The time Jake Arrieta* was from another planet, and other stories.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a light-hearted, Cubs-centric look at baseball’s colorful past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow the various narrative paths.
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“Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” — Tom Connolly, HoF Umpire.
Today in baseball history:
1969 – Willie Mays joins Babe Ruth in the 600-homer club with a blast off Mike Corkins while batting for rookie George Foster. Bobby Bonds sets a Major League record with his 176th strikeout as San Francisco beats San Diego 4-2. (1,2)
2015 – Jake Arrieta* of the Cubs becomes the first 20-game winner in the major leagues this year when he defeats the Brewers, 4-0, becoming the first Cubs pitcher to reach the mark since Jon Lieber in 2001. 3B Kris Bryant sets a club record for a rookie by belting his 26th homer. (2)
Cubs Birthdays: Doc Marshall, Harry Walker, Harry Bright, Lou Johnson, Mark Guthrie. Also notable: Bob Lemon HOF, Tommy Lasorda HOF.
Today in History:
66 – Roman Emperor Nero creates the Legio I Italica, a legion of soldiers all over six feet tall.
1499 – Switzerland becomes an independent state.
1692 – The last eight people – Martha Corey, Margaret Scott, Mary Easty, Alice Parker, Ann Pudeator, Wilmott Redd, Samuel Wardwell, and Mary Parker – are hanged for allegedly practicing witchcraft as a result of the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts Bay Colony; 19 are hanged overall, with six other deaths caused by the hysteria.
1920 – Chicago grand jury convenes to investigate charges that eight White Sox players conspired to fix the 1919 World Series.
Common sources:
*pictured.
Things are as near to the truth as we can get them. Some of these items spread from site to site without being fact-checked, and that is why we ask for verifiable sources, so that we can help update the records and have documentation of why.