This Day in Chicago Cubs History
On April 25, 1976, the year of the America Bicentennial, Rick Monday saved the American Flag from being burned at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
Rick Monday Saves the American Flag
I attended a Cubs game in Milwaukee and witnessed something I doubt I will ever see again. A runner stealing 2nd base and getting caught stealing 2nd base in the same inning. Here's the video!!
A few Cubs opening days that I really like. Enjoy!!
April 12, 1960
This one was a Cubs loss, but an exciting and historic game as the Dodgers defeat the Cubs 3-2 in 11 innings on a walk off pinch hit home run by Chuck Essegian off Don Elston. Don Drysdale pitched a complete game and struck out 14 batters. And Don Zimmer hit a home run in his first at bat as a Cub.
April 6, 1971
In a battle between future Hall of Famer's, Fergie Jenkins outduels Bob Gibson as the Cubs defeat the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field 2-1 in ten innings. Another future Hall of Famer, Billy Williams hits a walk off home run off Gibson to defeat the rival, Cardinals. Ernie Banks does not start his first cubs opening day game since 1953
Chicago Cubs Opening Days-1970s
April 5, 1988
In a wild season opener in Atlanta, the Cubs defeat the Braves 10-9, the teams combined for 7 home runs in the game, Jody Davis, Leon Durham and Shawon Dunston homered for the Cubs. The Cubs came from behind to score 2 runs in the ninth inning and won the game in the 13th inning on a sacrifice fly by Manny Trillo.
Chicago Cubs Opening Days-1980s
April 4, 1994
Karl "Tuffy" Rhodes hits 3 home runs, but it is not enough to help the Cubs win the game as the Cubs lose to the New York Mets 12-8 in a day when the wind was blowing out at Wrigley Field. Hillary Clinton throws out the first pitch. Rhodes only hits 5 more home runs in his career with the Chicago Cubs.
Chicago Cubs Opening Days-1990s
April 4, 2005
The Cubs defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 16-6 led by Derrek Lee who was 4 for 6 with a home run, 2 double and drove in 5 runs on his way to a great season that saw him win his first batting title.
Add 2nd year in a row with 16 runs
April 5, 2015
Wrigley Field opens the season with a night game for the first time in team history. The team also unveils their new video boards. The renovations also had many fans waiting in lines to the restrooms. I know-I was one of them. It was also the first opening day at Wrigley after the death of Cubs great Ernie Banks and the team had pictures of Banks all over the bleachers that were being renovated as well. It is also the Cubs debut of free agent pitcher, Jon Lester. Lester pitched alright, but Cardinals pitcher, Adam Wainwright was better as he shut out the Cubs for a 3-0 Cardinals victory. Jason Heyward has 3 hits in his Cardinals debut and Matt Holliday drives in 2 runs for the Cardinals.
Awards season
Well, there shouldn't be a lot of off-season awards for the Cubs this season. Jason Heyward did get his 2nd straight Gold Glove with the Cubs and his 5th overall.
Check out past Cubs award winners:
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Ben Zobrist's big 10th inning hit in Game 7
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Mike Montgomery gets the final out.
David Ross being carried off the field after Cubs victory in Game 7
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2015 Cubs Walk-off victories
April 12
The birthday of Walt "Moose" Moryn (Cubs, 1956-1960). He was an all-star in 1958, hitting 26 home runs and driving in 77 runs.
April 14
Happy birthday to Greg Maddux
April 15, 2008
Dusty Baker brings his #12 back to Wrigley Field as the Cincinnatti Reds manager. Another cubs
curse perhaps, his #12 counterpart, Alfonso Soriano pulls up lame on a fly ball and leaves the game. Soriano would return to the Cubs lineup by May 1, however, he was never the type of stolen base threat that he was when the Cubs first signed him.
