This day in baseball: Sandberg becomes baseball’s highest paid player
Posted: March 2, 2020 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Bobby Bonilla, Chicago Cubs, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, New York Mets, Ryne Sandberg, sports Leave a commentRyne Sandberg became the highest paid player in baseball when he signed a four-year contract extension worth $28.4 million with the Chicago Cubs on March 2, 1992. The contract eclipsed Bobby Bonilla’s five-year, $29 million contract with the Mets, signed just three months previous. Sandberg never got to enjoy the full sum promised by this contract, however, as he unexpectedly retired during the 1994 season, walking away from nearly $15.8 million of the record deal.
“Land of Wrigley,” Stormy Weather
Posted: January 25, 2020 Filed under: Pop culture | Tags: Baseball, Chicago Cubs, doo-wop, music, sports, Stormy Weather, Wrigley Field Leave a commentThis piece is short and sweet, and the acapella is impressive. Enjoy this nice little doo wop piece to start your weekend!
This day in baseball: Joe Tinker traded to the Reds
Posted: December 15, 2019 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Art Phelan, Baseball, Bert Humphries, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Franklin Pierce Adams, Grover Lowdermilk, Harry Chapman, Major League Baseball, Mike Mitchell, MLB, Pete Knisely, Red Corriden, sports Leave a commentOn December 15, 1912, the Chicago Cubs traded Joe Tinker, as well as Harry Chapman and Grover Lowdermilk, to the Cincinnati Reds for Red Corriden, Bert Humphries, Pete Knisely, Mike Mitchell, and Art Phelan. Tinker, who had been canonized in Franklin Pierce Adams’ baseball poem “Tinker to Evers to Chance,” went on to serve as the player-manager for Cincinnati.
1912 Joe Tinker baseball card (Wikipedia)
“All the Way,” Eddie Vedder
Posted: December 8, 2019 Filed under: 21st Century, Pop culture | Tags: Baseball, Chicago Cubs, Eddie Vedder, Major League Baseball, MLB, music, Pearl Jam, sports Leave a commentHere’s an awesome tribute to the Chicago Cubs by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder. The accompanying video was originally produced in 2008, during the team’s playoff stint.
“Cubs in Five,” The Mountain Goats
Posted: November 16, 2019 Filed under: Pop culture | Tags: Baseball, Canterbury Tales, Chicago Cubs, Major League Baseball, MLB, music, sports, The Mountain Goats, World Series Leave a commentThe Chicago Cubs went so long between World Series championships that, even after finally winning one, the pop culture references to their dry spell continue to haunt. This song is an example of just that. You know you’ve had a rough time of things when the likelihood of your winning again gets compared to the likelihood of the Canterbury Tales becoming a bestseller.
This day in baseball: Mr. Cub is MVP again
Posted: November 4, 2019 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Chicago Cubs, Ernie Banks, history, Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award, MLB, sports Leave a commentErnie Banks won his second consecutive MVP award on November 4, 1959. Mr. Cub finished the season with a .304 batting average and 143 RBIs, including 45 home runs. Banks collected ten of the writers’ 21 first-place votes, with Eddie Mathews (5) and Hank Aaron (2) of the Braves and Dodger Wally Moon (4) dividing the rest of the first-place votes.
This day in baseball: Lavender stumps the Giants
Posted: August 31, 2019 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Benny Kauff, Chicago Cubs, Major League Baseball, MLB, New York Giants, sports 2 CommentsIn the first game of a doubleheader on August 31, 1915, Cubs pitcher Jimmy Lavender threw a no-hitter against the New York Giants, a 2–0 victory. He struck out eight batters and walked just one. On June 14 of the following year, again against the Giants, Lavender pitched a one-hitter, allowing only an infield single to Benny Kauff.
Jimmy Lavender, 1912 (Library of Congress)
