, Mark McGwire will also hit his 66th, en route to his record-setting 70, in the Cardinals' 6-5 victory over Montreal, tying the Cub outfielder in the historic home run race.
June 7, 1998
 		After going 6-0 against Atlanta and Florida, the Cubs complete their third consecutive three-game sweep by beating the White Sox, 13-7. The last time Chicago put together a similar streak occurred in 1918.
July 28, 1998
 		After setting the record yesterday for hitting the most home runs before getting a grand slam, Sammy Sosa hits another today in the Cubs' 7-5 loss to Arizona at Bank One Ballpark. The Chicago slugger becomes the 18th major leaguer to hit a bases-loaded homer on consecutive days.
June 25, 1998
 		Sammy Sosa breaks the major league record for homers in a single month when he hits his 19th dinger in June, a seventh-inning solo shot off Brian Moehler in the Cubs' 6-4 loss to Detroit at Tiger Stadium. The Chicago slugger surpasses the mark set by Rudy York, the Tigers' rookie catcher who finished with 18 after homering twice on the last day in August in 1937 at the same ballpark, then known as Navin Field.
September 23, 1998
 		With his team ahead 7-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning with the bases full of Brewers and two outs, Cubs' outfielder Brant Brown drops Geoff Jenkins's routine long fly ball to left field, allowing three runs to score, giving Milwaukee an 8-7 walk-off win at County Stadium. The infamous error will be immortalized by Ron Santo's radio call when the broadcaster mournfully exclaims, "Nooooooooo!!!!!" as the ball rolls toward the ivy-covered wall.

September 4, 1998
 		Defeating the White Sox, 11-6, the Yankees win their 100th game on the earliest date in major league history, besting the 1906 Chicago Cubs and 1954 Cleveland Indians by five days. The 1906 Cubs set the major league record for fewest contests to reach 100 victories, accomplishing the milestone in 132 games.
September 16, 1998
 		In front of 49,891 patrons at San Diego's Jack Murphy Stadium, Sammy Sosa ties Mark McGwire by hitting his record-setting 63rd home run. The 434-foot eighth-inning two-out blast off Brian Boehringer is a tie-breaking grand slam, with 'Slammin' Sammy collecting all six RBIs when the Cubs beat the Padres, 6-3.
September 13, 1998
 		Sammy Sosa eclipses a National League record for the most home runs hit at one park by one player set by Ted Kluszewski when he hits his 35th at Wrigley Field, surpassing the former Reds first baseman's 1954 total at Crosley Field. The Cubs' right fielder's 62nd ties Mark McGwire for the league's lead in their historic home run race.
May 11, 1998
 		Striking out 13 Diamondbacks, Cubs' Kerry Wood sets a major league record for strikeouts in consecutive games with 33 in two games. Luis Tiant (1968 - Indians), Nolan Ryan (1974 - Angels), Dwight Gooden (1984 - Mets), and Randy Johnson (1997 - Mariners) shared the previous record for strikeouts (32) in two starts.
June 9, 1998
 		In the third inning of the Angels' 10-8 win over the Diamondbacks, Anaheim's Cecil Fielder and Arizona's Yamil Benitez hit grand slams in the Bank One Ballpark contest. The pair of bases-loaded home runs mark the first time both teams hit bases-full home runs in the same inning since 1992, when Cubs infielder Ryne Sandberg and Pirates slugger Jeff King also accomplished the feat, playing at Three Rivers Stadium.
September 27, 1998
 		Padres' reliever Trevor Hoffman ties the National League saves record as he gets three straight outs in a 3-2 victory over Arizona. His 53rd save (out of 54 chances) matches the standard set by current teammate Randy Myers, who did it for the Cubs in 1993.
September 12, 1998
 		Cubs' slugger Sammy Sosa becomes the fourth major leaguer to hit 60 home runs in a season when he blasts a seventh-inning three-run shot off Milwaukee's Valerio de Los Santos in a 15-12 victorious slugfest at Wrigley Field. The Chicago right-fielder joins Babe Ruth (1927 Yankees), Roger Maris (1961 Yankees), and Mark McGwire (1998 Cardinals) in reaching one of baseball's most cherished milestones.
September 28, 1998
 		In the first National League playoff since 1980, the Cubs beat the Giants, 5-3, in a one-game showdown to take the National League's wild-card berth. San Francisco makes the game interesting by scoring three runs in the ninth inning in front of a very anxious crowd at Wrigley Field.
September 7, 1998
 		In the first inning at Busch Stadium, Cardinal first baseman Mark McGwire ties Yankee outfielder Roger Maris' single-season home run mark established in 1961, hitting his 61st in a nationally televised Labor Day game against the Cubs. Big Mac hits his historic homer on his dad's 61st birthday.

June 20, 1998
 		At Wrigley Field, Cubs right fielder Sammy Sosa hits two home runs for the second straight day, setting a major league mark with 16 round-trippers in June. The 29-year-old Chicago slugger will extend the record when he goes deep for his 20th on the last day of the month.
June 30, 1998
 		With an eighth-inning homer against the Diamondbacks, Cubs' slugger Sammy Sosa extends his major league record for home runs in a month, hitting his 20th round-tripper in June. At the start of July, the Chicago outfielder's season total is 31, four less than Mark McGwire, who also homered today.
September 8, 1998
 		Cardinal first baseman Mark McGwire connects off of Cub hurler Steve Trachsel and sends a 341-foot line-drive over the left-field fence for his historic 62nd home run, breaking the single-season home run record set in 1961 by Roger Maris. Big Mac's historic homer comes in the fourth inning of a nationally televised game.

May 12, 1998
 		Mark Grace is the first player to have his home run ball land in the swimming pool, located 415 feet from home plate just behind the right-center field fence of the new Bank One Ballpark. The Cubs' first baseman, who will become a fan favorite in Arizona after signing as a free agent with the club in 2000, will not accomplish the feat again during his three seasons of playing in the desert.
August 23, 1998
 		With his 50th and 51st dingers, Cubs' slugger Sammy Sosa joins Mark McGwire (53) of the Cardinals in hitting 50 home runs, making it only the second time two National League hitters have reached the plateau in the same season. Pirates outfielder Ralph Kiner and Giants first baseman Johnny Mize hit a league-leading 51 round-trippers in 1947.
February 18, 1998
 		Eleven days away from his 84th birthday, long-time baseball announcer Harry Caray dies as a result of complications from a heart attack and brain damage suffered while having Valentine's Day dinner with his wife, Dutchie. The colorful "Mayor of Rush Street" started his career in 1945 with the Cardinals, doing play-by-play for the A's, White Sox, and the Cubs during his 52 years in the broadcast booth.
July 5, 1998
 		Defeating the Orioles 1-0, the Yankees improve their record to 61-20, equaling the best 81-game start in major league history. The Bronx Bombers' first-half results equal the campaigns of the 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates and the 1907 Chicago Cubs.
September 23, 1998
 		In Chicago's 8-7 loss at Milwaukee, Cubs' outfielder Sammy Sosa goes deep, hitting his 64th and 65th homers to tie Mark McGwire in the historic home run race. After both sluggers blast their 66th in two days to stay even, 'Big Red' will collect four more round-trippers in the season's final two days to finish with 70.
September 1, 1998
 		Cardinal slugger Mark McGwire, in a 7-1 victory over Florida, homers twice to break Hack Wilson's National League single-season home run record of 56. Big Mac's seventh-inning shot ties the 1930 mark set by the Hall of Fame Cubs' outfielder, and he establishes a new record in the ninth, hitting a Don Pall pitch 472 feet over the center-field wall at Miami's Pro Player Stadium.
September 13, 1998
 		Sammy Sosa's ninth-inning homer in the bottom of the ninth off Eric Plunk helps to tie the game at ten runs apiece in the Cubs' eventual 11-10 extra-inning victory over Milwaukee at Wrigley Field. The round-tripper, his second of the contest, surpasses Roger Maris's single-season mark of 61, tying him with Mark McGwire for the league's lead.
February 27, 1998
 		From Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral, WGN TV airs the funeral of beloved broadcaster Harry Caray, who spent 53 years behind the mike doing play-by-play for the A's, Cardinals, White Sox, and Cubs. The eulogies reflected the 83-year-old zest for life, with stories bringing joy and laughter from the crowd that included Billy Williams, Mark Grace, Ryne Sandberg, Rick Sutcliffe, Minnie Minoso, and former Bears coach Mike Ditka.

April 24, 1998
 		Dodgers' backstop Mike Piazza becomes the sixth major leaguer to hit three grand slams in a month when he goes deep in the nine-run second inning of the team's 12-4 victory over the visiting Cubs. In 1937, Tigers' first baseman Rudy York was the first to hit three bases-full round-trippers in May.
November 1, 1999
 		The last-place Cubs (67-95) hire Don Baylor, the Braves hitting coach, as the team's 46th and first black manager to replace recently fired Jim Riggleman. The 47-year-old former major league outfielder/DH managed the Rockies from 1993-98, leading the expansion team into the postseason in 1995.

(Ed. Note: On the same day the Cubs announce the hiring of Don Baylor, Chicago hears the news that Chicago Bears legend Walter Payton has died. Our thanks to Bruce W. for suggesting this entry. - LP)

June 22, 1999
 		Although he has been dead for fifty-one years, Hack Wilson is awarded another RBI, increasing his major league RBI record to 191. The commissioner's office revises the total after baseball's historian Jerome Holtzman discovered the Cubs outfielder did not get credit for driving in Kiki Cuyler with a third-inning single in a game played in July of 1930.
September 18, 1999
 		Slammin' Sammy Sosa becomes the first player in major league history to hit 60 homers in a season twice when he hits a sixth-inning solo shot off right-hander Jason Bere in the Cubs' 7-4 loss to the Brewers at Wrigley Field. The 30-year-old Dominican outfielder hit 66 home runs in last season's historic home run race with Mark McGwire.
June 15, 1999
 		Brewers' pitcher Jim Abbott, born without a right hand, gets the first hit in his 11-year career when he connects in the fourth inning for a rbi-single off Jon Lieber in the team's 11-4 victory over the Cubs at County Stadium. The southpaw didn't bat playing for the Angels and the Yankees due to the designated hitter rule in the American League.

August 21, 1999
 		Joining Mark McGwire, Ken Griffey Jr., and Babe Ruth, Sammy Sosa becomes the fourth player to hit 50 home runs in consecutive seasons. The Cubs' right fielder, who hit 66 dingers last season, blasts his major league-leading 50th and 51st home runs in an 8-6 victory over the Rockies at Wrigley Field.
May 4, 1999
 		After 6,136 at-bats without a bases-loaded homer, Mark Grace hits his first career grand slam in the Cubs' 12-11 victory over Colorado at Wrigley Field. The Chicago first baseman's accomplishment now leaves Reds' shortstop Barry Larkin as the only active player with the longest drought with the bases juiced, spanning 5,817 at-bats.
January 5, 1999
 		The BBWAA elects the largest class of first-time Hall of Fame candidates since the writers chose five in the 1936 inaugural election. Nolan Ryan (98.8), George Brett (98.2), and Robin Yount (77.5) each receive more than the mandatory 75% of the votes needed for induction.
January 19, 1999
 		During his State of the Union address, President Bill Clinton introduces Sammy Sosa, sitting with First Lady Hillary Clinton, a big Cubs fan, in the House of Representatives chamber balcony, calling the Dominican outfielder "a hero in two countries." The Commander-in-Chief salutes the Chicago slugger for his relief efforts in the Dominican Republic after the country was devastated by recent hurricanes.

May 5, 1999
 		Beating the Cubs, 13-6, the Rockies become only the third team in the 1900s to score a run in every inning. The 1964 Cardinals accomplished the feat against the Cubs, and the Giants scored in every frame against the Phillies in 1923.

February 23, 2000
 		Cubs manager Don Baylor names four captains, selecting first baseman Mark Grace, right fielder Sammy Sosa, pitcher Kevin Tapani, and reliever Rick Aguilera. The quartet will be the Cubs' first captains since Ron Santo held the position in the 1960s and early 1970s.
August 8, 2000
 		Cubs hurler Phil Norton becomes the 18th pitcher in major league history to give up four homers in one inning in the Dodgers' 7-5 victory at Chavez Ravine. Kevin Elster, Darren Dreifort, Gary Sheffield, and Shawn Green all take the 24-year-old southpaw deep in the bottom of the fourth inning.
November 16, 2000
 		Jeff Kent (.334, 33, 125) outpoints teammate Barry Bonds to become the National League's MVP. The Giants' infielder becomes the first second baseman to win the honor since Ryne Sandberg of the Cubs won the award in 1984.
August 22, 2000
 		Reds' outfielder Alex Ochoa helps set a major league record by hitting the 142nd grand slam of the season. The Cincinnati outfielder's first career bases-loaded homer eclipses the previous mark for grand slams, established in 1996.
September 16, 2000
 		With a sixth-inning blast in a 7-6 loss to the hometown Cardinals, Cub outfielder Sammy Sosa joins Mark McGwire (1997-99) as the only major leaguer to hit 50 home runs in three straight seasons. Babe Ruth had three 50+ homer seasons but did not accomplish the feat in consecutive years.
May 11, 2000
 		The Brewers beat the Cubs, 14-8, at Wrigley Field in four hours and twenty-two minutes. The length of the contest breaks the National League record and ties the mark set by the Orioles and Yankees on September 5, 1997, for the longest non-extra inning game ever played.
July 11, 2000
 		At Turner Field, the AL beats the National League, 6-3, in the 71st All-Star contest, dubbed the All-Scar game due to the many stars absent from both lineups because of injuries. Yankees' shortstop Derek Jeter and Braves' third baseman Chipper Jones provide the offensive punch, each going 3-for-3.
April 30, 2000
 		Diamondback southpaw Randy Johnson beats the Cubs, 6-0, becoming only the third pitcher in baseball history to win six games in April. The "Big Unit' joins A's hurlers Vida Blue (1971) and Dave Stewart (1988) as the only other pitchers to accomplish the feat.
May 14, 2000
 		Although Sammy Sosa gets five hits, Henry Rodriguez drives in seven runs, and Eric Young steals five bases, the Cubs still manage to lose to the Expos, 16-15. Young's accomplishment on the bases is the most by a Cubs player since 1881 when George Gore stole seven bases.
November 2, 2000
 		The Commission grants Wrigley Field preliminary landmark status on Chicago Landmarks. Any plans to refurbish or tear down the Cubs' home since 1916 will have to be reviewed by this panel.
May 2, 2000
 		Kerry Wood throws in a game for the first time in nearly 19 months, giving up one run and three hits in six innings in the Cubs' 11-1 rout of Houston. The outing is the first test of the right-hander's reconstructed elbow.
June 2, 2000
 		Cubs reliever Rick Aguilera pitches a perfect ninth inning for his 300th save to nail down Chicago's 2-0 win over the Tigers. The game marks Detroit's first visit to Wrigley Field for the first time since winning Game 7 of the 1945 World Series.
August 4, 2000
 		Joining Dave Kingman, Frank Huelsman, Willis Hudlin, Paul Lehner, Wes Covington, Ted Gray, and Mike Kilkenny, Dave Martinez ties a major league record as he appears for his fourth team in a season. In the past four months, the veteran outfielder/first baseman has played for the Devil Rays, Cubs, Rangers, and now the Blue Jays.
August 5, 2000
 		Sammy Sosa becomes the first Cubs player to reach 100 RBIs six consecutive times. Hack Wilson did it for five straight seasons from 1926-30.
July 18, 2000
 		Hitting four doubles in a game, which has occurred only 37 times in the last century, is accomplished twice today. In a 12-4 defeat of the Cubs, Royals leadoff hitter Johnny Damon accomplishes the rare feat, as does Shannon Stewart of the Blue Jays in an 11-7 loss to the Mets at the Skydome.
August 8, 2000
 		Darren Dreifort hits two home runs to help his cause in the Dodgers' 7-5 victory over the Cubs. The starting pitcher hurls 6.2 innings, going deep in the bottom of the fourth and fifth frames.
July 6, 2001
 		The Cubs, playing in the 101st different park since 1876, beat the Tigers in Comerica Park 15-8. For the first time in 56 years, dating back to Game 3 of the 1945 World Series when Claude Passeau threw a 3-0 shutout in Briggs Stadium, the team in Detroit.
November 14, 2001
 		Seattle skipper Lou Piniella is named the American League Manager of the Year for the second time. Sweet Lou, the only person to appear on every ballot, guided the Mariners to a historic 116 victories, tying the 1906 Cubs as the winningest team in major league history.
August 9, 2001
 		Mike Hampton ties the National League record for pitchers with his seventh homer when he goes deep off Felix Heredia in the Rockies' 14-5 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Colorado southpaw equals the mark established by Dodger hurlers Don Drysdale (1958, 1965) and Don Newcombe (1955) and is two shy of the major league standard set by Wes Ferrell, playing for the Indians in 1931.
June 8, 2001
 		In front of a record-setting crowd of 45,936 at the new Comiskey Park, the White Sox beat their North Side rivals in ten innings when Carlos Lee hits a two-out walk-off grand slam to give the Pale Hose a dramatic victory over the Cubs, 7-3.
October 5, 2001
 		The Seattle Mariners record their 115th victory when they beat Texas, 6-2, at Safeco Field, breaking the 1998 Yankee record for most wins in an American League season. The team will tie the 1906 Cubs for the major league record of 116 wins when they add their final victory tomorrow in the next-to-last contest of the campaign.
May 24, 2001
 		Tossing a 79-pitch one-hitter, Cubs' starter Jon Lieber shuts out the Reds, 3-0. Cincinnati shows a new National League record going 208 games without being blanked, with the 1931-33 Yankees (308) and the 1978-79 Milwaukee Brewers (212) being the only teams with longer streaks.
October 6, 2001
 		With their 116th win, the Mariners tie the 1906 Cubs as the winningest team in major league history. Bret Boone's 37th home run of the season and the shutout pitching of five Seattle pitchers prove to be the difference in the 1-0 historic win over the Rangers.
July 16, 2001
 		Fred McGriff invokes his no-trade clause, blocking a deal that would have sent him to the first-place Cubs from the last-place Devil Rays. Later in the day, the 'Crime Dog' homers, helping Tampa Bay to beat the Braves 6-5.
April 14, 2001
 		A total of eleven one-run games (six in AL and five in NL) breaks a 1967 record set on May 30th when there were ten combined one-run contests in the major leagues.

