{"id":701237,"date":"2026-05-17T10:15:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T10:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/701237\/"},"modified":"2026-05-17T10:15:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T10:15:17","slug":"today-in-chicago-history-sue-the-t-rex-debuts-at-field-museum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/701237\/","title":{"rendered":"Today in Chicago History: Sue the T. rex debuts at Field Museum"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here\u2019s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 17, according to the Tribune\u2019s archives.<\/p>\n

Is an important event missing from this date? Email us<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sports page flashback: May 18, 1979<\/p>\n

\"AA 23-22 win by the Philadelphia Phillies against the Chicago Cubs on May 17, 1979, at Wrigley Field set several team records at the time: Most total bases in a game (97); most home runs in a game (11); most total bases (49 for the Cubs and 48 for the Phillies); most home runs given up by the Phillies (6); and most runs scored by the Phillies (23). (Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

1979: The wind was blowing out at Wrigley Field \u2014 and the first inning tipped off what was coming. The Philadelphia Phillies scored seven runs on seven hits. The Chicago Cubs scored six on seven hits. Mike Schmidt cracked his second home run in the top of the 10th to win it 23-22.<\/p>\n

There were 50 hits in the game:<\/a> 26 by the Cubs \u2014 and 11 were home runs. Dave Kingman hit three homers for the Cubs. Bill Buckner, Steve Ontiveros and Jerry Martin had one apiece. Bob Boone, Gary Maddox and Randy Lerch homered for the Phillies. And on cold nights in the winter of 1979-80, WGN-TV replayed the 23-22 game.\n<\/p>\n

Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago<\/a>)<\/p>\n

High temperature: 94 degrees (1962)
\nLow temperature: 36 degrees (2002)
\nPrecipitation: 3.11 inches (2020)
\nSnowfall: None<\/p>\n

\"AA woman walks along the newly installed yellow bricks on Nov. 4, 2019, outside the West Side home where L. Frank Baum lived in the late 1800s while writing “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” (Raquel Zaldivar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

1900:\u00a0L. Frank Baum\u2019s \u201cThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz\u201d was published. Baum wrote the book when he lived on Chicago\u2019s\u00a0West Side<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Sue,Sue, the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex ever found, is unveiled at the Field Museum on May 17, 2000. (Phil Velasquez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

2000: Sue \u2014 the largest, most complete and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex specimen found to that date \u2014 debuted in Stanley Field Hall, the lobby inside the Field Museum.<\/p>\n

Vintage Chicago Tribune: Sue the T. rex\u2019s journey to the Field Museum<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Want more vintage Chicago?<\/p>\n

Subscribe to the free\u00a0Vintage Chicago Tribune<\/a>\u00a0newsletter, join our\u00a0Chicagoland history Facebook group,<\/a> stay current with Today in Chicago History<\/a> and follow us on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0for more from Chicago\u2019s past.<\/p>\n

Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0mmather@chicagotribune.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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