​Free of charge for the discerning reader. Happy birthday to Lance Johnson, and to a mighty host of others. Today in baseball history, 1970 at Wrigley Field belongs to Ron Santo. Santo’s two-run homer in the opener gives the Cubs a 3-2 win over the Expos, and in the nightcap he drives in eight more with two homers and a bases-loaded walk as Chicago rolls to a 14-2 victory, with other stories to note as well.
Today in baseball history: 1917 — Ty Cobb’s hitting streak ends at 35 games as White Sox pitchers Red Faber and Jim Scott hold him hitless. His streak began May 31. Cobb still holds the American League mark of 40 straight games set in 1912, but George Sisler will later string together 41 in 1922. 1933 — At Chicago’s Comiskey Park, the first All-Star Game is played. Babe Ruth belts a two-run homer to help the American League defeat the Senior Circuit, 4-2. John McGraw comes out of retirement to manage the NL squad. 1980 — Steve Carlton (14-4) becomes the majors’ all-time left-handed strikeout king, fanning seven Cardinals in an 8-3 Phillies win to reach 2,836, surpassing Mickey Lolich’s 2,832. 2001 — The Indians topple the Cardinals, 14-2, as Jim Thome hits three home runs and drives in six. 2010 — Alex Rodriguez hits his 21st grand slam and adds a solo shot, bringing his career total to 597. CC Sabathia wins his seventh straight start to move to 11-3 on the year; A-Rod’s slam ties him with Manny Ramirez for second on the all-time slam list, two behind Lou Gehrig.
Today in Cubs history: 1932 — Cubs shortstop Billy Jurges is shot twice in his Chicago hotel room by a scorned girlfriend, Violet Popovich Valli. In the ensuing struggle, Jurges is struck in the shoulder and hand; Valli will not prosecute and later signs a 22-week contract to sing in local venues as “Violet (What I Did for Love) Valli—the Most Talked About Girl in Chicago.” 1958 — Cubs pitchers Dick Drott and Don Elston combine on a one-hit, 6-2 win over the Dodgers; Jim Gilliam’s single in the seventh is LA’s only safety. 1973 — Cubs pitcher Fergie Jenkins defeats the Padres, 8-5, for his 13th straight win over San Diego, dating back to May 12, 1969. 1980 — Cubs relief pitchers hold the Pirates hitless for 12 2/3 innings, but Chicago still loses 5-4 in 20 innings as Cliff Johnson’s two-out homer in the ninth off Bert Blyleven ties it; Jim Bibby picks up the win for Pittsburgh. 2001 — In Comerica Park, the Cubs beat the Tigers, 15-8, in the Cubs’ 101st different park since 1876, their first Detroit win there since 1945 (Game 3 of the World Series when Claude Passeau shut out Briggs Stadium 3-0).
Cubs birthdays: Lance Johnson, Frank Kellert. Today in history: 1776 — American Declaration of Independence.