September 6, 2001
 		Joining Babe Ruth (1927 Yankees), Roger Maris (1961 Yankees), Mark McGwire (1998 Cardinals), and Sammy Sosa (1998 Cubs), Barry Bonds becomes the fifth major leaguer to hit 60 home runs in a season. The 37-year-old Giant left fielder, the oldest to join this elite group, reaches the historic plateau the quickest, needing only 141 games to reach the milestone.
August 11, 2001
 		En route to his 11th victory when the Giants beat the Cubs at Wrigley Field, 9-4, Livan Hernandez goes 4-for-4, including a home run. The Cuban right-hander has collected eight consecutive hits, enjoying a 3-for-3 performance against the Phillies on August 5 and 2-for-3 against the Pirates on the last day in July.
September 7, 2001
 		Ranger infielder Alex Rodriguez breaks his American League record (42 in 1998 and 1999 for the Mariners) for home runs by a shortstop with his 43rd long ball of the season. In 1958, Cub Hall of Famer Ernie Banks established the major league record for homers for that position with 47.
May 25, 2001
 		Kerry Wood gives up only one hit, a seventh-inning leadoff single to Mark Loretta, in the Cubs' 1-0 victory over Milwaukee. The 24-year-old right-hander strikes out 14 batters in the Wrigley Field gem.
August 26, 2001
 		Sammy Sosa becomes the third player in baseball history to hit 50 homers in a season four times when he blasts a two-run shot off Dustin Hermanson in the first inning of the Cubs' 6-1 victory over the Cardinals at Wrigley Field. Slammin' Sammy joins Babe Ruth (1920-21 and 1927-28) and Mark McGwire (1996-99) to accomplish the feat.
September 29, 2001
 		Astros' starter Dave Mlicki gives up homers to Fred McGriff, Rondell White, and Todd Hundley on three consecutive pitches. The back-to-back-to-back homers, which come in the first inning with two outs, enable the Cubs to beat Houston at Wrigley Field, 6-2.
December 19, 2001
 		Free agent Moises Alou (.331, 27, 108) signs a $27 million, three-year deal with the Cubs. The former Astro All-Star's presence in the Chicago lineup, along with Fred McGriff and Sammy Sosa, gives the team a fearsome 3-4-5 threesome.
May 1, 2001
 		The ulna bone in Mike Fyhrie's left arm breaks due to being struck by the flying barrel of a broken bat. The Cubs' righty reliever used his arm to protect himself when the Padres' Santiago Perez's broken bat exploded in the direction of the mound.
August 27, 2001
 		Cubs' slugger Sammy Sosa, with his 17th dinger this month, ties the National League record for August homers, established by Willie Mays in 1965. Tiger first baseman Rudy York set the major league mark, going yard 18 times in the eighth month of 1937.
July 16, 2001
 		President George W. hosts the first White House Tee Ball All-Star Game on the South Lawn, featuring a player from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Hall of Famer Frank Robinson served as the Honorary Commissioner of the contest, designed to encourage fitness among America's youth while promoting the sport as the country's national pastime.
May 16, 2001
 		Chicago outfielder Sammy Sosa becomes the thirty-third major leaguer to reach 400 career homers when he goes deep off Houston's Shane Reynolds at Wrigley Field. The popular Dominican outfielder has hit 371 homers as a Cub, putting him third on the all-time franchise list behind Ernie Banks (512) and Billy Williams (392).
August 28, 2001
 		Alex Rodriguez becomes the ninth player and the second shortstop in major league history to hit 40 home runs in four consecutive seasons. The first shortstop to reach the plateau was Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, who accomplished the feat from 1957-60 for the Cubs.
September 21, 2001
 		Ranger infielder Alex Rodriguez hit his 47th home run, tying the major league mark for round-trippers by a shortstop in a season. The Cubs' legend Ernie Banks established the record in 1958.
March 16, 2001
 		Slammin' Sammy Sosa signs a four-year contract extension keeping the Cub right fielder in the Windy City until 2006. The prolific home run hitter has averaged nearly sixty home runs (179 HRs/3 years) during the last three seasons.
September 23, 2001
 		Alex Rodriguez's 48th home run breaks Ernie Banks' major league record for most in a season by a shortstop, which 'Mr. Cub' established in 1957. The homer also ties the Rangers' infielder with Frank Howard (1969 as a Senator) for the season's franchise record for home runs.
October 2, 2001
 		Slugging Sammy Sosa becomes the first player in baseball history to slug 60 home runs in three seasons. The Cubs' outfielder connects off Lance Davis in the first inning of the team's 5-4 loss to Cincinnati at Wrigley Field to reach the milestone.
September 1, 2001
 		Cubs' slugger Sammy Sosa hits the longest home run in Turner Field history when his two-run shot, the outfielder's 53rd of the season, travels 471 feet to straightaway center field. The historic homer comes in the first inning off four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux in the team's 5-3 victory in Atlanta.
September 27, 2002
 		In his first full season as a closer, John Smoltz, preserving a Braves' 3-1 victory over the Mets, converts his 54th save to establish a new National League mark. Randy Myers (Cubs - 1993) and Trevor Hoffman (Padres - 1998) had previously shared the record.
December 18, 2002
 		The Rangers sign free agent Doug Glanville to a reported one-year, $1 million deal. Texas will trade the former Philadelphia outfielder in July to Chicago, where he will be the hero of the Cubs' 5-4 victory over Florida when he triples home the winning run in the top of the 11th inning in Game 3 of the NLCS.
August 16, 2002
 		Curt Schilling wins his 20th game of the season, striking out 12 Cubs in the Diamondbacks' 2-1 victory at Wrigley Field. The 35-year-old right-hander, who will finish the season with a 23-5 record, reaches the milestone for the second consecutive year, which teammate Randy Johnson will also accomplish next month.
November 16, 2002
 		After piloting the Giants to an 840-715 (.540) record during his ten-year tenure with the club and winning this season's National League pennant, Dusty Baker leaves the organization, inking a four-year deal to manage the Cubs. Chicago, a franchise that hasn't been to the World Series since 1945, made it clear the 53-year-old three-time NL Manager of the Year (1993, 1997, 2000) was the team's first choice to lead the way.
August 10, 2002
 		Sammy Sosa hits three home runs in consecutive at-bats in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, tying a Cubs' record with nine RBIs, established by Heinie Zimmerman in 1911. With his sixth career three-homer game performance, the Chicago right fielder also ties the major league record set by Johnny Mize and becomes only the fifth player in big league history to homer in three straight innings.
August 11, 2002
 		Sammy Sosa's grand slam and a run-scoring double against the Rockies give the Cubs' slugger 14 RBIs over two games, establishing a new National League record. The previous mark was 13, shared by Nate Colbert (Padres-1972) and Mark Whiten (Cardinals-1993).
October 11, 2002
 		Buck Showalter, who compiled a 563-504 (.527) managerial record in six seasons with the Yankees and Diamondback, is hired by the last-place Rangers to replace Jerry Narron, let go two days ago as the team's skipper. The Cubs, Mets, Devil Rays, and Brewers had also expressed an interest in the 46-year-old ESPN commentator.
September 29, 2002
 		On the last day of the season, the Braves use 24 players, with the Mets using 21 to tie the major league record for the most players employed in a nine-inning game. On September 5, 1978, the Expos and the Cubs combined to use 45 players.
September 6, 2002
 		The Twins and Brad Radke, who throws a six-hitter, stop Oakland's 20-game winning streak, blanking the visitors at the Metrodome, 6-0. Oakland falls one game short of equalling the second-longest modern winning streak in baseball history, established by the Cubs, who won 21 straight contests in 1935.
December 20, 2002
 		Hoping to fill the void after trading Eric Karros to the Cubs, the Dodgers agree with 39-year-old veteran first baseman Fred McGriff (.273, 30, 103) on a one-year deal. The 'Crime Dog,' who has played for the Blue Jays, Padres, Braves, Devil Rays, and the Cubs, with 478 career homers, is fourth among active players behind Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Rafael Palmeiro.
November 6, 2002
 		Citing Dusty Baker's reluctance to stay with the organization, an unhappy general manager, Brian Sabean, announces the Giant skipper of the last ten years will not be back to manage San Francisco next season. The National League pennant-winning skipper has supposedly expressed an interest in the Cubs and Mariners.
April 1, 2002
 		Cinci Freedom, who evaded capture for ten days after jumping a six-foot fence to avoid slaughter, is excused from her scheduled appearance in the Reds' traditional Opening Day parade. Before the Reds' 5-4 walk-off victory over the Cubs at Cinergy Field, the 1,050-pound Charolais cow is deemed too jumpy to participate in the Findlay Market activities after receiving a key to the city.
June 18, 2002
 		In the first major league game to feature four players with 400 career homers, the Cubs beat the Rangers, 4-3, when Alex Gonzalez hits a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth inning. Sammy Sosa (475), Fred McGriff (459), and Juan Gonzalez (401) watched Rafael Palmeiro add his 460th home run to the total.
January 18, 2002
 		Kerry Wood (12-6, 3.36) avoids arbitration, agreeing to a one-year deal with the Cubs believed to be worth between $3.5 and 4 million. The right-handed fireballer, who struck out 217 batters in 174.1 innings, is again eligible for arbitration after each of the next two seasons and can become a free agent following the 2004 season.
September 22, 2002
 		Chicago's first baseman Fred McGriff becomes the first player to hit 30 home runs in a season for five teams (Blue Jays, Padres, Braves, Devil Rays, and Cubs). The Crime Dog's first-inning PNC poke also sets a record for being the 42nd major league park in which he's gone yard, one more than Ellis Burks of the Indians.
May 19, 2002
 		Cubs' first baseman Fred McGriff's two-run homer at Miller Park ties Ellis Burks' record of homering in 40 different major league parks. The Crime Dog's eighth-inning blast knots the score 3-3 in an eventual 4-3, 11-inning victory over the Brewers, snapping Chicago's nine-game losing streak.
November 9, 2002
 		Dusty Baker signs a four-year deal to pilot the Cubs, leaving the Giants after guiding the club to a pennant this season. The three-time National League Manager of the Year compiled an 840-715 record during his ten-year tenure with San Francisco.
March 27, 2002
 		The Cubs, in need of a closer due to Tom Gordon's muscle tear, trade righties Julian Tavarez (10-9, 4.52) and Jose Cueto, southpaw Dontrelle Willis, and catcher Ryan Jorgensen to the Marlins for Antonio Alfonseca (4-4, 28 saves) and right-hander Matt Clement (9-10, 5.05). Willis, next season's National League Rookie of the Year, will become a 20-game winner for the Fish in 2005.
March 20, 2002
 		The Commissioner's office announces MLB will continue the practice that began after the September 11 attacks of singing 'God Bless America' during the seventh-inning stretch in each team's first homestand. Also, an American flag patch will be worn on the jackets of 28 major league teams this season with distinctive logos for Opening Day, Memorial Day weekend, the Fourth of July, and Canadian versions designed for the Blue Jays and Expos.


2002 MLB Opening Day Logo
SportsLogos.Net

April 26, 2002
 		At Wrigley Field, Odalis Perez is perfect for six innings against the Cubs, only giving up Corey Patterson's bad-hop infield single leading off the seventh in the Dodgers' 10-0 rout of the Cubs. The 24-year-old southpaw faces the minimum 27 batters in his first career shutout when Chris Stynes, the next hitter, grounds into a double play.
June 22, 2002
 		Joe Girardi, the Cubs' player rep, informs the Wrigley Field crowd of the postponement of the game with St. Louis due to the death of Cardinal right-hander Darryl Kile. The 33-year-old starter, a victim of coronary disease found in his hotel room, becomes the first active major league player to pass away during the regular season since 1979 when Yankee captain Thurman Munson died practicing landing his plane.

August 6, 2002
 		Robb Nen becomes the 16th major leaguer to record his 300th career save when he closes the Giants' 11-10 win over the Cubs at Pacific Bell Park. The 32-year-old reliever, who will not pitch again after this season due to multiple surgeries for a torn rotator cuff, is the youngest closer to reach the milestone.

Robb Nen's #300th Save Commorative Plaque
October 4, 2003
 		The Cubs win their first postseason series victory since 1908, when the franchise won the World Series. In front of a Turner Field standing-room-only crowd, Chicago beat the Braves in Game 5 of the NLDS, 5-1.
October 10, 2003
 		The Cubs take a 2-1 game advantage in the NLCS when they beat the Marlins in extra innings at Pro Player Stadium, 5-4. The eventual winning run scores in the top of the 11th when Doug Glanville triples off Florida's Brandon Looper to plate Kenny Lofton, who had singled with one out in the frame.
January 2, 2003
 		Due to a conflict with the major league schedule, the annual Hall of Fame game in Cooperstown, previously held the day after the inductions of new members since 1940, will take place on a different weekend. This year's scheduled contest between the Phillies and Devil Rays will occur on June 16, five weeks before the July 27 induction ceremonies.
June 1, 2003
 		After being taunted by Twinkie-waving fans in the left-field bleachers, the not-so-svelte Lance Berkman, during a pitching change in the seventh inning, gestures to his Wrigley Field tormentors to throw him one of the sponge cake snacks, which he promptly chows down, much to the delight of the crowd. The Astro outfielder goes deep in the next inning, hitting a sugar-fueled two-run home run in the team's 9-3 win over the Cubs.
June 10, 2003
 		In a game against the Orioles at Camden Yards, Sammy Sosa becomes the target of a man who runs onto the field throwing corks. Last week, the umps discovered the Cubs' slugger used the illegal substance after breaking his bat in a game against the Devil Rays.
September 25, 2003
 		Surpassing Mel Ott and Willie Mays, Sammy Sosa becomes the first National Leaguer to have at least 100 RBIs for nine straight seasons. The Cubs' right fielder also joins Rafael Palmeiro and Jimmie Foxx as the only players in major league history to hit 35 home runs and 100 RBI for nine consecutive seasons.
March 28, 2003
 		The commissioner's office announces teams will pay tribute to the U.S. Armed Forces during the seventh-inning stretch of all home openers by having God Bless America performed. Although the song has been part of all games since the September 11th terrorist attacks, the fans will now hear the tune only in major league ballparks at the home openers, Sunday, and holiday games.

October 6, 2003
 		Defeating the A's, 5-4, the Red Sox become the seventh team to win the last three games of a best-of-five playoff series. Other clubs to overcome a 0-2 deficit include the 1981 Dodgers (Astros-NLDS), 1982 Brewers (Angels-ALCS), 1984 Padres (Cubs-NLCS), 1995 Mariners (Yankees-ALDS), 1999 Red Sox (Indians-ALDS), and the 2001 Yankees (A 's-ALDS).
April 27, 2003
 		Ozzy, the male osprey of a breeding pair that lived for years on Jackie Robinson Ballpark's left-field light pole, dies at the Audubon Birds of Prey Center after being hit with a thrown baseball that was trying to knock him off a perch he shared with his mate Harriet and their brood of chicks. Class A Daytona Cubs hurler Jae Kuk Ryu was charged with a second-degree misdemeanor by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for harming a protected bird.
January 7, 2003
 		Eddie Murray, the only switch-hitter with 500 home runs and 3,000 hits, is chosen on 85 percent of the ballots cast by the BBWAA, becoming just the 38th player elected in his first year of eligibility. Former All-Star catcher Gary Carter (78%), best known for his years with the Expos and Mets, is also selected on his sixth try after falling eleven votes short last year.

