{"id":457745,"date":"2025-12-19T12:35:12","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T12:35:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/457745\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T12:35:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T12:35:12","slug":"chicago-cubs-history-unpacked-december-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/457745\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Cubs history unpacked \u2014 December 19"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"\">On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bleedcubbieblue.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Bleed Cubbie Blue;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><strong>Bleed Cubbie Blue<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is pleased to present a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bleedcubbieblue.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Cubs;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><strong>Cubs<\/strong><\/a>-centric look at baseball\u2019s colorful past.\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/chicago.cubs.mlb.com\/chc\/history\/timeline01.jsp\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Here\u2019s a handy Cubs timeline;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><strong>Here\u2019s a handy Cubs timeline<\/strong><\/a>, to help you follow the various narrative paths.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"content-blockquote\">\n<p class=\"\">\u201cMaybe I called it wrong, but it\u2019s official.\u201d \u2014\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sabr.org\/bioproj\/person\/tommy-connolly\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Tom Connolly;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><strong>Tom Connolly<\/strong><\/a>, HoF Umpire.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Today we feature financial skullduggery and other such fare, just the thing for a holiday week.<\/strong> <strong>Happy Birthday to<\/strong> <strong>Geoff Zahn* and other former Cubs. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>\u201c\u2026 to all mankind, America\u2019s wish for peace on Earth and goodwill to men everywhere.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Today in baseball history:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"content-list\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>1914<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/1915_Senators\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Washington;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Washington<\/a>\u00a0manager\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/Clark_Griffith\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Clark Griffith;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Clark Griffith<\/a>\u00a0meets with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/Walter_Johnson\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Walter Johnson;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Walter Johnson<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/Kansas_City,_MO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Kansas City;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Kansas City<\/a>\u00a0and convinces the star to re-sign for $12,500, considerably less than his recent contract with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/1915_Whales\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Chifeds;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Chifeds<\/a>, with the assurance that Griffith would convince the Washington management to spring for a bigger contract later. Washington will later sign Johnson to $16,000 a year for five years. Griffith gets $6,000 from\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/Charles_Comiskey\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Charles Comiskey;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Charles Comiskey<\/a>\u00a0to allow Johnson to repay his Chifed\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/Signing_bonus\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:signing bonus;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">signing bonus<\/a>. (2)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li\/>\n<li\/>\n<li>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>1986<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 After finding no other clubs interested in signing him,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/Free_agent\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:free agent;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">free agent<\/a>\u00a0pitcher and 20-game winner\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/Jack_Morris\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Jack Morris;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Jack Morris<\/a>\u00a0agrees to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/Salary_arbitration\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:salary arbitration;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">salary arbitration<\/a>\u00a0with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/1987_Tigers\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Tigers;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Tigers<\/a>\u00a0while at the same time accusing the major league owners of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/Collusion\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:collusion;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">collusion<\/a>\u00a0against free agents. Morris had offered to sign a one-year contract, with salary to be determined by an arbitrator, with either the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/1987_Yankees\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Yankees;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Yankees<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/1987_Angels\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Angels;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Angels<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/1987_Twins\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Twins;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Twins<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/1987_Phillies\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Phillies;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Phillies<\/a>, but was turned down by all four. (1,2)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>1991<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Former minor league\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/Umpire\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:umpire;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">umpire<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/Pam_Postema\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Pam Postema;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Pam Postema<\/a>\u00a0files a sex discrimination suit against the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/National_League\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:National;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">National<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/American_League\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:American;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">American<\/a>\u00a0leagues, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/bullpen\/Triple-A\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Triple-A;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Triple-A<\/a>\u00a0Alliance, and the Baseball Office for Umpire Development. (2)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li\/><\/ul>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Cubs Birthdays:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tayloto02.shtml\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Tony Taylor;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Tony Taylor<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/gardnro01.shtml\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Rob Gardner;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Rob Gardner<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/z\/zahnge01.shtml\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Geoff Zahn;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Geoff Zahn<\/a>*,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/soriara01.shtml\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Rafael Soriano;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Rafael Soriano<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/gushuta01.shtml\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Taylor Gushue;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Taylor Gushue<\/a>. Also notable:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kalinal01.shtml\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Al Kaline;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Al Kaline<\/a>\u00a0HOF.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Today in History:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"content-list\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>324<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Licinius abdicates his position as Roman Emperor.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>1154<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Henry II crowned King of England.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>1487<\/strong>\u00a0Opening ceremony of the sixth Great Temple of Tenochtitlan (modern Mexico City) 4,000 prisoners of war are sacrificed to Aztec gods over four days.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>1843<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 \u201dA Christmas Carol\u201d by Charles Dickens is published.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>1948<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 National Football League Championship, Shibe Park, Philadelphia: Philadelphia Eagles shut out Chicago Cardinals, 7-0 in a snowstorm, \u2018The Philly Blizzard.\u201c<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>1958<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 First radio broadcast from space, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower\u2019s Christmas message \u201cto all mankind, America\u2019s wish for peace on Earth and goodwill to men everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Common sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"\">*pictured.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Some of these items spread from site to site without being fact-checked, and that is why we ask for verifiable sources, in order to help correct the record.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays,\u00a0Bleed Cubbie Blue\u00a0is pleased to present a\u00a0Cubs-centric look at baseball\u2019s colorful past.\u00a0Here\u2019s a handy&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":457746,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[182580,960,209431,20167,31301,209430,1266,1311,1105,20414,209434,3959,62,209435,209433,209432,67,132,68,116600,2058,2386],"class_list":{"0":"post-457745","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mlb","8":"tag-charles-comiskey","9":"tag-chicago","10":"tag-clark-griffith","11":"tag-cubs","12":"tag-free-agent","13":"tag-geoff-zahn","14":"tag-mlb","15":"tag-philadelphia","16":"tag-philadelphia-eagles","17":"tag-phillies","18":"tag-rafael-soriano","19":"tag-red-sox","20":"tag-sports","21":"tag-taylor-gushue","22":"tag-today-in-baseball-history","23":"tag-tom-connolly","24":"tag-united-states","25":"tag-unitedstates","26":"tag-us","27":"tag-walter-johnson","28":"tag-washington","29":"tag-yankees"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115746264624439231","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/457745","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=457745"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/457745\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/457746"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=457745"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=457745"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=457745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}