April 15
Happy birthday Jeromy Burnitz
April 15, 1961
Tied 5-5 into the 9th inning, Don Zimmer gets hit by a pitch,
Ron Santo singles, Ernie Banks walks and Al Heist drives them
all in with a walk-off grand slam home run as the Cubs defeat
the Braves 9-5 at Wrigley Field.
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April 16, 1997
Cubs lose their 12th consecutive game, losing to the Rockies 4-0 at Wrigley. The loss breaks the NL record for most losses at the beginning of the season.
April 16
Happy birthday to Albert Almora
April 16, 1972
In just his 4th major league game, 22 year old, Burt Hooton pithces a no-hitter against Phillies at Wrigley Field. Cubs win 4-0, Randy Hundley drives in 2 runs and Ron Santo & Billy Williams each have 3 hits. Hooton struck out 7 batters and walked 7 batters as well.
April 16, 1985
The Cubs continue a great beginning to the season going 6-1 with a 10 inning 1-0 victory over
the Phillies. Dennis Eckersley pitches all 10 innings for the Cubs giving up just 5 hits, 1 walk and no runs. In the bottom of the tenth inning, Larry Bowa singles, Chris Speier bunts him to second base and Bob Dernier drives in the lone run of the game and the Cubs walk-off to victory at Wrigley Field.
April 16, 2004
The Reds score 5 runs in the 6th inning to take a 9-4 lead, but the Cubs come back scoring 1 in the bottom of the sixth inning and 2 runs in the 7th, 8th and 9th. In the ninth inning, the Cubs win the game with back to back home runs. Moises Alou's HR ties the game 10-10 and Sammy Sosa's HR Is the walk-off for the 11-10 Cubs win.
Alou's HR was his 2nd of the game and Aramis Ramirez & Todd Hollandsworth also hit HR"s in
this game.
April 16
It is the birthday of Cubs Hall of Famer, Hack Wilson. His 191 RBI with the 1930 Cubs remains
an MLB record to this day.
April 16, 1970
At Wrigley Field, Randy Hundley's 10th inning, walk-off, RBI single scoring Ron Santo gives
the Cubs a 6-5 win over the Phillies.
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April 17, 1974
Something tells me the wind was blowing out at Wrigley on this day as the Cubs beat the Pirates 18-9. Catcher, George Mitterwald hits 3 home runs and drives in 8 runs. Rick Monday, Jerry Morales & Bill Madlock hit home runs as well. The next Cubs catcher to hit 3 home runs in one game is Dioneer Navaro in 2013.
April 17, 1976
Mike Schmidt helps the Phillies overcome a 12-1 deficit, hitting 4 home runs as the Phillies defeat the Cubs 18-16 in 10 innings.
April 17, 1951
Dee Fondy hits a bases loaded triple in his first MLB at bat. Cubs defeat the Reds 8-3.
April 17, 1954
Cubs defeat the Cardinals 23-13.
April 17, 1987
Rick Sutcliffe pitches a shutout and drives in 3 runs in a 7-0 victory over the Expos.
April 17
Cap Anson passes away at the age of 69 years old.
April 17, 2015
Kris Bryant makes his Cubs debut in a 5-4 loss to the Padres at Wrigley Field. He went 0 for 4 with 3 strikeouts. He'll do better later!!
April 17, 1970
After Expos score 3 runs to take a 7-6 lead in the 9th inning, Willie Smith ties the game with a double in bottom of 9th and Ron Santo wins the game with a walk-off bases loaded walk. Cubs defeat Expos 8-7 at Wrigley Field.
April 17, 1990
At Shae Stadium in New York, the Cubs defeat the mets 8-6 in 13 innings. Lloyd McClendon hits a grand slam in the game.
April 17, 1996
Sammy Sosa hits (2) 2-run home runs, the 2nd a 10th inning walk-off as the Cubs defeat the Reds 8-6 at Wrigley Field.
April 17, 2003
Cubs win 3 games in a 4 game series with the Reds and score at least 10 runs in each victory. Reds won first game of series 11-3. On this day, the Cubs defeated the Reds 16-3. Sammy Sosa, Kerry Wood, Hee-Seop Choi & Mark Grudzielanek all homer for the Cubs.