NYT Murray and Carter Elected to Hall of Fame

March 31, 2003
 		🇵🇷 At Shea Stadium, the Mets' Opening Day lineup includes the first regular starting double-play combination in major league history featuring Puerto Rican natives. Second baseman Roberto Alomar and shortstop Rey Sanchez combine to make two twin killings as the Cubs drub New York, 15-2.
September 27, 2003
 		Cubs' slugger Sammy Sosa blasts his 40th home run to establish a National League record by reaching the plateau for the sixth consecutive season, surpassing Ralph Kiner and Duke Snider. The Chicago right fielder needs another 40-homer season to equal Babe Ruth's major league mark, set from 1926 to 1932.
April 2, 2003
 		Todd Zeile homers in his first at-bat as a Yankee, becoming the only major leaguer to hit a home run for ten different teams, surpassing Tommy Davis, who went deep for nine big-league clubs. In addition to homering with the Bronx Bombers, the infielder has also gone deep for the Cardinals, Cubs, Phillies, Orioles, Dodgers, Marlins, Rangers, Mets, and Rockies.
October 10, 2003
 		Kenny Lofton sets an NLCS record and ties the ALCS mark with six hits in six consecutive at-bats. Gary Matthews (Phillies-1983), Will Clark (Giants-1989), Steve Buechele (Pirates-1991), and Javy Lopez (Braves-1996) all held the previous NL distinction with five consecutive hits, with Blue Jays' DH Paul Molitor establishing the major league standard in 1993, now shared with the Cub flychaser.
September 28, 2003

Ron Santo, the team's radio color commentator, joins Hall of Famers Ernie Banks and Billy Williams, becoming the third player to have his number retired by the Cubs. The nine-time All-Star third baseman, who spent 14 of his 15-year career with Chicago (1960-73), will have his uniform #10 below Ernie Banks' on the left-field foul pole.

October 11, 2003
 		In Game 4, the Cubs (6) and Marlins (8) tie the NLCS homer record by hitting 14 dingers in the championship series. The mark, which the teams will expand to 23 in the five-game series, was established by the Giants and Cardinals last year.
October 12, 2003
 		Thirty-five years after creating controversy with his non-traditional rendition of the song, Jose Feliciano sings the Star-Spangled Banner at the Marlins' NLCS game against the Cubs at Pro Player Stadium. The singer's gospelized version of the national anthem sung before Game 5 of the 1968 World Series at Tiger Stadium caused such a flap that some radio stations stopped playing his records on the air.
December 19, 2003
 		Gary Deporter, the managing partner of the late broadcaster Harry Caray's area restaurants, submits the winning bid of $106,600 to obtain the foul ball that Steve Bartman deflected, which kept the Cubs from getting a much-needed out during Game 6 of the NLCS. Plans call for the ball's destruction as an act of exorcism during a worldwide toast to Harry on his birthday, February 26th.
June 19, 2003
 		Reds hurler Paul Wilson, trying to lay down a sacrifice bunt, takes exception to a pitch that moves inside and glances off the catcher's glove. As the ball is retrieved, he starts jawing with Kyle Farnsworth and then charges the mound, where he is pummeled by the Cubs reliever, igniting a bench-clearing brawl.

April 5, 2003
 		The White Sox announce that all active military members will be given free admission to most home games at U.S. Cellular Field to support the U.S. troops in Iraq. The free passes will not be available during the Cubs series scheduled for June.
November 25, 2003
 		The Cubs trade first baseman Hee Seop Choi (.210, 10, 32) and a minor league player to be named later (Mike Nannini) to the World Champion Marlins in exchange for Gold Glove first baseman Derrek Lee (.271, 31, 92).
October 14, 2003
 		Holding a 3-0 lead over the Marlins and needing only five more outs to go the World Series for the first time since 1945, the Cubs give up eight runs on five hits, three walks, and an error. The team appears to come apart after a fan, later identified as Steve Bartman, sitting along the left-field line at Wrigley Field, tries to snag a foul ball that was about to be caught by Chicago outfielder Moises Alou for the second out of the inning.
October 15, 2003
 		Steve Bartman, the Cubs fan who deflected a foul ball in Game 6 of the NLCS, releases a statement explaining his actions. During a tearful apology, the 26-year-old human resources company worker asks Chicago fans to redirect their negative energy into positive support for the team during Game 7 of the championship series.
February 12, 2003
 		Federal Judge James Holderman gives the Cubs and the owners of rooftop bleachers, which provide fans a view of Wrigley Field, a year to settle their dispute. The team believes the seating provided above the field via rooftops directly competes with the club for ticket sales revenue, with the surrounding neighbors, who, in turn, have not been sympathetic to the team's expansion plans.
June 3, 2003
 		Slugger Sammy Sosa is ejected from the game during the first inning after his bat shatters, exposing a cork center. Major League Baseball suspends the Cub outfielder for eight games (reduced by one game after an appeal) for his offense.
April 8, 2003
 		At Wrigley Field, a few of the 29,138 patrons at the Cubs opener show their displeasure when the Canadian national anthem, "O' Canada," is performed before the game against the Expos. Their reaction comes from the "The Star-Spangled Banner" getting booed at the Islanders-Canadiens hockey match in Montreal by fans opposed to the U.S. war in Iraq.
June 4, 2003
 		Although his bat may have contained cork in yesterday's game, all five of Sammy Sosa's historic bats housed at the Hall of Fame and the 76 confiscated from his locker by major league baseball revealed no signs of tampering. X-rays and CT scans clear the Cubs slugger's remaining lumber.
June 15, 2003
 		Blue Jay rookie Reed Johnson becomes the fourth major leaguer to end a game with a walk-off homer after hitting a round-tripper to start the contest for his team. The 26-year-old right-fielder drilled Shawn Estes' 3-2 pitch over the left-centerfield fence leading off in the bottom of the first frame and then ended the 4-4 stalemate with a tenth-inning solo shot off Cubs' reliever Mark Guthrie.

July 30, 2003
 		The Cubs obtain center fielder Doug Glanville from the Rangers in exchange for cash and outfielder/first baseman prospect Jason Fransz, who will not appear in a major league game. The Chicago flychaser will play in only 28 games, hitting just .235 for his new ball club.
June 6, 2003
 		Major League Baseball suspends Sammy Sosa for eight games, ignoring the Cub slugger's insistence that he accidentally used a corked bat. Bob Watson, baseball's vice president of on-field operations, agreed that the Chicago's outfielder's use of an illegal bat, designed to put on home run displays during batting practice, was an "isolated incident," but still deserved a penalty.
December 7, 2004
 		After refusing a $60 million, four-year extension from the Red Sox last winter, Nomar Garciaparra signs a one-year deal with the Cubs, the team he was traded to in July, for $8 million. The All-Star shortstop, coming off an injury-plagued season, can increase the contract's value with bonus incentives based on performance and playing time to $11 million.
February 16, 2004
 		After leaving the Phillies as a free agent following the 2002 season to play for the Rangers, Doug Glanville returns to Philadelphia, signing a one-year contract with the team. The 31-year-old outfielder retires at the end of the season after compiling a lifetime batting average of .277 during his nine-year tenure in the major leagues, including playing time with the Yankees and the Cubs, and leaves with a 293-game errorless streak intact.
August 7, 2004
 		In less than a masterful performance, Greg Maddux pitches five innings to register his 300th victory when the Cubs beat the Giants, 8-4. The 38-year-old is the 22nd pitcher to reach the plateau, and many believe he may be the last to reach this coveted milestone.
January 4, 2004
 		Five-time batting champ Wade Boggs, who receives 92% of the record number of the 516 votes cast, becomes the 41st player elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. The Baseball Writers also give the nod to former Cubs' second baseman Ryne Sandberg, the 1984 National League MVP.
February 26, 2004
 		At Harry Caray's restaurant in Chicago with hundreds of onlookers, including a man covered in ivy, singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game, Michael Lantieri blows up the foul ball made famous by Steve Bartman in the 2003 NLCS. The Oscar Award-winner, a die-hard Cubs fan who has worked on similar special effects in Jurassic Park and Back to the Future, executes the infamous ball's demise.

November 17, 2004
 		After being wined and dined by Tiger legend Al Kaline and owner Peter Ilitch, free agent Troy Percival signs a two-year, $12 million deal, surprising everyone, including his agent, announces he will pitch for Detroit next season. Before the preliminary meeting in the Motor City, the former Angels' closer also scheduled meetings with the Indians and Cubs later in the week.
April 18, 2004
 		At Wrigley Field, Sammy Sosa surpasses Ernie Banks as the Cubs' all-time home run leader when he goes deep off Reds right-hander Paul Wilson in the first frame in the team's 11-10 loss when he slugs his 513th dinger for the franchise. Slammin' Sammy adds another round-tripper in the third inning to bring his current career total to 543 homers en route to finishing with 609 during his 18-year tenure in the majors.

May 12, 2004
 		In one of the most remarkable at-bats in big-league history, Alex Cora fouls off 14 consecutive pitches and then hits the 18th thrown to him by the Cubs' Matt Clement over the right-field fence for a two-run home run which doubles LA's lead to 4-0. The Dodger Stadium crowd cheered each foul ball, watching the increasing total displayed on the scoreboard.

May 28, 2004
 		Matt Clement becomes the twenty-first big league pitcher and the first Cubs hurler to hit three batters in one inning in over a century. The right-hander ties a major league record when he plunks Bobby Hill, Jason Kendall, and Craig Wilson in the fifth inning of a 5-4 loss in the opener of a twin bill against Pittsburgh at PNC Park.
July 31, 2004
 		The Red Sox complete the long-anticipated trade of Nomar Garciaparra when the shortstop goes to the Cubs as part of a four-team deal that includes the Twins and Expos. Boston acquires Orlando Cabrera (Expos) and Doug Mientkiewicz (Twins), sending Nomar and Matt Murton to Chicago, which ships Justin Jones to Minnesota for Mientkiewicz, who, along with Cubs' shortstop Alex Gonzalez, Francis Beltran, and prospect Brendan Harris go to Beantown, who sends the trio of Gonzalez, Beltran, and Harris to Montreal for Cabrera.

(Ed. Note: Got that? - LP :-] )

November 2, 2004

"It's a dud, just like the Cubs were," - PAT CAMDEN, a Chicago police spokesman, comparing the team's season and the discovery of a potentially explosive device.

After a groundskeeper finds a grenade in the Wrigley Field turf, bomb and arson investigators evaluate the right field discovery. The rusty, hollowed-out shell proves harmless, with its origins remaining a mystery.

May 1, 2004
 		In the Giants' 6-3 victory over Florida at Pac Bell Park, Barry Bonds sets a major league record by being walked four times intentionally in a nine-inning game. In 1990, Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson was given five intentional passes in a 16-inning contest against the Reds.
August 14, 2004
 		The Florida State League's Daytona Cubs shift their home games into away contests when Hurricane Charley causes extensive damage to their historic ballpark. The facility, built in 1914 and renamed for Jackie Robinson to commemorate the site where the future Hall of Famer and civil rights advocate played his first exhibition game with the Montreal Royals, was also damaged by Hurricane Donna (1966) and Hurricane Floyd (1999).
July 20, 2004
 		At Wrigley Field, Albert Pujols goes 5-for-5, including three home runs and five RBIs, as the Cardinals beat their Central Division rivals Cubs, 11-8. The Redbird first baseman's first career three-homer game helps St. Louis to erase a six-run deficit.
November 9, 2004

"You want the truth. You can't handle the truth. The truth of this situation is an extremely talented bunch of guys who want to look at all directions except where they should really look and kind of make excuses for what happened. At the end of the day, boys, don't tell me how rough the water is, you bring in the ship." - STEVE STONE, Cubs veteran broadcaster, criticizing the team for making excuses during an October interview on WGN radio.

Hoping to fill the void created by Steve Stone's resignation, the Cubs hire former Diamondback manager and current Fox television analyst Bob Brenly to broadcast games on WGN. After spending twenty years in the broadcast booth, Stone left Chicago after his on-air comments concerning the team's swoon in the wild-card race angered manager Dusty Baker and some players.

December 27, 2004
 		After the Cubs decline Moises Alou's (.293, 39, 106) option, the Giants ink the free-agent outfielder to a one-year contract reportedly worth $13.25 million, with an opportunity for a second year for the career .300 hitter. The signing marks the 38-year-old All-Star's second time he will call his dad skipper, with Felipe managing him while he played with the Expos from 1992-96.

May 5, 2004
 		Major League Baseball announces each team, based on the comfort level of the franchise, will promote the movie Spider-Man 2 during the first weekend of interleague play, June 11th to 13. The promotion, seen as an opportunity to market the game to younger fans, will include placing a Spider-Man logo on all the bases.

(Ed. Note: MLB reverses its decision to have red-and-yellow ads appear on bases due to adverse fan reaction and the Yankees' lack of enthusiasm for the promotion, allowing the ads only during batting practice for just one game. -LP)
August 31, 2004
 		Equaling the largest shutout margin of victory in baseball history, the Indians rout the Yankees, 22-0. The biggest defeat in the Bronx Bombers' 101-year history matches the 1975 Pirates' record-setting performance against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
July 26, 2005
 		After waiting through a two-hour and 43-minute rain delay at Wrigley Field to start the game, Greg Maddux becomes the 13th pitcher in baseball history to register 3,000 strikeouts. Taking an inside fastball in the top of the third inning, Omar Vizquel of the Giants becomes the historical victim of the 39-year-old Cubs' right-hander.
August 7, 2005
 		In the battle of the Zambranos, the Mets' Victor is victorious when he defeats Carlos and the Cubs at Shea Stadium, 6-1. In addition to sharing the same last name, the two unrelated Venezuelan pitchers wear the same number (38), enter the game with the same amount of career wins (41), play for teams that started the series with the same record (54-54), and both switch hit and throw right-handed.
June 10, 2005
 		For the first time in nearly 90 years, the Red Sox play the Cubs in Chicago, making their first visit to Wrigley Field. The two teams that had their fates influenced by curses last met at Comiskey Field, the more spacious home of the White Sox, in the 1918 World Series, won by Boston in six games behind the solid pitching of Babe Ruth.
March 1, 2005
 		The Cubs announce construction for an additional 1,790 bleacher seats at Wrigley Field, which will begin at the season's end and be ready for Opening Day next year. A deal is reached for the expansion when the team agrees to pay the city $3.1 million before starting the project, contributing the funds for a local school park and a $400,000 traffic signal system near the ballpark.
February 2, 2005
 		The much-heralded Sammy Sosa trade to the Orioles becomes final when Commissioner Bud Selig approves the deal, and the 36-year-old slugger passes a physical. The Cubs exchange 'Slammin' Sammy' for second baseman Jerry Hairston Jr. and two minor-leaguers and agree to pay Baltimore $16.15 million of the remaining $25 million left on a four-year, $72 million contract signed in 2003.
June 18, 2005
 		Derek Jeter, who will average 13 home runs during a 20-year career, hits his only major league grand slam in his 156th plate appearance with the bases loaded. The 30-year-old All-Star shortstop, who collects two round-trippers in the Bombers' 8-1 victory over the Cubs at Yankee Stadium, clears the bases in the sixth inning with a blast off Joe Borowski that clears the fence in left-center field.
April 29, 2005
 		In a matchup of 300-game winners, Greg Maddux bests Roger Clemens as the Cubs edge the Astros at Minute Maid Park, 3-2. The last such showdown occurred in 1987 when Angels' hurler Don Sutton defeated Twins southpaw Steve Carlton.
February 4, 2005
 		The Cubs, needing to fill the void created by Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou's departure, sign an arbitration-eligible Aramis Ramirez (.318, 36, 103) to an $8.95 million, one-year contract. All-Star manager Clint Hurdle will select the 26-year-old Dominican as a reserve for the National League squad this season.
July 31, 2005
 		Among thousands of high-spirited Red Sox and Cubs fans, the Baseball Hall of Fame, with 48 of its members sitting on the dais, enshrines Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg. Also inducted are Padres announcer Jerry Coleman, winner of the Ford C. Frick Award, and sportswriter and broadcast analyst Peter Gammons, recipient of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award.

July 1, 2005
 		After walking 2,100 miles from Camp Verde (AZ) to reach Wrigley Field, Bill Holden throws the ceremonial first pitch at the Nationals-Cubs game and leads the crowd in singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame during the seventh-inning stretch. Inspired by the documentary, This Old Cub, about Ron Santo, who lost his legs to diabetes, the 56-year-old school teacher with two bad knees pounded the pavement for 172 days during his Walk the Walk campaign raising $250,000 for juvenile diabetes research.
February 9, 2005
 		The Cubs trade reliever Kyle Farnsworth (4-5, 4.73) and a player to be named to the Tigers in exchange for pitcher Roberto Novoa (1-1, 5.09) and minor leaguers Scott Moore and Bo Flowers. Last season, Farnsworth's inconsistency as a reliever made him very unpopular with the Wrigley Field fans.
May 4, 2005
 		The fifth pair of 300-game winners face off against each other when Cubs starter Greg Maddux (305) bests Roger Clemens (329) and the Astros at Minute Maid Park, 3-2. The other pair of milestone moundsmen includes Don Sutton vs. Steve Carlton (1987), Don Sutton vs. Phil Niekro (1987), Don Sutton vs. Tom Seaver (1986), and Tim Keefe vs. Jim 'Pud' Galvin (1892).
April 4, 2005
 		Dmitri Young becomes the third major leaguer to hit three home runs on Opening Day, joining George Bell (Blue Jays, 1988) and Tuffy Rhodes (Cubs, 1994). The 31-year-old Tiger DH's hat trick contributes to the team's 11-2 rout of the Royals at Comerica Park.

