The Cubs used a power display to defeat the A’s on Sunday.
I’m disappointed that Luis Valbuena didn’t really bat flip. And then there was this defensive masterpiece by Darnell McDonald…
He’ll get to laugh it off because the Cubs won. In other news, Starlin Castro got to play in minor league camp on Sunday and should be getting defensive innings soon. On the transactional side, Tsuyoshi Wada was released and Neil Ramirez was optioned to Iowa.
Next up, the Cubs play Monday night against the San Diego Padres at Cubs Park in Mesa. Game time is 9:05 PM Central, and you can listen to the broadcast on WGN radio.
#Cubs vs Padres tonight: Bonifacio 2B, Murph SS, Riz 1B, Ruggiano LF, Schierholtz RF, Castillo C, Sweeney CF, Roberts 3B, Villanueva P
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) March 24, 2014
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The 1907 World Series
The first one is always nice. After losing to the cross-town White Sox in 1906, the Cubs, who were a force in the late 19th and early 20th century, broke through and “swept” the Detroit Tigers in the first of several World Series matchups between the two storied franchises. This was the first season when the Cubs were actually known as the “Chicago Cubs” and happened to be their first World Series championship as the American and National Leagues had agreed to the new format just a few years before.
The first game seemed like it would be a Tigers victory until the Cubs roared back in the bottom of the ninth and forced extra innings. Unfortunately, with no lighting, the game was called a tie and the Cubs swept the next four. As with the 1908 Series, this was not played nor clinched in Wrigley Field (which wouldn’t be built until 1914). The Cubs dominated the series as Detroit could never muster up any offense against superb pitching led by Mordecai Brown.
As said above, the Cubs had won many National League titles prior to the World Series era. North Side fans were used to this at the time, and winning the first World Series championship in franchise history was probably not that big of a deal to contemporary Cubs faithful. I hope to one day get to the point where we as Cubs fans can also expect to win year in and year out like our ancestors did at the turn of the century. I’m guessing the reaction when the Cubs win the championship again will be exponentially more intense than in 1907.
Seven days. One more week. Cubs baseball.
