This date in Chicago Cubs history |
April 27, 2020, is upon us, we still have no baseball with no end in sight as to when it will indeed begin again. One thing we can agree upon, however, is that this date, along with each passing day will forever be enshrined in Cubs history as we await the beginning of baseball in 2020.
Even though we still have no baseball this season, that shouldn't deter us from remembering all the events that have happened throughout the Cubs history on April 27. While most of us were alive during the most recent historic Cubs events on this day, some of us were not, and some of us may have even forgotten some of those events. April 27 also marks the birthday of former Cubs great Rodger Hornsby, who will also be known as one of the greatest players in MLB history. Despite most of his career being in Cardinal country, Hornsby did spend some time with the Cubs and will forever be remembered.
Another former Cub celebrating his birthday today is Aaron Brooks. If this name doesn't ring a bell, Brooks was a pitcher on the 2016 Cubs team who never saw action that season. He was then dealt to Oakland in exchange for Chris Coghlan.
Getting away from birthdays and moving to games now, we immediately head to April 27, 1986, where we have the first historic event on this day in Cubs history. Much like a lot of classic games at Wrigley, this was an absolute slugfest against the Montreal Expos in which the Cubs emerged victorious 12-10. Jody Davis was the spark plug for Chicago on the afternoon as his grand slam in the fourth inning would be all the momentum the Cubs would need going forward.
Not finished with his monstrous day, Davis came up once again in the eighth inning against the Expos closer Jeff Reardon and started a massive rally that proved to be the difference in this one. His hit began a five-run eighth-inning rally that ultimately put the Cubs on top for good before they sealed it in the ninth 12-10. Today, this is still one of the best come from behind wins in franchise history.
A few years later, in 1989, we find our second historic game on April 27 as a pair of hall of fame pitchers went toe to toe on the rubber. In a matchup for the ages, the Cubs went with Mad Dog Greg Maddux as the Dodgers countered with their ace Orel Hershiser on the hill in front of the Wrigley faithful.
What was pegged to be an epic pitcher's duel certainly didn't disappoint as the two aces went at it all game long. Maddux pitched an absolute gem allowing just five singles in the contest and even picked up a single later in the game. That single proved to be huge as Gary Varsho tripled Maddux home for the 1-0 lead as that proved to be the final score with Maddux not only earning the win but going the distance in the process.
The most recent historical April 27 is one most of us should remember as this happened back in 2005. In another game that happened to be in front of the home fans, the Cubs entertained the Cincinnati Reds as they were looking to continue an excellent start to the season.
It was the Derrek Lee, and Corey Patterson show in this one as the duo put together huge games at the plate to help contribute to the winning effort. With the Reds up 6-2 in the sixth inning, Lee launched a two-run homer into the left-field seats cutting the deficit in half 6-4.
Now down 7-4 in the seventh, Lee was back up to bat with a pair of runners on base. Once again, Lee made the Reds pay as one swing drove in three men as the Cubs came back to tie things up 7-7 giving Lee five RBI's on two swings. Heading to the bottom of the ninth, the game was still tied at seven as the reds elected to call on Matt Belisle to get the game to the 10th.
Unfortunately for him, and fortunately for the Cubs, Belisle ran into Corey Patterson, who drove in the first two runs on the day for the Cubs. For the third time in as many innings, the Cubs took a Reds pitcher deep as Patterson got a hold of one and drove it over the wall to deliver the walk-off shot and 8-7 come from behind win for the Cubs. Patterson and Lee were responsible for all eight RBI's, with Lee grabbing five and Patterson three.