December 4, 2005
 		Reaching a preliminary deal with the Dodgers a day before baseball's winter meetings, Rafael Furcal agrees to a $39-million, three-year contract to play shortstop in the City of Angels. The Braves, his former team for the past six seasons, and the Cubs vigorously pursued the 28-year-old Dominican infielder.
July 9, 2005
 		On the first pitch of his only big league plate appearance, 24-year-old Adam Greenberg, entering the game as a ninth-inning pinch-hitter for the Cubs, is struck in the head by a 92-mph fastball thrown by Marlin hurler Valerio de Los Santos. The Guilford High School (CT) standout, the first player in the state's history named to four All-State teams, sustains a concussion and experiences positional vertigo due to the beaning.

(Ed. Note: Thanks to an online petition to get Greenberg another Major League plate at-bat, he will appear as a pinch-hitter, striking out on three pitches, after signing a one-day contract with the Marlins in 2012. - LP)
January 27, 2006
 		The Cubs and Mark Prior (11-7, 3.67) agree on a one-year $3.65 million contract, making his salary $900,000 more than the right-hander would have earned under the $3.3 million contract offer he voided in November. The fireballer's previous contract gave him the right to terminate the deal once he became eligible for salary arbitration.
January 30, 2006
 		The Cubs and Jerry Hairston Jr. (.261, 4, 30) avoid salary arbitration when the second baseman/outfielder agrees to a one-year, $2.3 million deal. Last February, the 29-year-old Illinois native was acquired from the Orioles for slugger Sammy Sosa.
May 11, 2006
 		After he breaks his left wrist while attempting to make a diving catch, Hideki Matsui's streak of playing in every game since starting his MLB career in 2003 ends at 518 games. The 31-year-old Yankees' left fielder established the big-league record for consecutive games to start a career, surpassing Hall of Fame infielder Ernie Banks, who played in 424 contests at the start of his playing days with the Cubs from 1953 to 1956.
July 11, 2006
 		Before starting the fifth inning of the All-Star Game in Pittsburgh's PNC Park, Vera Clemente is escorted onto the field by 1960 World Series hero Bill Mazeroski to accept the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award on behalf of her late husband. With the scoreboard showing Roberto's replays, tears flowing from AL skipper Ozzie Guillen, and the heartfelt ovation from the crowd, the ceremony honoring the Pirates' Hall of Famer becomes a truly memorable moment in the history of the Midsummer Classic.

July 16, 2006
 		At Wrigley Field, Mets outfielders Cliff Floyd and Carlos Beltran hit grand slams during a franchise-record 11-run inning in the sixth of the 13-7 defeat of the Cubs. The pair of four-run homers marks only the seventh time a team has accomplished the feat in one inning.
May 28, 2006
 		The Braves establish a new club record by hitting eight homers in a 13-12 win over the Cubs. Marcus Giles, Andruw Jones, Ryan Langerhans, Adam LaRoche (2), Brayan Pena, and Edgar Renteria (2) go deep for Atlanta in the 11-inning slugfest at Wrigley Field.
January 10, 2006
 		Bruce Sutter, joining Hoyt Wilhelm (1985), Rollie Fingers (1992), and Dennis Eckersley (2004), becomes the fourth relief pitcher voted into the Hall of Fame and the first hurler elected without a career major league start. The split-fingered fastball, which eventually led to career-ending injuries, helped establish the right-hander, best remembered for his seasons with the Cubs and Cardinals, as one of the game's dominant closers.
June 13, 2006
 		The first wireless bullpen communication system in baseball history is used at Wrigley Field when a cell phone, destined to be sent to the Hall of Fame, is used for the first time in major league history to call the bullpen. From the dugout, Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild calls the bullpen during the third inning to start warming up reliever Angel Guzman.
July 31, 2006
 		With the wind blowing out at Wrigley Field, Diamondbacks' second baseman Orlando Hudson hits a home run from both sides of home plate. Batting left-handed, he goes deep off Mark Prior in the third inning for his first career grand slam, then hitting right-handed, nails a Glendon Rusch pitch for a two-run homer in the seventh, contributing to Arizona's 15-4 victory over the Cubs.
July 31, 2006
 		The Dodgers trade infielder Cesar Izturis to the Cubs for 300-game winner Greg Maddux. The last-minute deadline deal, in which the future Hall of Famer waived his no-trade clause, allows the 40-year-old hurler to go to a contender.
September 7, 2006
 		The Cubs are honored by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks for their preservation efforts at Wrigley Field. The venerable old ballpark received the Chicago Landmark Award for Excellence for the bleacher expansion project, which improved circulation in the seating section, increased the number of bathrooms, and dramatically improved access for fans with disabilities.
March 8, 2006
 		A Canadian team comprised mostly of minor leaguers stuns the baseball world by beating a highly-favored Team USA in the first round of the WBC, 8-6. Thanks to Adam Stern's inside-the-park homer, four RBIs, and a pair of sensational catches, along with southpaw Adam Loewen, who keeps the American all-stars scoreless for 3.2 innings, the Canadians post their most significant victory in its national history of baseball.

November 20, 2006
 		The Cubs and Nationals' free agent Alfonso Soriano (.277, 46, 95) agree to an eight-year deal worth $136 million, making the outfielder the highest-paid player in franchise history. The addition of the 30-year-old five-time All-Star, who became the fourth member of the 40-homer, 40-steal club last season, gives Chicago a potentially potent offense that includes Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.
February 11, 2006
 		Avoiding an arbitration hearing, starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano (14-6, 3.26) and the Cubs agree to a one-year deal worth $6.5 million. After earning $3.76 million last season, the emotional right-hander had asked for $7.2 million, with Chicago offering $6 million.
June 18, 2006
 		In a game in which veteran hurler Kenny Rogers wins his 200th career victory, the Tigers go yard eight times to set a club record. Cubs starter Mark Prior, who recently returned from the 60-day disabled list, gives up three of Detroit's home runs in the six-run first inning of the 12-3 barrage at Wrigley Field.
October 16, 2006
 		Former Manager of the Year (1995 and 2001 Mariners) Lou Piniella inks a three-year contract worth approximately $10 million, including an option for a fourth year to manage the Cubs. The 64-year-old fiery skipper replacing Dusty Baker (66-96) has a 1,519-1,420 record during his 18-year managerial tenure with the Yankees, Reds, Mariners, and Devil Rays.
May 20, 2006
 		After barreling over fellow catcher Michael Barrett in a play he considered hard but clean, A.J. Pierzynski is surprised when the Cub backstop shows his displeasure by punching him in the face. The incident ignites a bench-clearing brawl between the Windy City rivals, leading to a 15-minute delay and four ejections during the White Sox' 7-0 victory at U.S. Cellular Field.

November 27, 2007
 		The Brewers and Jason Kendall agree to a one-year contract that guarantees $4.25 million and includes a vesting option for 2009. The 33-year-old catcher, who split time with the A's and Cubs last season, replaces recently traded Johnny Estrada behind the plate.
October 6, 2007
 		At Wrigley Field, the Diamondbacks beat the Cubs, 5-1, to complete the three-game sweep of their National League division series. The loss for Chicago means the franchise has played for the last 99 years in the Windy City without winning a World Series championship.
December 11, 2007
 		After declining offers from the Yomiuri Giants and his former team, the Chunichi Dragons, Kosuke Fukudome comes to terms with the Cubs on a four-year deal reported to be worth $48 million. The 30-year-old Japanese outfielder, also sought by the Padres, White Sox, Giants, and Rangers, compiled a .305 batting average during his 13-year tenure in Japan's Central League.
April 29, 2007
 		Cardinals reliever Josh Hancock dies on impact in an early morning automobile accident when his 2007 Ford Explorer slams into a parked tow truck in the westbound lane of Highway 40 in St. Louis. Out of respect to the well-liked 29-year-old pitcher, MLB postpones the nationally televised game scheduled for tonight against the Cubs.
December 13, 2007

"We can jump to this conclusion: that steroids have sullied the game. My hope is that this report is a part of putting the steroid era of baseball behind us." - GEORGE W. BUSH, U.S. president and former owner of the Rangers.

The Mitchell Report, is released, a 409-page document and a paper trail of 115,000 copies of receipts, canceled checks, telephone records, and e-mail messages. The much-anticipated findings, authored by former Senator George Mitchell, call the steroid era a collective failure, naming 89 former and present players who allegedly used illegal, performance-enhancing drugs, including stars Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Gary Sheffield.

June 25, 2007
 		A distraught spectator jumps onto the field and charges the mound toward Bob Howry after the Cub reliever blows an 8-3 ninth-inning lead to Colorado at Wrigley Field, making it within a few feet from his intended target before security guards tackled him. The right-hander gets the win when Alfonso Soriano hits a game-ending two-run single in the bottom of the frame to give Chicago an improbable 10-9 victory.
September 26, 2007

"Well, you know, I've worried about that because I think given the Cubs' record -- which of course I hope it happens, but it could very well be a sign of the coming apocalypse were that ever to occur -- it would be so out of history that you'd have the Cubs versus the Yankees. Then, I'd be really in trouble. "- HILLARY CLINTON, commenting on the potential World Series with Cubs and Yankees as opponents.

At a Democratic candidate presidential debate at Dartmouth College, moderator Tim Russert asks junior New York Senator Hillary Clinton, a Chicago native, who she would root for in a potential Cubs vs. Yankees World Series. The presidential hopeful responds diplomatically, "I would probably have to alternate sides."

C-Span Clip from 2007 Democratic debate at Dartmouth
September 9, 2007
 		In the first inning at Detroit's Comerica Park, Curtis Granderson steals his 20th base of the season to become only the third major leaguer to belong to the 20-20-20-20 club. The Tigers center fielder joins Frank Schulte (1911 - Cubs) and Willie Mays (1957 - Giants) as the only players to record 20 home runs, 20 triples, and 20 doubles, as well as swiping 20 bases in a season.
September 10, 2007
 		Hitting his 20th home run of the season, Troy Tulowitzki of the Rockies breaks Ernie Banks' National League rookie record for most home runs by a shortstop in a single season. The Cubs Hall of Famer, who compiled 512 homers, hit 19 dingers as a freshman in 1954.
September 30, 2007
 		Jimmy Rollins triples to become the fourth big leaguer to record 20 stolen bases, 20 homers, 20 triples, and 20 doubles in a season. The Phillies shortstop and MVP candidate joins Frank Schulte (1911 - Cubs), Willie Mays (1957 - Giants), and Curtis Granderson (2007 - Tigers) as the only players in major league history to accomplish the feat.
March 29, 2007
 		In a split-squad game between the Cubs and Diamondbacks at Mesa's HoHoKam Park, Ria Cortesio, serving alternately as the first and third base umpire, becomes the first female ump to work a major league exhibition game since Pam Postema in 1989. The thirty-year-old Davenport (IA) native, starting her ninth year as an arbitrator and fifth in Double-A minor league ball, hopes to be the first woman umpire in major league history.
October 30, 2007
 		Ria Cortesio, professional baseball's only active female umpire and sixth overall, is released after nine years of making calls in the minors. The 31-year-old crew chief, whose mask is in the Hall of Fame, worked the Futures Game and Home Run Derby at the 2006 All-Star Game played in Pittsburgh, and she was on the bases for an exhibition game between the Diamondbacks and Cubs during spring training.
February 14, 2007
 		For the first time at Wrigley Field, the Cubs will allow ads among the ivy on the green doors in the left- and right-field bleachers, according to Jay Blunk, director of marketing and sales. Although other companies have approached the team, Under Armour, whose company spokesman is newly acquired outfielder Alfonso Soriano, is the "right fit" for the 7-by-12 foot signage featuring the performance apparel's signature logo.

Under Armour Outfield Doors
December 26, 2007
 		With the acquisition of Mark Prior, the Padres add another pitcher to the staff who will start next season coming off shoulder surgery, joining southpaw Randy Wolf. The 27-year-old former Cub right-hander signs a one-year, $1 million deal, which can be worth more with performance bonuses.
June 20, 2007
 		Connecting on a fifth-inning hanging breaking ball thrown by Cubs' hurler Jason Marquis, Sammy Sosa becomes the fifth major league player to hit 600 career home runs. The Rangers' designated hitter, who missed the entire season last year, joins Hank Aaron (755), Barry Bonds (748), Babe Ruth (714), and Willie Mays (660) in reaching the milestone.
August 5, 2007
 		At Wrigley Field, Tom Glavine, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, becomes the 23rd player in major league history to win his 300th victory. The crafty southpaw, the fifth lefty to reach the milestone, limits the Cubs to six hits and a walk in 6.1 innings as the Mets bang out 16 hits and beat Chicago in a nationally televised ESPN Sunday night game, 8-3.

February 16, 2007
 		Altering the regulations for the first time since 1996, the rules committee approves several changes, including eliminating tie games halted after the fifth inning due to weather by resuming the contest at the same ballpark in the next scheduled start. The new standards also implement a ten-game suspension for scuffing a baseball, prohibit players from going into a dugout to make a catch and allow pitchers to wear multicolored gloves.
January 24, 2007
 		Coming off an injured Achilles tendon, Cliff Floyd signs a flexible deal with the Cubs, beginning with a one-year guaranteed contract for $3 million, increasing to as much as $17.5 million over two years. The Chicago native will platoon with Matt Murton, giving the Northsiders left-handed power off the bench.
November 26, 2007
 		The Cubs re-signed 30-year-old free agent Kerry Wood to a one-year, $4.2 million deal, including additional incentives for closing games. The fragile former right-handed starter, who turned down multi-year offers from other clubs to stay with Chicago, will have an opportunity to become the club's closer.
December 23, 2008
 		The Yankees announce prices for some of the seats at their new stadium for the exhibition games against the Cubs on April 3 and 4 will match the amounts charged for the original Yankee Stadium's opener against Boston in 1923. Fans can purchase bleacher seats for 25 cents, with grandstand tickets costing $1.10.
December 31, 2008
 		Deciding not to shift shortstop Jhonny Peralta to third with Asdrubal Cabrera moving from second to short, the Indians acquire Mark DeRosa from the Cubs to be their everyday third baseman. To get the 33-year-old infielder, the Tribe sends minor league pitching prospects Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer, and John Gaub to Chicago.
September 11, 2008
 		With his sixth-inning double in the 3-2 loss to the Cubs, Cardinals' first baseman Albert Pujols becomes only the third player in history to drive in 100 runs during his first eight major league seasons. The two other big leaguers to reach the plateau are Red sox outfielder Ted Williams, who also accomplished the feat for eight seasons from 1939-42, 46-49, and starting in 1924, fly-chaser Al Simmons did it for 11 years playing for the A's (9) and the White Sox (2).
July 8, 2008
 		The Cubs bolster their pitching staff, obtaining starter Rich Harden and reliever Chad Gaudin from the A's in exchange for right-hander Sean Gallagher, second baseman/outfielder Eric Patterson, outfielder Matt Murton, and minor league backstop prospect Josh Donaldson. Chicago's dealing may be in anticipation of the Brewers' trade rumors of getting Indians' ace, CC Sabathia.
September 14, 2008
 		In an Astros home game moved to Milwaukee's Miller Park due to Hurricane Ike, Carlos Zambrano becomes the first Cub to throw a no-hitter since Milt Pappas threw a hitless game against the Padres in 1972. The Cub right-hander's 5-0 gem, in which only a fourth-inning walk to Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence's HBP in the fifth spoils a bid for a perfect game, becomes the first no-no tossed in a neutral site.
April 22, 2008
 		In a scheduling oddity, both New York big-league teams play in Chicago, with the Mets playing the Cubs in a matinee and the Yankees taking on the White Sox in an evening tilt. This unusual occurrence marks the first time in 11+ years that two teams from one city have played as visitors in the same town on the same date, a quirk necessitated due to the Pope's appearance at Yankee Stadium two days ago.
April 23, 2008
 		The Cubs join the Giants in becoming the second franchise in major league history to win 10,000 games, beating the Rockies in a ten-inning contest at Coors Field, 7-6. After winning six in a row, Chicago has a 10,000-9,465 all-time won-loss record during its 122-year existence in the Windy City.
July 21, 2008
 		Diamondback left-hander Randy Johnson becomes the first major leaguer to collect 2,000 strikeouts for two different teams. The Arizona southpaw, who fanned 2,162 batters pitching for the Mariners from 1989-98, whiffs Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez to earn the distinction.
September 20, 2008
 		With a 5-4 win over the Cardinals at Wrigley Field, the Cubs clinch their second straight National League Central Division championship. The victory marks the club's first appearance in consecutive postseasons since the 1906-08 teams played in the World Series.

