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    This Week in Wrigley History (May 21–May 27)

    By Rick Kaempfer
    In This Week In Wrigley History
    May 21st, 2024
    1 Comment
    4880 Views

    May 21, 1935
    The immortal Babe Ruth played his last game at Wrigley Field.

    Ruth was a shell of his former self, struggling to stay afloat with the Boston Braves. And he made three outs his first three times to the plate, but in his last at bat ever in Wrigley Field, Babe Ruth stepped up to the plate against Cubs reliever Tex Carleton.

    Tex grooved one, and Babe showed he still knew what to do with it, knocking the ball into the bleachers for a home run.

    Babe was removed from the game after that homer, and tipped his cap to the Wrigley fans one last time. He retired from baseball just nine days later.

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    May 21: In 1939, Dizzy Dean pitches a three hit shutout over the Boston Bees.

    May 22: In 1990, Andre Dawson is intentionally walked five times in a game against the Reds…In 2002, Mark Prior debuts for the Cubs, and wins the game.

    May 23: In 1926, Hack Wilson hit the scoreboard with a home run at Wrigley Field. At the time the scoreboard was still in left field.

    May 24: On this day in 1978, the Cubs won an exciting game over the Philadelphia Phillies 6-4. Manny Trillo hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the tenth to win it. The win put the Cubs in first place…In 1990, Vice President Dan Quayle is in the ballpark and tosses out the ceremonial first pitch. Cubs get clobbered by Dodgers, 15-6.

    May 25: In 1923, Grover Cleveland Alexander pitched a two-hit masterpiece against the Reds at Cubs Park. One of the two hits came off the bat of George Burns (no, not that George Burns)…In 1981, the Cubs come back after being down 8-0 to win the game 10-9.

    May 26: On this day in 1957, Rookie Dick Drott struck out 15 Braves-including famed slugger Hank Aaron three times-in 7-5 win.

    May 27: All of the gate receipts on this day in 1942 were donated to the Army/Navy fun by the Cubs. 17,000 were there when the game began. Considerably fewer were there when it ended. The Cubs lost 10-1 to the Reds. Gee Walker hit a grand slam.

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    May 26, 1964
    The Cubs experienced one of the most humiliating losses in their history, losing to the Mets 19-1. The New York Mets were the worst team in baseball that year, losers of 109 games. They had no offense, no defense, and no pitching.

    This was the kind of game that makes gamblers tear their hair out. The Cubs lineup had four consecutive future Hall of Famers in the 2-5 slots (Lou Brock, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, and Ernie Banks). The Mets lineup had none. The Cubs had 15 game winner Bob Buhl on the mound. The Mets had Jack Fisher, who was leading the league in earned runs allowed.

    So, naturally Bob Buhl didn’t survive the first inning, and Jack Fisher pitched a complete game 4-hitter. He even struck out sluggers Billy Williams and Ron Santo (twice).

    Luckily for the Cubs, only 2503 people were on hand to witness the bloodbath.

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