April 17, 2009
Alfonso Soriano's 8th inning, 2-run home run gives the Cubs an 8-7 victory over the Cardinals at Wrigley Field.
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April 18, 1998
Kerry Wood gets his first major league victory for the Cubs against the Dodgers at Wrigley Field. In the first inning, he gives up a single to Eric Young and than
picks him off from first base. In the bottom of the first inning, the Cubs get 8 runs off the Dodgers, Hideo Nomo and Wood even contributes with an RBI single and
scoring a run. Wood pitches 5 solid innings, giving up 4 hits, striking out 7 batters and walking 3, giving up no runs. The Cubs defeat the Dodgers 8-1.
April 18, 1962
Ernie Banks hits a walk-off HR in the 10th inning for a 3-2 Cubs victory. It is his 300th career home run.
April 18, 1952
Lou Boudreau announces his first game for the Cubs. In the home opener at Wrigley Field, the Cubs were trailing 4-1 going into the ninth inning when the Cubs score
4 runs to win the game. Bill Serena's 2-run walk-off double for a 5-4 Cubs victory.
April 18, 2017
Cubs make a nice comeback from a 7-4 deficit to defeat the Brewers 9-7 at Wrigley Field. Kyle Schwarber & Miguel Montero homer for the Cubs and Cubs bullpen pitches 5 1/3 innings giving up just one run to let the offense come back and win this one.
April 18, 2016
At Wrigley Field, John Lackey strikes out 11 Cardinals in 7 innings against his former team as the Cubs defeat the Cardinals 5-0. Dexter Fowler homers for the
Cubs.
April 18, 2015
Cubs blow a 6-2 lead in the 9th inning when the Padres score 4 to tie the game, but Starlin Castro wins it for the Cubs with a walk-off RBI single.
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April 19, 2013
Jean Segura steals 2nd base and gets caught stealing 2nd base in the same inning. (see video at top of this page).
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April 20, 1916
Cubs played their first game at Wrigley Field. It's a walk-off victory for the Cubs as Vic Saier hits an 11th inning sacrifice fly to defeat the Reds 7-6.
April 20, 1946
Cubs lose their season opener at Wrigley Field agaisnt Cardinals 2-0. It is the first regular season televised game in Cubs history. Bert Wilson announces
the game for WBKB.
April 20, 1997
Finally, the Cubs win a game in 1997 and break their 14 game losing streak to begin the season. It is still a NL record. The Baltimore Orioles have the
MLB record going 0-21 in 1988.
April 20
Happy birthday to Todd Hollandsworth
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April 21, 1929
Guy Bush pitches a 3-hit complete game shutout and Rogers Hornsby goes 4 for 4 with 2 RBI in a 4-0 victory At Wrigley Field.
April 21, 1959
Glen Hobbie allows just 3 Cardinal batters to reach base in a 1-0 victory at Wrigley Field. Hobbie allows just one single to Stan Musial in the 7th inning
that broke up the no-hitter, one walk and one hit by pitch.
April 21, 1966
A great Cubs trade. Cubs send Bob Buhl & Larry Jackson to Phillies for Fergie Jenkins, Adolpho Phillips & John Hernstein.
April 21, 1991
The Cubs were leading the Pirates 3-2 going into the 8th inning when this game got out of hand. Both teams scored 4 runs in the 8th inning and the Pirates tied the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the ninth inning on a double by Gary Varsho. It looked as though the Cubs had the victory when Doug Dascenzo gave the Cubs an 8-7 lead with a single and Andre Dawson followed with a Grand Slam to give the Cubs a 12-7 lead, but the Pirates came back and scored six runs in the bottom of the 11th to defeat the Cubs 13-12. The six run extra inning
comeback is the greatest extra-inning comeback in major league history,
April 21
Happy birthday to Les Lancaster (Cubs, 1987-1993). Les Lancaster was a top relief pitcher for the Cubs in their 1989 playoff year. He had a 4-2 record with 8 saves and a 1.36 ERA in 1989.