April 30, 2008
 		The Cardinals and Cubs set a franchise record for the most victories in April. The Redbirds beat the Reds, 5-2, for their 18th win of the month, and Chicago takes their 17th game, routing the Brewers, 19-5, at Wrigley Field.
September 23, 2008
 		Jose Reyes collects his 200th hit of the season with a bases-loaded triple in a much-needed Mets 6-2 victory over the Cubs at Shea Stadium. The 25-year-old shortstop joins Lance Johnson (1996) as one of the only two players in franchise history to reach the esteemed plateau.
January 8, 2008
 		The election of Goose Gossage to the Hall of Fame comes on his ninth year on the BBWAA's ballot when he is the only player to receive 75 percent or more of the writers' votes (85.8) needed for induction. During the right-hander's 22-year career, most notably with the Yankees, the reliever compiled a 124-107 record and saved 310 games while posting a 3.01 ERA.
August 9, 2008
 		Micah Hoffpauir ties a modern Pacific Coast League record homering in his first four at-bats in the Iowa Cubs' 15-3 rout over the Round Rock Express. The 28-year-old slugging first baseman becomes the third player in the history of the storied PCL to go deep in four consecutive at-bats and the fifth to accomplish the feat in one game.
September 28, 2008
 		Pitching on a day's short rest, CC Sabathia tosses a complete game, defeating the Cubs, 3-1. The victory, along with the Mets' 4-2 loss to Florida an hour later, makes the Brewers the NL Wild Card and puts Milwaukee in the postseason for the first time since 1982.
May 18, 2008
 		Marlins' second baseman Luis Castillo, who has stolen seven bases in his last two games, is one theft shy of tying a National League mark. Walt Wilmont set the record of eight pilfered bags in consecutive contests playing for the Chicago Colts (Cubs) in 1894.
May 7, 2008
 		In the Reds' 9-0 victory over the Cubs at Great American Ball Park, Jon Lieber joins Phil Norton (2000) in becoming only the second hurler in franchise history to allow four homers in one inning. Joey Votto, who will hit three round-trippers during the game, Adam Dunn, Paul Bako, and Jerry Hairston take the Chicago starter deep in the second inning.
January 16, 2008
 		Jon Lieber (3-6, 4.73), a former 20-game winner with the team in 2001, signs a $3.5 million, one-year deal to rejoin the Cubs. The right-handed veteran, who played with the Phillies for the past three years, missed most of last season due to surgery needed to repair a ruptured tendon in his foot.
October 4, 2008
 		The Dodgers complete a three-game NLDS sweep of Chicago with a 3-1 victory, winning their first postseason series since 1998. The stunning loss in the playoffs extends the World Series drought for the Cubs into another century.

October 8, 2008
 		The Cubs exercise Rich Harden's $7 million option for next year, the day after tests reveal the 26-year-old hurler has a sound pitching shoulder. The hard-throwing right-hander, obtained from the A's in a July deal, compiled a combined record of 10-2, posting a 2.07 ERA in 25 starts for his two teams.
October 18, 2008
 		The Red Sox, scoring in each of the last three innings, erase a seven-run deficit in the seventh to beat the Rays, 8-7, in Game 5 of the ALCS. The Philadelphia A's, who rallied after trailing 8-0 to beat the Cubs, 10-8, in Game 4 of the 1929 World Series, are the only team to have made a bigger comeback in the postseason.
October 20, 2008
 		The Cubs and Jim Hendry agreed to a four-year contract extension. The deal, which will expire in 2012 and extend into the club's new ownership tenure, is the general manager's reward for the team's best regular-season showing in more than sixty years en route to its second consecutive National League Central title.
January 4, 2008
 		The city of Chicago approves the Cubs' proposal to add 70 'bullpen box seats' and additional signage at Wrigley Field. The 93-year-old ballpark, due to its landmark status, needed permission from the Department of Planning and Development to make the changes.
October 26, 2008
 		The Hank Aaron Award, given annually to the top offensive player in each league, is presented to Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis (.312, 29, 115) and Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez (.289, 27, 111). The honor was established in 1999 to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Hall of Fame outfielder surpassing Babe Ruth's all-time home run record.
August 4, 2008
 		At the start of the rain delay during the Astros and Cubs game at Wrigley Field, fans take cover in the concourse due to a tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service for downtown Chicago. The game resumes in 2 hours, 45 minutes, but an hour later, more thunder and lightning and another 39-minute stoppage postpone the contest in the bottom of the eighth, with Houston credited with a 2-0 rain-shortened victory.

January 29, 2008
 		Baseball announces the annual Hall of Fame Game, played since 1940, will end after the June 16th Cooperstown contest between the Cubs and Padres. With the 68-year tradition ending, no major league team will participate in exhibition games during the season.
May 25, 2008
 		Former major league pitcher Geremi Gonzalez, signed by the Cubs as an amateur free agent in 1991, is killed by lightning standing on a dock in western Venezuela. The 33-year-old right-hander, who compiled a 30-35 record, also hurled for the Devil Rays, Red Sox, Mets, and the Brewers before being released by Milwaukee in 2006.
August 14, 2008
 		Mark Kotsay joins Albert Hall as the only Atlanta player to complete the cycle when he strokes a seventh-inning double, his 1,500th career hit. The outfielder's 5-for-5 performance isn't enough, with the Cubs beating the Braves, 11-7, to give Chicago their first season sweep of the Braves in franchise history, which dates back to 1876.

November 10, 2008
 		Cubs' freshman Geovany Soto (.285, 23, 86), garnering 31 of 32 first-place votes, wins the National League Rookie of the Year award. The 25-year-old catcher becomes the first backstop selected since Mike Piazza won the freshman honor while playing for the Dodgers in 1993.
November 12, 2008
 		Lou Piniella wins the National League Manager of the Year award after leading the Cubs to the postseason for the second consecutive season. While managing in Seattle, the fiery skipper also won the AL honor in 1995 and 2001.
November 18, 2008
 		Ryan Dempster (17-6, 2.96) and the Cubs agree to a $52 million, four-year deal. The 31-year-old right-handed starter had been the club's closer, saving 87 games in 102 chances during the 2005-07 seasons.
October 16, 2008
 		The Red Sox, behind 7-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning, score eight runs in the three last frames to beat the Rays in Game 5 of the ALCS at Fenway Park, 8-7. Boston's comeback victory is the biggest postseason rally since the 1929 A's tallied ten times in the seventh inning to wipe out an eight-run deficit against the Cubs in their 10-8 victory in Game 4 of the World Series.

August 28, 2008
 		The Cubs game against the Phillies at Wrigley Field becomes the first contest played using video replay available to umpires to review calls regarding fair or foul home runs, balls in or out of the ballpark, and fan interference determinations. Not employed in any of the three ballparks going online today, all major league clubs will use the new technology starting tomorrow.
December 3, 2008
 		After being declined salary arbitration by the Cubs earlier in the week, Bobby Howry (7-5, 5.35) agrees to a $2.75M, one-year deal with the Giants. San Francisco plans to use the 35-year-old right-handed reliever as the club's primary setup man.
December 13, 2008
 		The Indians sign free-agent Kerry Wood (5-4, 3.26) to a two-year deal with a one-year option reportedly worth $20 million after the oft-injured right-hander passes a physical taken earlier in the week. The former Cubs fireballing phenom saved 34 games in 2008, his first season as a closer for Chicago.
April 4, 2008
 		Carried by his momentum trying to avoid the pitch, Astros catcher J.R. Towles does a handstand at home plate after getting hit above the knee during the second inning in Houston's 4-3 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. In his next at-bat, the 24-year-old-backstop from Crosby (TX) hits a two-run homer, a feat he accomplishes standing on his feet.
March 31, 2008
 		Outside of Wrigley Field, the Cubs unveil the seven-foot bronze sculpture of Ernie Banks by 46-year-old Lou Cella, a passionate fan who idolized Mr. Cub as a kid. The typographical error on the statue's granite base, "Lets play two," is quickly corrected when the sculptor comes down to the ballpark two days later and carves the needed apostrophe.

Ernie Banks Statue
March 18, 2009
 		The Cubs announce that the team will retire its fifth number when 31 will be set aside on May 3, honoring both Fergie Jenkins (1966-73, 1982-83) and Greg Maddux (1986-92, 2004-06). The hurlers will join Ron Santo (#10), Ernie Banks (#14), Ryne Sandberg (#23), and Billy Williams (#26) as honorees chosen by the Chicago club.
December 18, 2009
 		The Cubs trade outcast Milton Bradley to the Mariners for pitcher Carlos Silva (1-3, 8.60), Seattle's costly and underachieving right-hander. Chicago suspended the outspoken and unpopular outfielder for his criticism of the team's atmosphere as the reason the club hasn't won a World Series since 1908.
April 3, 2009
 		On a damp and chilly New York night, the Mets and Yankees open their new stadiums with exhibition games. The double debut in the Big Apple sees each team win when the Amazins beat the Red Sox, 4-3, and the Bronx Bombers, launching three homers to defeat the Cubs, 7-4.
January 5, 2009
 		According to reports, the Cubs and free-agent outfielder Milton Bradley have reached a preliminary agreement on a $30 million, three-year deal. The switch-hitting All-Star, who batted .321 and led the American League with a .436 on-base percentage, will fill the team's need for a left-handed presence in the middle of the lineup.
January 6, 2009
 		The Cubs acquire right-handed reliever Luis Vizcaino from the Rockies for starting pitcher Jason Marquis and cash. The deal frees up $9 million from Chicago's payroll in 2009 and gives the club more financial flexibility to sign free-agent outfielder Milton Bradley.
August 10, 2009
 		Troy Tulowitzki collects five hits, completing the cycle with a three-bagger in the seventh inning of the Rockies' 11-5 victory over the Cubs at Coors Field. The Colorado shortstop is the fifth player in franchise history to accomplish the feat and the sixth major leaguer this season to have a single, double, triple, and a homer in the same game.

January 13, 2009
 		Appearing on Larry King Live, President George W. Bush makes it very clear he doesn't have any interest in becoming baseball's commissioner when Bud Selig leaves the post. The former owner of the Rangers, who leaves office in seven days, tells the CNN talk show host he isn't looking to get back into the game in any capacity.
October 12, 2009
 		The Cubs file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Wilmington, Delaware. The anticipated short-term move will allow the club's owner, the Tribune Company, to sell the team in an $845 million deal to the family of TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.'s founder, Joe Ricketts.
October 30, 2009
 		The Cubs' chairman, Tom Ricketts, makes it clear that the new ownership intends to win a World Championship. At his introductory press conference, the investment banker tells the media he believes a thoughtful, long-range approach is needed for the team to overcome its 101-year absence from the Fall Classic.
June 20, 2009
 		Two major league games end on walk-off wild pitches in extra innings on the same day. Jason Jennings' errant throw allows Nate Schierholtz to score the winning run for the Giants with two outs in the 11th inning to beat Texas, 2-1, and Andres Blanco comes home on Kerry Wood's miscue, giving the Cubs a 6-5 victory over the Indians in 13 innings.
May 4, 2009
 		With their 7-2 win over Arizona, the Dodgers establish a National League record for consecutive victories to open a season at home. Their 11-0 start surpasses the NL mark shared by the 1918 Giants, 1970 Cubs, and 1983 Braves and is one shy of the major-league record set by the Tigers in 1911.
January 28, 2009
 		The Cubs swap utility infielder Ronny Cedeno and southpaw Garrett Olson to the Mariners for right-hander Aaron Heilman, making it the second trade for the 30-year-old right-hander this offseason. Seven weeks ago, the Mets dealt the much-maligned reliever to Seattle as part of a three-team trade that included the Indians.
October 27, 2009
 		General manager Ed Wade announces Brad Mills has agreed to a two-year contract, with a team option for the third, to become the Astros' manager, replacing Dave Clark, the interim manager named in September to take the reins for the fired Cecil Cooper. The 52-year-old, who has been Terry Francona's bench coach for the past six seasons with the Red Sox, has never managed in the majors but spent 11 seasons as a minor league skipper with the Cubs, Rockies, and Dodgers.
September 20, 2009
 		The Cubs suspend Milton Bradley for the rest of the year, a day after the turbulent outfielder criticized the team in a newspaper interview, citing there wasn't a "positive environment" in the organization, and he could see why the club hadn't won a championship in the last century. According to manager Lou Piniella, Chicago's decision to bring back the 32-year-old, with two years remaining on a three-year free-agent $30-million contract he signed last offseason, will be general manager Jim Hendry's call.
November 30, 2009
 		Sports Illustrated names Derek Jeter as its Sportsman of the Year, making the 'Captain' the first Yankee honored by the magazine. The other baseball recipients to win the award, given annually since SI's inception in 1954, includes Johnny Podres (Dodgers - 1955), Stan Musial (Cardinals - 1957), Sandy Koufax (Dodgers - 1965), Tom Seaver (Mets - 1969), Pete Rose (Reds - 1975), Orel Hershiser (Dodgers - 1988), Cal Ripken Jr. (Orioles - 1995), Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa (Cardinals, Cubs - 1998), Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling (Diamondbacks - 2001), and the entire Red Sox team (2004).

May 21, 2009
 		Albert Pujols's first-inning blast off Sean Marshall in the Cardinals' 3-1 victory over the Cubs knocks out the letter "I" on the Big Mac Land sign at Busch Stadium. During any game, if a Cardinal player hits a home run into Big Mac Land, built in the left-field stands (section 272) as a tribute to Mark McGwire, everyone at the game is entitled to redeem their ticket for a free Big Mac at all participating restaurants in the fast-food chain.
December 5, 2009
 		After trying seven shortstops since Nomar Garciaparra's 2004 trade to the Cubs, the Red Sox give Marco Scutaro an opportunity to play the position, inking the 34-year-old infielder to a two-year deal with a club option for 2012. The free agent, who hit a career-best .282 along with 12 homers and 60 RBIs for Toronto last season, will replace Alex Gonzalez, who left the Red Sox after Boston declined his $6 million option and recently signed with the Blue Jays.
December 3, 2009
 		The A's trade right-handed pitcher Jeff Gray and prospects Matt Spencer and Ronny Morla to the Cubs for infielders Jake Fox and Aaron Miles, along with cash considerations. With Fox's addition to their lineup, Oakland gets a much-needed power boost from the right side of the plate.
December 9, 2009
 		In budget mode, the Rangers deal starting pitcher Kevin Millwood (13-10, 3.67), who signed a five-year, $60 million deal in 2005, to the Orioles for reliever Chris Ray and a player to be named later. Then, to restock their rotation, Texas reaches a preliminary agreement for less money with free-agent Rich Harden, who posted a 9-9 record with the Cubs last season.
December 31, 2009
 		The Cubs agree to a $15 million, three-year deal with Texas free-agent Marlon Byrd (.283, 20, 89) to fill the void in the outfield created when the trade to Seattle of the agitated Milton Bradley. Chicago's new outfielder will patrol centerfield, replacing Kosuke Fukudome, who will move over to right field.
December 31, 2009
 		After trying seven regular shortstops since trading Nomar Garciaparra to the Cubs in 2004, the Red Sox sign Marco Scutaro to a deal that guarantees the 34-year-old infielder to a $12.5 million, two-year contract to fill the void. The former utility player with the Mets and A's had a career year last season for the Blue Jays after becoming the team's everyday shortstop.
September 7, 2009
 		The Pirates become the first baseball franchise in history to post a losing record for 17 consecutive seasons when the team drops a 4-2 decision to the Cubs at PNC Park. The dubious streak, which dates back to 1993, surpasses the Phillies' skid from 1933 to 1948.
January 6, 2010
 		In his ninth year on the BBWAA's ballot, Andre Dawson is the only player to receive 75% or more of the writers' votes (77.9) necessary for election to the Hall of Fame. The former National League Rookie of the Year (1977 - Montreal) and MVP (1987 - Chicago), an outfielder for the Expos, Cubs, Red Sox, and the Marlins, is one of three players, along with Willie Mays and Barry Bonds, to exceed 400 homers and 300 stolen bases during his 21-year major league career.
June 22, 2010
 		Before calling his 5000th major league game, Rays announcer Dewayne Staats throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the hometown team's 2-1 loss to San Diego at Tropicana Field. In his 25th season, the veteran broadcaster has also done play-by-play for the Yankees, Cubs, Astros, and ESPN.
October 19, 2010
 		The Cubs select Mike Quade, Lou Piniella's interim replacement who guided the team to a 24-13 record during the last six weeks of the season, as the franchise's newest manager. Triple-A Iowa skipper and Hall of Fame icon Ryne Sandberg, a finalist in the selection process, was considered the front-runner for the position.
October 20, 2010
 		Ted Lilly signs a three-year, $33 million deal to remain with the Dodgers. The 34-year-old southpaw, obtained from the Cubs in early August, compiled a 7-4 record with a 3.52 ERA in 12 starts for LA, including victories in the first five starts for his new team.
October 29, 2010
 		Joe Girardi finalizes a new three-year contract with the Yankees to remain the team's manager. During the season, rumors surfaced that the Illinois native and former Cub catcher might be interested in replacing the retiring Lou Piniella as the Chicago skipper, a position recently filled by interim Mike Quade.
January 11, 2010
 		Former pitching great Greg Maddux, who started his major league career with the Cubs in 1986, returns to the team as an assistant to general manager Jim Hendry. A sure first-ballot Hall of Famer, the 355-game winner's duties will include
  • Assisting the major league and minor league coaching staffs at spring training.
  • Evaluating talent.
  • Developing minor league players.
January 11, 2010
 		With aspirations of being the Cubs manager someday, Ryne Sandberg agrees to be the skipper of the team's Triple-A Iowa farm club, replacing Bobby Dickerson, who left for a position with Baltimore. The 50-year-old Hall of Fame infielder has been managing in the Chicago farm system for the past three seasons, two with the Single-A Peoria Chiefs and one year with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies.
November 15, 2010
 		Ryne Sandberg, returning to the organization that gave him his professional start, is hired to manage the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Phillies. The diplomatic Hall of Fame second baseman, a finalist to replace Lou Piniella as the Cubs manager, decided it would be in the best interest of everyone involved not to continue managing in the Chicago minor league system.
June 13, 2010
 		Against their crosstown rivals at Wrigley Field, the Cubs get out of a bases-loaded jam in the final frame for a 1-0 victory over the White Sox. Juan Pierre's leadoff single in the top of the ninth spoils Ted Lilly's bid for a no-hitter, a feat that hasn't been accomplished at the 'Friendly Confines' since Milt Pappas threw a no-no in 1972.
September 19, 2010
 		A piece of wood from Wellington Castillo's shattered maple bat punctures Tyler Colvin's chest, the runner on third base. The Cubs' rookie outfielder, who will not play another game this season, scores on his teammate's double but leaves the game in the bottom half of the inning to be taken to a hospital.
July 25, 2010
 		Andre Dawson, an outfielder with the Expos and Cubs, becomes the 203rd player inducted into the Hall of Fame. Joining 'Hawk' in Cooperstown are former manager Whitey Herzog, major league ump Doug Harvey, broadcaster Jon Miller, and baseball writer Bill Madden.
September 7, 2010
 		A statue of Billy Williams, who played 16 seasons with the club from 1959-74, is dedicated by the Cubs on the corner of Sheffield Avenue and Addison Street outside Wrigley Field. Attending the unveiling of the sculpture that portrays the Hall of Famer outfielder finishing his sweet left-handed swing is his wife, Shirley, former teammates Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins, Ron Santo, Glenn Beckert, and the Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Cub Outfielder Billy Williams -- Wrigley Field Chicago (IL) April 2012

Photo by Ron Cogswell
December 17, 2010
 		After losing the right-hander to free agency two seasons ago, the Cubs sign Kerry Wood, one of the franchise's most popular players of the recent past, to a $1.5 million, one-year deal that includes bonuses for appearances and games finished. After attending Ron Santo's funeral last week, the 33-year-old free agent contacted Tom Ricketts, letting the club owner know he would accept a fair offer to return to the North Side of Chicago.
September 15, 2010
 		The Cubs beat the Cardinals at Busch Stadium, 7-3, to complete their first three-game sweep in St. Louis in over twenty years. The victory marks the first time since June 12, 1988, that the visiting Chicago fans can break out the brooms in the Gateway City.
December 9, 2010
 		The Cubs sign former Tampa Bay slugger free agent Carlos Pena to a $10 million, one-year deal after he turned down several multi-year offers from other clubs. The client of agent Scott Boras is optimistic about having a big season in Chicago, leading to a long-term contract for similar money made by fellow first basemen Ryan Howard ($125 million/5 years) and Mark Teixeira ($180 million/8 years).
April 29, 2010
 		During the Diamondbacks game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, scores of protesters wave signs and chant, "Boycott Arizona! Boycott Arizona!" on the sidewalk outside the ballpark. The demonstration is in response to the state's recently enacted illegal immigration law, with organizers hoping the movement will inspire baseball fans to stay away from contests that feature the team from The Grand Canyon State.
August 18, 2010
 		The front-running Braves acquire slugger Derrek Lee from the Cubs for three minor league pitchers. As a ten-year veteran, who had played at least five years with the same team, the 34-year-old first baseman rejected a trade to the Angels last month because he thought LA had too much of a deficit to make up in the AL West race.
May 7, 2010
 		Starlin Castro, the first major leaguer born in the 1990s, becomes the sixth Cub in franchise history to hit a home run in his first big-league at-bat, going deep off Homer Bailey in Chicago's 14-7 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park. The 20-year-old rookie shortstop also becomes the first player to compile six RBIs in his first game in the majors when he delivers a bases-loaded triple in addition to his second-inning three-run blast to deep right field.
October 5, 2010
 		Hanshin Tigers outfielder Matt Murton breaks Ichiro's Japanese record for the most hits in a single season when he strokes his 211th hit of the year, a two-run single in a game against the Yakult Swallows. The 29-year-old former major leaguer, a 2003 first-round draft pick of the Red Sox who became part of a trade to the Cubs in a four-team deal that included Nomar Garciaparra, also played with the A's before being released by the Rockies last season.
August 30, 2010
 		Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano becomes the first major league hurler to homer in eight consecutive seasons since 1970 when he hits a two-run homer off Brian Burres in the fifth inning of the team's 14-2 rout of the Pirates at Wrigley Field. Southpaw Gary Peters accomplished the feat for nine straight years, launching at least one round-tripper every season in 1963 while playing for the White Sox.
December 3, 2010
 		At 70, former Chicago infielder Ron Santo dies due to complications from bladder cancer and diabetes. The beloved Cubs broadcaster, who played more games at third base for the team than anyone else, will be selected by the Golden Era Committee to the Hall of Fame next year after being named first on the Veterans Committee ballots in 2005, 2007, and 2009, but falling short of the required number of votes for election each year.

(Ed. Note: On December 3, Santo died at 12:40 a.m. in Scottsdale (AZ), although many sources report the date of his death as the day before. - LP)

March 10, 2010
 		Nomar Garciaparra, announcing his retirement before the exhibition game against Tampa Bay, signs a ceremonial one-day contract with Boston, six years after rejecting the team's four-year, $60 million offer that resulted in an acrimonious trade to the Cubs in 2004. The former Rookie of the Year and AL batting champion, who finishes his 14-year major league career with a .313 batting average, gets his wish to leave the game in a Red Sox uniform when he throws out the ceremonial first pitch to former teammate Jason Varitek.

June 28, 2010
 		The Cubs place Carlos Zambrano, suspended for three games for his recent tirade against teammate Derrek Lee, on the restricted list. Doctors, mutually selected by Major League Baseball and the players' union, will evaluate the excitable right-hander after his first-inning meltdown in the visitors' dugout after surrendering four runs to the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
June 28, 2010
 		The Cubs honor Ron Santo for his 50 years in baseball, giving the former third baseman and current WGN radio analyst a "Santo 50" white flag autographed by the players and a photo of the Wrigley Field marquee with the message, "Thank you, Ron, for 50 great years." The seventy-year-old will also throw out the ceremonial first pitch and sings "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch.

July 31, 2010
 		Needing a home run to complete the sixth cycle in franchise history, Carlos Gonzalez, the leading hitter in the National League, belts a game-ending round-tripper against Cubs' closer Sean Marshall that gives the Rockies a 6-5 comeback victory. 'CarGo,' who becomes the fifth player to complete the cycle with a walk-off home run, smashes the first pitch thrown in the bottom of the ninth 462 feet into the third deck, making the monstrous shot the 29th to land there in the 11-year history of Coors Field.

July 30, 2010
 		The Rockies establish a major league mark by banging out 11 consecutive hits, four singles, four doubles, two homers, and a triple, in the team's 17-2 clobbering of the Cubs at Coors Field. Colorado sends 18 batters to the plate in their twelve-run eighth inning, collecting 13 hits to set a franchise record in a single frame.
September 23, 2011
 		Starlin Castro collects his 200th hit with a leadoff single off Chris Carpenter in the team's 5-1 victory over the Cardinals to become only the 10th player to accomplish the feat before the age of 22 years old and the youngest Cub in franchise history to do so in a single season. En route to finishing the season with a league-leading 207, Chicago's 21-year-old shortstop reaches the milestone, two years younger than Billy Herman (1932) and Augie Galan (1935), who were both 23.

May 25, 2011
 		Jo-Jo Reyes makes his 28th straight start without recording a victory, tying the major league record shared by Cliff Curtis (1910-11, Braves, Cubs, Phillies) and Matt Keough (1978-79, A's). The Blue Jays southpaw, who leaves the game trailing 5-0 to the Yankees after just three innings of work, hasn't won a start since June 13, 2008.
May 16, 2011
 		Astros owner Drayton McLane sells the team for approximately $685 million to a group led by Jim Crane, who failed in his attempts to buy this team in 2008, the Cubs in 2009, and the Rangers with Mark Cuban in 2010. During McLane's tenure with Houston, which started in 1992, the club appeared six times in the postseason, including a losing trip to the World Series in 2005.
May 8, 2011
 		In all American League contests today, one team in each of the seven games scores exactly five runs. The last time such a statistical happenstance occurred was on August 10, 1993, when seven NL teams scored exactly two runs in each of the scheduled games.
September 28, 2011
 		Starlin Castro ( 21 years, 188 days) becomes the youngest player to lead the National League in hits, finishing the season with 207. The Cubs sophomore All-Star shortstop, who hit .307 in 158 games, reaches base for the 40th straight game with an eighth-inning double in the team’s 9-2 loss to Padres at Petro Park, extending his current hitting streak to 10 games.
November 18, 2011
 		The Cubs introduce Dale Sveum as the fifth-place team's new manager, replacing Mike Quade, the former skipper fired by Chicago's new GM Theo Epstein at the end of the season. The 52nd manager in franchise history, whose managerial experience consists of sixteen games as Milwaukee's interim skipper in 2008, is considered a no-nonsense baseball lifer who will stress the game's fundamentals while implementing "high standards of accountability" for the players.
July 15, 2011
 		The Braves become the third team to notch their 10,000th victory in baseball history when they beat the Nationals at Turner Field, 11-1. The franchise, which played its first game in 1876 as the Boston Red Caps, joins the Giants and Cubs in reaching the milestone.
August 16, 2011
 		With one out, two strikes, and the bases loaded, Brian Bogusevic goes deep off Cubs reliever Carlos Marmol, giving the Astros a 6-5 victory at Minute Maid Park. The converted outfielder, drafted as a southpaw pitcher, becomes the 26th player in MLB History to hit an ultimate grand slam, a walk-off home run that wins the game by one run.
July 7, 2011
 		The Cubs erase an eight-run deficit, beating Washington at Nationals Park, 10-9. The defeat of the hometown team marks the largest blown lead in franchise history for the Nats, including their tenure in Montreal as the Expos.
June 5, 2011
 		Albert Pujols beats the Cubs for the second consecutive day with a dramatic, extra-inning, walk-off home run when he takes a Rodrigo Lopez pitch deep over the left-center field fence, giving the Cardinals a 3-2 victory in 10 innings. Stan Musial is the only other Redbird player to have also accomplished the feat.
August 1, 2011
 		After popping out in a pinch-hitting appearance, Craig Counsell remains without a hit in his last 45 at-bats, tying the longest single-season hitless streak by a position player in history, established by Brooklyn backstop Bill Bergen in 1909. The major league record is 0-for-70, established in 1970 by Bob Buhl, a pitcher who toiled with the Braves and Cubs that season.
February 14, 2011
 		Avoiding arbitration, Carlos Marmol agrees to a three-year, $20 million deal with the Cubs. The 28-year-old closer saved 38 games in 43 opportunities last season and compiled a 2-3 record with an ERA of 2.55.
January 7, 2011
 		In an eight-player trade, the Cubs send outfielder Sam Fuld and minor leaguers Christopher Archer, Hak-Ju Lee, Brandon Guyer, and Robinson Chirinos to the Rays to acquire starter Matt Garza. In addition to receiving the 27-year-old right-hander, who compiled a 15-10 record last season that included a no-hitter, Chicago obtains outfielder Fernando Perez and a minor league southpaw prospect.
December 23, 2011
 		The Cubs trade lefty reliever Sean Marshall to the Reds for southpaw starter Travis Wood, outfielder Dave Sappelt and minor league infielder Ronald Torreyes. In February, Chicago's former set-up man will sign a three-year, $18 million extension with his new team that runs through 2015.
December 5, 2011
 		Ron Santo is elected to the Hall of Fame posthumously by the Golden Era Committee, receiving 15 of its possible 16 votes. The former Cubs' third baseman, who played in the 1960s and early '70s, compiled a .277 lifetime batting average, won five Gold Gloves, and was a member of nine All-Star teams during his 15-year tenure in Chicago, including a season on the South Side with the White Sox.
June 7, 2012
 		Starlin Castro becomes the 28th player to collect 500 hits before the age of 23 when he singles off A.J. Burnett with two outs in the fifth inning in the Cubs' 12-2 victory over the Bucs at PNC Park. The 22-year, 167-day old Chicago shortstop reaches the milestone in his 421st major league game.
August 28, 2012
 		Starlin Castro agrees to a seven-year contract extension with the Cubs, including a club option for an eighth season in 2020. The 22-year-old shortstop, already a two-time All-Star, became the youngest player in National League history to lead the circuit in hits when he collected 207 last season.
March 15, 2012
 		Baseball-Reference.com leaves a blank space next to 2011 on its National League MVP list instead of identifying Ryan Braun as the award's winner. The Brewers outfielder, who received a 50-game suspension scheduled for the start of the 2012 season, became the first player to successfully challenge a drug test result when an arbitration panel overturned the ruling due to the improper handling of the specimen taken last Fall.

(Ed. Note: Baseball-Reference.com now lists Ryan Braun as the National League's MVP for 2011. -LP)

Ryan Braun Left off MVP List
July 22, 2012
 		Ron Santo, who died at the end of 2010, disappointed about not being selected for Cooperstown, is inducted posthumously into the Hall of Fame. In tribute to the team's former third baseman and beloved broadcaster, the Cubs click their heels as they jumped over the third-base line taking the field in St. Louis, invoking the memory of the infielder's signature move after a victory.

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January 5, 2012
 		The Cubs trade Carlos Zambrano to the Marlins for right-hander Chris Volstad and cash. The 30-year-old right-hander will join fellow Venezuelan Ozzie Guillen, Miami's new manager, who has publicly supported the combative hurler's controversial moments, including firing a ball into the outfield and physically fighting with teammates.
August 5, 2012
 		Darwin Barney, who hasn't made an error since April 17, becomes the Cubs' all-time leader for second basemen when he plays in his 91st consecutive game in a single season without a miscue at the position. En route to setting the National League mark with a 127 straight errorless-game streak, the 26-year-old Chicago infielder surpasses Ryne Sandberg's team record that the Hall of Famer established in 1989.
March 2, 2012
 		In the first change to the MLB playoff structure since the introduction of wild-card teams in 1995, a new one-game, a wild-card game between the teams with the best records in each league, which are not division winners, will become the initial round of the postseason. The new postseason system, which would have allowed the Red Sox and the Braves to avoid their historical collapses last season, increases the reward of winning a division title but opens the door to the possibility of a third-place team winning the World Series.

April 20, 2012
 		The Reds become the fifth major league team to record their 10,000th franchise victory with a 9-4 win over Chicago at Wrigley Field. Cincinnati joins the Giants, Cubs, Dodgers, Cardinals, and Braves in reaching the milestone.
November 13, 2012
 		Davey Johnson, who led the Nationals to the most victories in the major leagues with a 98-64 record, is selected as the National League Manager of the Year, receiving 23 of the 32 first-place votes cast by the writers. The 69-year-old manager, honored by the BBWAA in 1997 for his managerial skills with the Orioles, joins Bobby Cox (Blue Jays, Braves), Tony La Russa (White Sox and A's, Cardinals), Lou Piniella (Mariners, Cubs), and Jim Leyland (Pirates, Tigers) as the fifth skipper to have won the award in both leagues.
January 17, 2012
 		Left-handed starter Cole Hamels (14-9, 2.79) and the Phillies come to terms on a $15 million, one-year contract. The southpaw's deal surpasses the highest previous amount offered to an arbitration-eligible player of $12.4 million that the Cubs paid Carlos Zambrano in 2007.
October 2, 2012
 		For the first time in fifty years, teams with 100+ losses face one another when the 54-106 Astros beat the 60-100 Cubs at Wrigley Field, 3-0. The last time clubs with triple-digit defeats met occurred during the final weekend of the 1962 season with the Mets playing Chicago at the same Windy City ballpark.
August 29, 2012
 		Darwin Barney sets a National League single-season record when he plays in his 114th straight errorless game at second base, established in 2010 by Padres' infielder David Eckstein when official scorer Bob Rosenberg changes his scoring of the mishandled throw. The 26-year-old Gold Glover originally received an error in the Cubs' 3-1 loss to the Brewers at Wrigley Field for his toss to Luis Valbuena, but the retired sportswriter changed his mind, giving the third baseman an error for muffing the catch.
September 26, 2012
 		After 63 years of doing play-by-play, Milo Hamilton calls his final game, painting the word picture of his Astros beating St. Louis at Minute Maid Park, 2-0. The Hall of Fame broadcaster, who also worked for the Browns, Cardinals, Cubs, White Sox, Braves, and Pirates before starting his 28-year tenure with Houston, gives an inspirational farewell speech during the seventh-inning stretch, receiving a standing ovation from the fans at the ballpark.
October 3, 2012
 		The National League expansion team established in 1962, the Astros play their final game in the Senior Circuit, a 5-4 loss to Cubs, setting a franchise record for defeats in a season, finishing with 107, one more last year. Houston, who will play in the AL West next season, becomes the first team to drop 106 or more decisions in consecutive campaigns since the 1964-65 Mets.
February 3, 2012
 		The Cubs and Matt Garza avoid arbitration when they agree to a one-year, $9.5 million deal. The 28-year-old right-hander posted a 10-10 record and a 3.32 earned run average last year, his first season with the team.
September 8, 2012
 		Darwin Barney sets the National League record for consecutive errorless games by a second baseman with 124, surpassing Ryne Sandberg, another Cub infielder, who played his consecutive errorless streak at second between the 1989 and 1990 seasons. The major league mark for straight errorless games at second base is 186, established by Tiger infielder Placido Polanco from 2006-08.
May 18, 2012
 		Kerry Wood ends his major league career on his terms when he strikes out the one batter he faces before walking off the mound into an embrace from his six-year-old son in front of the Wrigley Field dugout. The 35-year-old much-injured Cubs' right-hander, an All-Star as both a starter and closer, believes today's final strikeout to be the most significant and the most memorable moment of his 14-year career.