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April 22, 1934
Lon Warneke of the Cubs pitches his second consecutive one-hitter, beating the St. Louis Cardinals and Dizzy Dean, 15 - 2, at Sportsman's Park. On April 17,
1934, Warneke's 1-hitter against the Reds, the Wrigley Field home opener, was even better as he shut out the Reds and struck out 13 batters in the game. His early season consecutive scoreless inning streak will end on April 27,
1934 when the Cardinals score a run, but Warneke does go 3-0 for the year pitching all 11 innings in a 3-2 win over the Cardinals at Wrigley Field. Warneke will win 22 games for the 1934 Cubs.
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April 23, 1914
The Chicago Federals of the Federal League play the first game at Weeghman Park (present day Wrigley Field). the Chi-Feds defeat the Kansas City Packers 9-1. Claude Hendrix pitched a 5-hitter.
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April 24, 1931
A big game for Hall of Famer, Rogers Hornsby. With the Cubs trailing in the top of the 3rd inning 5-0, Hornsby hits a 3-run home run to cut the lead to 5-3. In the 5th inning, he hits another 3-run home run to give the Cubs a 6-5 lead and in the sixth inning, he hits a 2-run home run to give the Cubs
a 9-5 lead that the Cubs will not relinquish on their way to a 10-6 Cubs victory at Forbes Field 10-6.
April 24, 1957
Ouch, Cubs pitcher's walk nine batters in the 5th inning to set a NL record for walks in an inning. Cubs lose 9-5 to the Reds.
April 24, 1958
Lee Walls hits three home runs and drives in eight runs as the Cubs rout the Dodgers, 15 - 2, at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
April 24, 1962
Sandy Koufax strikes out 18 Cubs in a 10-2 Dodgers victory at Wrigley Field. At the time, this amount ties a modern day MLB record set by Bob Feller in
1939.
April 24, 2010
Ted Lilly pitches his first game after offseason surgery and gets the victory in a 5-1 Cubs victory over the Brewers.
April 24
Cubs birthdays today include Glen Hobbie, Cubs pitcher (1957-1964) and Wellington
Castillo, catcher (Cubs, 2010-2015)
April 24, 1938
The Cubs Dizzy Dean defeats his former team, the Cardinals throwing a 5-hit shutout.
April 24, 1955
Sam Jones pitches a 2-hitter and Cubs defeat Reds 2-1.
April 24, 1966
Ken Holtzman's first MLB start is a 2-0 Cubs victory over the Dodgers. Holtzman pitches 6 scoreless innings.
April 24, 1939
In the Cubs home opener, Stan Hack has a big game with a triple and 2 singles as Cubs defeat Pirates 6-1.
April 24, 1973
The Giants beat the Cubs 4-2, but Cubs pitchers strike out 16 Giant hitters. Rick Reuschel has 12 strikeouts.
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April 25,
Happy birthday to Jacques Jones (Cubs, 2006-2007). He hit 27 home runs and drove in 81 runs for the 2006 Cubs.
April 25, 1976
Rick Monday rescues the American flag that was about to be burned in the outfield at Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles). The Dodgers defeat the Cubs 5-4 in ten innings This day also commemorates the 100th anniversary of the first Cubs game ever played. (see video at top of this page).
April 25, 1945
Claude Passeau hits a HR and pitches a shutout to beat the Reds 4-0 in Cincy.
April 25, 1948
Russ Mayer retires 22 consecutive batters and pitches a one-hitter as Cubs defeat Cardinals 3-1.
April 25, 2004
The Cubs Matt Clement takes a no-hitter into the 7th inning and finshes with a combined 2-hitter as Joe Borowski pitches a scoreless ninth inning and Cubs
defeat Mets 4-1.
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