July 28, 2012
 		Ike Davis drives in all of the runs in the Mets' 6-3 loss in Arizona when he becomes the ninth player in franchise history to hit three home runs in a game. The New York first baseman joins Steve Finley (2004, Diamondbacks), Eddie Murray (1980, Orioles), and Clyde McCullough (1942, Cubs) as only the fourth player in baseball history to account for all three of his team's runs with solo homers in a defeat.
May 12, 2013
 		The Cubs and Anthony Rizzo agree to a $41 million, seven-year contract that could reach $68 million over nine seasons. In January 2012, Chicago acquired the 23-year-old first baseman and right-handed starting pitcher Zach Cates from the Padres in exchange for right-handed starter Andrew Cashner and outfielder Kyung-Min Na.
September 29, 2013
 		With 13 combined K's in the season finale, the Tigers pitchers end the season with 1,428 to establish the major league record for strikeouts by a team, surpassing a mark set by the 2003 Cubs. Detroit's starting rotation features Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and Anibal Sanchez, who have struck out 200+ batters this season.
November 7, 2013
 		Rick Renteria becomes the Cubs' 53rd manager in franchise history, the fourth in the previous five years when he signs a three-year contract with two club option years with the last-place team that finished the season with 96 losses. Chicago's new 51-year-old skipper has spent the last three seasons as Bud Black's bench coach in San Diego.
October 12, 2013
 		Anibal Sanchez becomes the second person to strike out four batters in an inning in the postseason, whiffing Jacoby Ellsbury, Shane Victorino (who reaches base on a passed ball), David Ortiz, and Mike Napoli in Detroit's 1-0 ALCS victory over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. The 29-year-old right-hander, whose first-frame feat matches Cubs right-hander Orval Overall's total in Game 5 of the 1908 Fall Classic, is also the first Tiger hurler to accomplish the feat in franchise history, including the regular season.
January 11, 2013
 		Wearing a Cubs jersey and a backward blue baseball cap, Clark, the team's new mascot, makes his debut at Chicago's Advocate Illinois Masonic's Pediatric Developmental Center. Clark the Cub, named after the street located behind Wrigley Field's home plate, is being touted as the great-grandson of the franchise's first mascot, Joa, a live bear used as a good luck charm in 1916, nine years after the franchise officially adopted Cubs as the team's name.

November 20, 2013

"That's Mr. Cub — the man who came up through the Negro Leagues, making $7 a day, and became the first black player to suit up for the Cubs and one of the greatest hitters of all time. In the process, Ernie became known as much for his 512 home runs as for his cheer and his optimism, and his eternal faith that someday the Cubs would go all the way." - BARACK OBAMA, U.S. president, reflecting on Ernie Banks' achievements on and off the field.

Barack Obama awards Ernie Banks with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, an honor presented to individuals who have made meritorious contributions to the nation. The 82-year-old Cubs legend is one of 16 Americans recognized, including former President Bill Clinton, global media star Oprah Winfrey, one-time NASA astronaut Sally Ride, feminist Gloria Steinem, and  Dean Smith, North Carolina's basketball coach.

July 26, 2013
 		The Cubs trade Alfonso Soriano and cash to the Yankees in exchange for minor-leaguer Corey Black, a 21-year-old right-handed pitching prospect. The 37-year-old Dominican left fielder made his major league debut with the Bronx Bombers in 1999, developing into an All-Star second baseman, before being dealt to Texas four seasons later in a blockbuster deal that brought Alex Rodriguez to New York.
July 22, 2013
 		The Rangers trade three prospects, third baseman Mike Olt, pitchers C.J. Edwards and Justin Grimm, to the Cubs for Matt Garza, a player the team has attempted to land for the past two seasons. The deal also includes the Cubs receiving a player to be named later, most likely Neil Ramirez, if his shoulder is sound, or two other minor-leaguers if the right-hander is still injured.
August 3, 2013
 		The first-place Dodgers set a franchise record, winning their 13th consecutive game on the road with their 3-0 victory over the Cubs in Chicago. The Giants established the National League mark in 1916 when the team won 17 straight games away from the Polo Grounds.
July 29, 2014
 		In the longest game (by time) in Cubs' history, John Baker becomes the first position player to earn a victory since Orioles' first baseman Chris Davis accomplished the feat in 2012. In the six-hour and 27-minute marathon played at Wrigley Field, the backup catcher tosses a scoreless 16th inning and then scores the winning run in the bottom of the frame, giving Chicago a 4-3 victory over Colorado.
December 15, 2014
 		The Cubs and Jon Lester have terms on a $155 million contract to keep the 30-year-old southpaw in Chicago for six years. The deal, which includes a record $30 million signing bonus, makes the former Red Sox and A's ace the second-highest-paid pitcher in baseball history, behind only Clayton Kershaw, who inked a $30.7 million pact with the Dodgers.
December 5, 2014
 		Kevin Cash becomes the youngest current skipper in the big leagues when the Rays tweet that he will replace Joe Maddon, who recently signed to manage the Cubs. Tampa Bay selects the 37-year-old former Indians' bullpen coach over Don Wakamatsu, the current Royals bench coach and one-time Mariners manager.
April 2, 2014
 		With the score tied 3–3 in the bottom of the 13th inning and the bases loaded with no outs, the Cubs turned a 7-2-3 double play against the Pirates. Left fielder Junior Lake, playing in the infield near the third baseline, fields Clint Barmes' grounder throwing home for one out, with the catcher relaying the ball to first base to complete the unusual twin-killing in the Pirates' eventual 4-3 walk-off victory three innings later at PNC Park.
March 31, 2014
 		Pittsburgh native Neil Walker sends the largest regular-season crowd in the 14-year history of PNC Park home happy when he hits a Carlos Villanueva change-up over the fence, giving the Pirates a 1-0 walk-off victory over the Cubs. The tenth-inning homer marks the first time since 1965, when Bob Bailey went deep off Giants' right-hander Juan Marichal, that a Buc player ended a scoreless Opening Day contest with a solo round-trip.
September 14, 2014
 		With runners on first and second in the fourth frame of the Pirates' 7-3 victory over the Cubs, the team turns a 5-4-3 triple play when Josh Harrison fields Matt Szczur's grounder and steps on third, forcing Chris Valaika before firing the ball to second to Neil Walker to retire Mike Ott. The second baseman's relay to first-sacker Andrew Lambo completes the first triple killing in the 14-year history of PNC Park.
October 31, 2014

"We saw it as a unique opportunity and faced a clear dilemma: be loyal to Rick or be loyal to the organization. In this business of trying to win a world championship for the first time in 107 years, the organization has priority over any one individual. We decided to pursue Joe." - THEO EPSTEIN, explaining manager Rick Renteria's dismissal.

Theo Epstein dismisses first-year Cubs' manager Rick Renteria (73-89) with two years remaining on his contract. The GM believes his skipper "deserved to come back for another season," but replaces him with field boss Joe Maddon, a free agent available after leading the low-payroll Rays to the postseason four times in his nine-year tenure with Tampa Bay.

June 7, 2014
 		As part of Wrigley Field's 100th anniversary, the Cubs honor 97-year-old Lennie Merullo, who receives a rousing ovation when he tosses the ceremonial first pitch before the team's 5-2 victory over the Marlins. The former infielder, who went 0-for-2 in three games for Chicago in the 1945 Fall Classic, is the last living person to play in a World Series game for the franchise.
March 20, 2014
 		The Angels trade first baseman Matt Scioscia, the son of manager Mike Scioscia, to the Cubs for outfielder Trevor Gretzky, the offspring of NHL Hall of Fame center Wayne Gretzky. The name-worthy swap does not help either prospect, with each failing to make the big league club.

December 19, 2014
 		Major League Baseball bestows the unprecedented title of commissioner emeritus to Bud Selig, effective January 25, the day he officially retires after serving in that position for a record twenty-three years. The new role makes 80-year old available to advise Commissioner-Elect Rob Manfred and to assist his successor with special projects.
April 13, 2015
 		Jon Lester finally attempts a pickoff at first base, ending a streak covering 66 appearances. The Cubs southpaw, who signed a six-year free-agent deal worth $155 million to start for Chicago this season, last threw over to first base on April 30, 2013, while pitching for the Red Sox.
April 10, 2015
 		Cubs Travis Wood and Tyler Matzek of the Rockies hit eighth in their team's lineup, marking just the 12th time in major league history that mound opponents have not batted ninth in the same game. The last occurrence happened in 2008 when the Cardinals, led by Tony La Russa, who frequently employed his hurler in that slot, played the Pirates.
August 30, 2015
 		The NL's eventual 2015 Cy Young Award recipient Jake Arrieta, needing just 116 pitches, beats Los Angeles, 2-0, tossing the 12th no-hitter thrown at the Chavez Ravine ballpark and the 14th no-no in Cubs history. The contest marks the second time in ten games the Dodgers have been unable to get a hit after being held hitless by Astros right-hander Mike Fiers on August 21st.

May 5, 2015
 		Mitch Harris becomes the first graduate of any military academy to earn a major league victory when the Cardinals beat the Cubs at Busch Stadium, 7-4. The 29-year-old Redbird rookie right-hander, the first Naval Academy midshipman in 94 years to appear in a big-league game, sails through a scoreless fourth inning in relief to notch the historic decision.
August 3, 2015
 		Adrian Beltre becomes only the fourth player in baseball history to hit for the cycle three times and the first to accomplish the feat since 1933 when Babe Herman collected a single, double, triple, and a home run for the Cubs. The Rangers' third baseman, also joins Bob Meusel (1928) and John Reilly (1890), completed the task with a fifth-inning home run in the team's 12-9 victory over Houston.

December 9, 2015
 		Major League Baseball issues a recommendation for all its 30 teams to install netting to protect their fans sitting in front of the most exposed field-level seats. The suggested protective shield, which would extend from one dugout to the other, will be implemented by most clubs before opening day, with the Mets, Pirates, and Twins already in compliance, having netting down the first and third base foul lines.
October 12, 2015
 		The Cubs homer six times en route to an 8-6 victory over the Cardinals at Wrigley Field in Game 3 of the NLDS. Chicago's sextet of round-trippers, including long balls from Kris Bryant, Starlin Castro, Dexter Fowler, Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber, and Jorge Soler, sets the postseason mark for home runs by one team in a game.
August 11, 2015
 		The Blue Jays, Rays, Marlins, Mets, Indians, Cubs, Royals, White Sox, Twins, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Mariners, Padres, Dodgers, and Giants all win, marking the first time every home team is victorious in a full slate of games. The unique occurrence became a reality when the last two completed games ended in extra innings in Cleveland and Seattle, with the host clubs enjoying a walk-off victory.
April 17, 2015
 		Kris Bryant makes his much-anticipated major league debut for the Cubs, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the team's 5-4 loss to the Padres at Wrigley Field. Chicago had delayed the start of his season to extend the club's control on the highly-touted freshman, who will be named the National League's Rookie of the Year.
October 21, 2015
 		In a series they never trailed, the Mets sweep the Cubs, 8-3, in Game 4 of the NLCS, capturing their fifth National League crown in franchise history. Daniel Murphy homered for a record sixth consecutive postseason game in the Wrigley Field contest, going deep off Fernando Rodney in the 8th inning, surpassing the mark set by Carlos Beltran with the Astros in 2004.
July 25, 2015
 		In his last start for the Phillies before being dealt to the Rangers, Cole Hamels throws a no-hitter against the Cubs, marking the first time Chicago has been no-hit since 1965. The 31-year-old southpaw joins Cliff Chambers (1951 Pirates) and Edwin Jackson (2010 Diamondbacks) as the only pitchers traded before their next start after hurling a no-no for their team.
October 22, 2016
 		The Cubs win their first pennant since 1945, blanking the Dodgers 5-0 at Wrigley Field in Game 6 of the NLCS. Kyle Hendrick, who goes 7â…“ innings, and Aroldis Chapman combine to face the minimum 27 batters, allowing only two hits and one walk, making it the first time this has occurred in the postseason play since Don Larsen threw a perfect game in the 1956 World Series.

November 2, 2016

"A little bouncer slowly toward Bryant. He will glove it and throw to Rizzo. It’s in time. And the Chicago Cubs win the World Series! The Cubs come pouring out of the dugout, jumping up and down like a bunch of delirious 10-year-olds. The Cubs have done it! The longest drought in the history of American sports is over, and the celebration begins." - PAT HUGHES, Cubs' announcer call of the final out in Game 7

After a 108-year drought, the Cubs capture the World Series, needing ten innings in Game 7 to defeat the Indians at Progressive Field, 8-7. Cleveland, who had a 3-1 game advantage in the Fall Classic, now owns the longest span between World Championships, with their last title coming in 1948.

October 25, 2016
 		Corey Kluber became the first pitcher in World Series history to record eight strikeouts in the first three innings of a game, surpassing the mark by one previously shared by Bob Gibson, Randy Johnson, and Orlando Hernandez. The Indians' ace, who throws six scoreless innings, accomplishes the feat in the team's Game 1 victory, a 6-0 win over the Cubs, at Progressive Field.
October 26, 2016
 		The Cubs' 5-1 decision over the Indians at Progressive Field marks the team’s first World Series game victory since 1945. The Chicago win hands Cleveland’s skipper Terry Francona his first loss in ten Fall Classic contests.
June 27, 2016
 		At Great American Ball Park, Cubs' third baseman Kris Bryant becomes the third major leaguer to collect five extra-base hits in one contest and the first with three home runs and two doubles. The 24-year-old Chicago infielder's offensive output joins the ranks of Ranger outfielder Josh Hamilton (Camden Yards, 2012) and Braves first baseman Joe Adcock (Ebbets Field, 1954), having both hit four homers and a double to accomplish the feat.

April 5, 2016
 		For the first time in more than six decades, the Cubs and White Sox start the same season with two victories and no losses. The last time both Chicago teams were undefeated after two games occurred in 1951, two seasons before Ernie Banks played his rookie year.
July 31, 2016
 		With the winning run on third with only one out and the team tied at 6 with the Mariners in the bottom of the 12th, Cubs skipper Jon Maddon goes to the bench, sending up poor-hitting pitcher Jon Lester to pinch-hit. The left-hander, a .051 hitter in 216 career at-bats, doesn't disappoint when he lays down a perfect squeeze bunt, giving Chicago a dramatic 7-6 walk-off victory at Wrigley Field.

July 12, 2016
 		Before the All-State Game at Petco Park, Major League Baseball announces that the leagues' batting championships will be named to honor two Hall of Famers known for their offensive prowess, Tony Gwynn (NL) and Rod Carew (AL). The late Padres' legend Gwynn, a career .338 hitter, shares the record with the Pirates' Honus Wagner with eight NL batting titles, and Carew, a lifetime .328 hitter, hit over .300 for 15 consecutive seasons (1969-83) while playing for the Twins and Angels.
May 11, 2016
 		Max Scherzer ties a major league mark when he strikes out 20 batters in a nine-inning game, joining Roger Clemens (1986, 1996 Red Sox), Kerry Wood (1998 Cubs), and Randy Johnson (2001 Diamondbacks). The 31-year-old right-hander, who goes the distance in Washington's 3-2 victory over the Tigers at Nationals Park, has an opportunity to establish a new record with two out in the ninth, but James McCann grounds into a force out at second base, ending the contest.

April 21, 2016
 		Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta tosses a no-hitter in the Cubs' 16-0 rout over the Reds at Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park. Not having not lost in his last 17 regular-season starts since his gem against the Dodgers last season, The Chicago ace becomes the second pitcher, joining Johnny Vander Meer, who threw consecutive no-hitters in 1938, to go unbeaten between tossing hitless games.

January 6, 2016
 		In his first year of eligibility, the Baseball Writers' Association of America name Ken Griffey, Jr. on 437 of 440 (99.32 percent) of their Hall of Fame ballots, surpassing the Hall of Fame record of 98.84 percent, set by Tom Seaver in 1992. Junior, a 13-time All-Star and the 1997 AL MVP Award recipient finished his 22 years in the major leagues with 630 home runs and a .284 batting average, playing mostly for the Mariners and Reds.
May 8, 2016
 		Bryce Harper reaches base seven times without recording an official at-bat due to being hit by a pitch and receiving six free passes. In the Nationals' 4-3 extra-inning loss at Wrigley Field, Cub hurlers throw 27 pitches, 25 out of the strike zone, to the 23-year-old reigning MVP.
September 25, 2017
 		In the second inning of the Cubs' 10-2 rout of the Cardinals at Busch Stadium, Addison Russell dives into the stands chasing a foul ball, spilling a fan's nachos onto the playing field. In the next frame, the Chicago shortstop hand delivers a fresh order of cheese-covered tortillas to the grateful Redbird fan.

(Ed. Note: Our thanks to Luke Yothment for inspiring this entry.)

October 15, 2017
 		Twenty-nine years later, Justin Turner follows Kirk Gibson into franchise folklore when he hits a postseason walk-off three-run home run in the 12th inning of LA's 4-1 victory over the Cubs in Game 2 of the NLCS. In his only Fall Classic appearance, a hobbled Kirk Gibson came off the bench in 1998 to hit one of the most memorable round-trippers in World Series history, giving the Dodgers a come-from-behind victory against the A's in Game 1.
March 9, 2017
 		Kris Bryant (.292, 39, 102), who made $652K in his rookie year, becomes the highest-paid second-year player when he comes to terms with the World Champion Cubs on a contract reportedly worth $1.05 million. The Chicago third baseman’s deal surpasses the previous record major league record of one million dollars, given to sophomore outfielder Mike Trout in 2014 by the Angels.
August 27, 2017
 		The Mariners commit five errors in one inning in the team's 10-1 loss at Yankee Stadium, equaling a feat last accomplished in 1977 by the Cubs. Seattle's dubious defense, which includes three miscues by shortstop Jean Segura with contributions from third baseman Cory Seager and left-fielder Ben Gamel, opens the floodgates for a six-run first frame for the Bronx Bombers.

January 16, 2017
 		The World Champion Cubs are welcomed at the White House by President Barack Obama, a noted White Sox patron who is offered a midnight pardon by Chicago GM Theo Epstein for his partisanship with the South Side team. In addition to receiving a No. 44 jersey from Anthony Rizzo, the Chicago first baseman who wears the same digits, the Commander in Chief is given a lifetime pass to any Cubs game, a gift Michelle, the First Lady, will probably appreciate more than her husband.

April 24, 2017
 		🇱🇹 Dovydas Neverauskas becomes the second person born in Lithuania, the first raised there, to appear in a major league game when he throws two innings of one-run ball in the Pirates' 14-3 loss to the Cubs at PNC Park. A's outfielder Joe Zapustas, who played two games for the team in 1933, was also born in the Baltic state but spent his childhood in Boston.
April 26, 2017
 		🇿🇦 Gift Ngoepe becomes the first player born and raised in Africa to make his major-league debut when he appears in the lineup as part of a double switch in the Pirates’ 6-5 over the Cubs at PNC Park. The 27-year-old second baseman, who hails from Pietersburg, South Africa, hits safely in his first at-bat, sending a single up the middle off Jon Lester in the fourth inning.
April 4, 2017
 		Stephen Piscotty's dangerous journey around the base paths ends when he crosses the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring the Cardinals' only run in the team's 2-1 loss to the Cubs at Busch Stadium. After reaching first due to being hit by a pitch, the outfielder, attempting to take second on a wild pitch, gets nailed in the elbow by the catcher's throw, and he is struck on the helmet, sliding into home plate with an errant throw by the second baseman. (Our thanks to J. Mahon for suggesting this entry.)

July 13, 2017
 		The defending World Champion Cubs, 5½ games behind the Brewers in the NL Central, acquire the White Sox's No. 1 starter Jose Quintana for highly-rated prospects Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease, plus minor league infielders Bryant Flete and Matt Rose. The deal marks the first time the crosstown rivals had swapped players since 2006 when the White Sox sent Neal Cotts to the Cubs for David Aardsma and Carlos Vasquez.
August 29, 2017
 		Whit Merrifield's third-inning two-out home run off Rays right-hander Alex Cobb ends the Royals' franchise-record scoreless streak at 45 frames, three shy of the major league mark established by the 1968 Cubs and the 1906 A's. With their 6-2 victory at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City snaps a five-game losing skid, staying in contention for the second American League Wild Card spot.
February 22, 2017

"I think it's a mistake to stick our head in the sand and ignore the fact that our game has changed, and continues to change." - MLB COMMISSIONER ROB MANFRED, commenting on the new intentional walk rule.

To speed up the game, MLB announces the approval of implementing an intentional walk with a signal from the dugout rather than the need to throw four pitches out of the strike zone. Although the new rule will eliminate only about a minute of play, some believe the new approach rids the sport of an old-fashioned way of issuing a deliberate base-on-balls.

August 27, 2017
 		En route to tying a franchise record by homering in five consecutive games, Phillies rookie Rhys Hoskins sets a major league record when he smashes his 11th home run in his first 18 games, going deep off Koji Uehara. In addition to his outstanding offense, the 24-year-old outfielder's diving catch of Javier Baez's sinking liner in left field initiates a 7-4-3 triple play in the team's 6-3 victory over the Cubs at Citizens Bank.
March 29, 2018
 		Matt Davidson becomes the fourth major leaguer to hit three home runs on Opening Day, contributing to the White Sox’s 14-7 victory over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. The White Sox slugging third baseman joins Dmitri Young (Tigers, 2005), Tuffy Rhodes (Cubs, 1994), and George Bell (Blue Jays, 1988) in accomplishing the feat on the first day of the season.

August 12, 2018
 		David Bote hits a pinch-hit, walk-off grand slam, the first Cub player to accomplish the feat since Earl Averill's blast in 1959, delivering a Ryan Madison 2-2 pitch over the center-field wall in a nationally televised Sunday Night ESPN game. The 25-year-old infielder's sayonara slam, a walk-off round-tripper with the bases loaded and the home team down by three runs, gives Chicago a 4-3 victory over the Nationals in front of a frenzied crowd at Wrigley Field.

March 29, 2018
 		At Miami, Cubs' leadoff hitter Ian Happ goes deep on the season's first pitch, homering to right field off a Jose Urena fastball in the team's 8-4 victory over the Marlins. The 23-year-old center fielder, playing in his first Opening Day contest, becomes the first player to accomplish the feat since Red Sox's Dwight Evans took Tiger right-hander Jack Morris deep on the initial delivery of the 1986 campaign.
October 1, 2018
 		Two divisional tiebreakers are needed to determine the National League Central and West champs after Chicago, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, and Colorado won yesterday. The Brewers/Cubs and Rockies/Dodgers winners will advance to the NLDS, with the losers facing one another tomorrow in the wild-card game.
May 4, 2019
 		After retiring the first eight batters of the game, White Sox southpaw Manny Banuelos gives up ten consecutive hits in a nine-run third inning of the team's 15-2 defeat to the Red Sox at Chicago's Guaranteed Rate Field. The Chicago starter's string, which includes giving up four singles, three singles, and three home runs, falls short of the record of 11 straight hits established in 2010 by the Rockies against the Cubs during a 17-2 victory at Coors Field.
September 15, 2019
 		For the first time in American League history and the 12th occurrence in the majors, two teams with 100+ losses face each other when the Orioles (48-100) defeat the Tigers (44-103) at Comerica Park, 8-2. The last National League matchup of teams with triple-digit losses featured the Astros and the Cubs on the final weekend of the 2012 season.
November 16, 2019
 		Veteran manager Joe Maddon (1,252-1,068), who spent nine seasons with the Rays and five more with the Cubs, comes to terms on a three-year deal with the Angels, reportedly worth $12 million to $15 million. The 65-year-old skipper, replacing first-year pilot Brad Ausmus, spent 31 years with the organization before leaving to manage Tampa Bay in 2006.
September 22, 2019
 		En route to clinching a playoff spot, the Cardinals beat the Cubs 3-2, completing the team's first four-game sweep at Wrigley Field in 98 seasons. The series marks the first time in a century a home team drops four consecutive contests by a run against the same opponent, with Chicago losing five straight decisions by the slimmest margin for the first time since 1915.
October 10, 2019
 		After compiling a .497 winning percentage in his two seasons at the helm, the Phillies fire their manager Gabe Kapler. The dismissal marks the available eighth managerial vacancy that includes skippers needed by the Mets, Pirates, Angels, Royals, Cubs, Padres, and the Giants, who will hire the former Philadelphia pilot next month as their 37th manager to replace the retiring Bruce Bochy.
August 8, 2019
 		Bo Bichette, playing in Toronto for the first time, extends his doubles streak to nine games, setting a new record he shared with Yadier Molina (Cardinals, 2016) and Derrek Lee (Cubs, 2008). The 21-year-old Blue Jays shortstop also establishes a new mark by collecting 13 extra-base hits in the first 11 games of his major league career, becoming the first rookie with extra-base hits in nine straight games since Ted Williams' debut in 1939.
December 15, 2019
 		At FunCity Turf in Burlington (IA), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) takes batting practice after meeting with representatives from three Iowa-based teams: the Quad City River Bandits, the Clinton LumberKings and the town's local club, the Bees. The 78-year-old Democratic presidential candidate vehemently opposes Major League Baseball's plan to eliminate 42 minor league teams nationwide after 2020, including the Vermont Lake Monsters, the Single-A affiliate of the A's in his hometown of Burlington (VT).
September 25, 2020
 		Dusty Baker will become the first major league skipper to manage five teams to the postseason as the Astros clinch a spot in the MLB's expanded 16-team Fall Frenzy when the Dodgers beat the Angels. The three-time National League Manager of the Year (1993, 1997, 2000) had previously won a playoff spot with the Giants (1997, 2000, 2002), Cubs (2003), Reds (2010, 2012, 2013), and Nationals (2016, 2017).
January 27, 2020
 		The Reds sign Nick Castellanos to a $64 million, four-year deal, matching the richest free-agent contract in franchise history. The 28-year-old former Tiger and Cub slugger joins infielder Mike Moustakas, who agreed a similar agreement in December with the club that has yet to have a winning record in six seasons.
September 9, 2020
 		The Braves, shut out in yesterday's contest, set the modern (post-1900) National League record for runs scored in a game when the team beats the Marlins at Truist Park, 29-9. Atlanta, fueled by 23 hits, including seven homers, falls one run short of tying the major league mark established by the Rangers in a 2007 contest when they tallied thirty times against the Orioles but surpasses the franchise mark set in 1957 when the team beat the Cubs at Wrigley Field, 23-10.
December 27, 2020
 		In a seven-player trade, the Cubs deal 34-year-old Yu Darvish and his personal catcher Victor Caratini to the Padres for right-handed starter Zach Davies and four minor league prospects: Reginald Preciado, Yeison Santana, Owen Caissie, and Ismael Mena. San Diego's addition of Darvish, last season's NL Cy Young runner-up, comes less than a day after the team obtained southpaw Blake Snell, another top-of-the-rotation hurler from the Rays.
August 30, 2020
 		The Cubs go deep six times en route to routing the Reds at Great American Ball Park, 10-1. Ian Happ, Kyle Schwarber, and Jason Heyward each homer twice, marking the first time in MLB history that all three starting outfielders have hit a pair of round-trippers in a game.
November 11, 2020
 		Reds' right-hander Trevor Bauer becomes the first National League Cy Young Award in franchise history, receiving 27 of the 30 BBWAA's first-place votes to finish ahead of Yu Darvish of the Cubs and the Mets' Jacob DeGrom. The 29-year-old North Hollywood native (CA) compiled only a 5-4 record in the COVID-shorten season but led the Senior Circuit with a 1.74 ERA, a 0.76 WHIP, two complete games, and two shutouts.
September 13, 2020
 		In only his 15th career start, Cubs' right-hander Alec Mills, facing 29 batters, throws the franchise's 16th no-hitter, beating the Brewers at Miller Park, 12-0. The no-no marks the first time both Chicago teams have tossed a hitless game in the same season, with White Sox hurler Lucas Giolito accomplishing the feat against the Pirates on August 25.

(Ed. Note: The game marks the second no-no thrown at the venue but the first with the Brewers on the field. In 2008, the Cubs Carlos Zambrano no-hit the Astros with the ballpark serving as a neutral site after the contest moved from Houston to Milwaukee because of Hurricane Ike.- LP)

January 29, 2020
 		According to confirmed reports, the Astros have hired veteran skipper Dusty Baker to replace AJ Hinch, fired by owner Jim Crane, following MLB's findings that the team used electronics to steal signs in 2017 and again during the 2018 season. The 70-year-old three-time National League Manager of the Year becomes the oldest pilot in the major leagues, having compiled an 1863-1636 (.532) record over 22 seasons with the Giants, Cubs, Reds, and Nationals.
December 29, 2020
 		The Rays trade 2018 Cy Young Award recipient Blake Snell to the San Diego Padres in exchange for minor league prospects Blake Hunt and Cole Wilcox along with RHP Luis Patiño and backstop Francisco Mejía. San Diego's newest southpaw joins Yu Darvis, recently obtained from the Cubs, at the top of the team's much-improved rotation.
January 21, 2020
 		Derek Jeter, named on 396 of 397 the BBWAA ballots, falls one vote shy of being elected unanimously to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, a feat only accomplished by his long-time Yankee teammate and friend, Mariano Rivera. The writers also select 1997 National League MVP Larry Walker (76.5%) by six votes on the Canadian ballplayer's tenth and final appearance on the ballot.
November 19, 2020
 		"The historical significance of Wrigley Field is interwoven into our nation's story and a key part of what has become America's beloved pastime for over a century." - DAVID L. BERNHARDT, U.S. Secretary of the Interior designating Wrigley Field a national landmark.

David L. Bernhardt designates Wrigley Field, built in 1914, as a National Historic Landmark. The U.S. Secretary of the Interior cites the Cubs' ballpark's significant role in Chicago and the history of professional sports.
June 24, 2021
 		At Dodger Stadium, Cubs starter Zach Davies tosses six spotless innings, with Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin, and Craig Kimbrel each adding a hitless frame for the 17th and the first combined no-hitter in franchise history. Chicago's 4-0 victory marks the seventh major league no-no this season, equaling the record established in 1990, 1991, 2012, and 2015.
December 5, 2021
 		Golden Days Era Committee (considers candidates from 1950-69) select Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Minnie Miñoso, and Tony Oliva, with Bud Fowler and Buck O'Neil chosen by the Early Baseball Era Committee (considers candidates before 1950) to be honored, along with David Ortiz, at the 2022 Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown (NY). Dick Allen, who finished one vote short of being Hall Famer the last time the GDE committee met in 2014, misses again by the same margin on this year's ballot.
July 30, 2021
 		The Western-Division leading Giants acquire Kris Bryant from the Cubs for minor league prospects, outfielder Alexander Canario and right-hander Caleb Kilian. The 29-year-old All-Star third baseman, the 2016 NL MVP who helped Chicago capture their first World Series title in 108 years, becomes emotional in the visitors' dugout in Washington upon learning of the deal.
August 12, 2021
 		The Romines become the first siblings to be batterymates since Dodgers' Norm and Larry Sherry (1960-62) when Andrew, an infielder by trade, takes the mound in a mop-up role, throwing the ball to his younger brother, Austin, in the Cubs' 17-4 loss to the Brewers at Wrigley Field. The sons of Kevin, an outfielder with the Red Sox (1985-1992), join Jim & Ed Bailey (1959 Reds) and Bobby & Billy Shantz (1954-55 A's), who also appeared in the same major league game as pitcher and catcher, playing at the same time in the contest.
April 1, 2021
 		Nationalpastime.com celebrates the 25th Anniversary of its debut on the internet. The popular almanac-styled baseball history website, the first to display facts for every day of the year, features 12,000 easily searchable entries, many enhanced with videos, photos, text, and quotations.

(Ed. Note: Where does the time go? -LP)
June 2, 2021
 		On the date that marked the beginning of his streak in 1925 and his death of ALS 16 years later in 1941, MLB celebrates the inaugural Lou Gehrig Day, continuing a tradition that began a few seasons ago with the reading of his "I am the luckiest person on Earth" speech. In addition to raising money to find a cure for the dreaded disease, every team will display "4-ALS" logos highlighting the Hall of Famer's jersey number with players, managers, and coaches wearing a special commemorative patch on their uniforms.
March 1, 2022
 		The MLB and the players' union's failure to reach a new collective bargaining agreement after nearly a year of negotiating prompts Commissioner Rob Manfred to cancel the first two series of the 2022 regular season, citing the logistical challenges of rescheduling the contests because of the increase of interleague play. The decision marks the first time that games will be canceled or postponed due to a work stoppage since the 1994-95 players' strike, which accounted for the loss of over 900 games, including the 1994 World Series.
983 Fact(s) Found