Dive into the thrilling saga of Chicago Cubs lore and baseball's wild past—December 17 edition, where one wrong call or rule tweak could reshape the game forever! Ever wondered how a simple pitch or a league merger changed the face of America's pastime? Buckle up, because we're about to uncover gems that even die-hard fans might have overlooked. But here's where it gets controversial: Some of these changes sparked debates that still simmer today, forcing us to question if tradition or innovation should win out. Join Bleed Cubbie Blue as we explore these pivotal moments, making history accessible and exciting for newcomers and veterans alike.
Published on December 17, 2025, at 12:00 PM UTC
Image courtesy of Getty Images
Contributed by Duane Pesice (https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/authors/duane-pesice). Duane pens the Cub Tracks and Baseball History Unpacked series, along with occasional pieces. Beyond baseball, he's a prolific author of horror and science fiction tales, boasting eleven published books and over 200 short stories.
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Bleed Cubbie Blue (https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/) delivers a Cubs-focused (https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/) dive into baseball's vibrant history. For context, check out this useful Cubs timeline (http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/chc/history/timeline01.jsp) to navigate the interwoven stories.
“Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” — Tom Connolly (https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/tommy-connolly/), Hall of Fame Umpire.
Wishing a happy birthday to Marvell Wynne* and fellow ex-Cubs players. The spitball gets a special exemption, plus more tales from the diamond.
Let's time-travel through today's baseball highlights:
1889 - The Players League (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/PlayersLeague) introduces fresh regulations (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Rules), such as implementing a two-umpire (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Umpire) setup and extending the pitcher's distance from 55½ feet to 57 feet. They also select a more bouncy ball (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Baseball(equipment)), which promises to drive up scores in the season ahead. (2) For beginners, this shift to a livelier ball made games more exciting but also trickier for pitchers, as it could lead to more runs—think of it like upgrading from a slow-motion replay to fast-forward action!
1891 - After a decade of rivalry, the American Association (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/AmericanAssociation(19thcentury)) dissolves following an agreement with the National League (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/NationalLeague). Four teams from the AA—St. Louis (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/St.LouisBrowns), Louisville (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/LouisvilleColonels), Washington (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/WashingtonSenators), and Baltimore (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/BaltimoreOrioles(AA))—merge with the NL's eight squads to create a twelve-team circuit officially named the National League and American Association of Professional Base Ball Clubs. The remaining four AA teams are compensated around $130,000. The NL agrees to permit games on Sundays for the first time, though they stick to a 50-cent entry fee. (2) This merger was a game-changer, unifying baseball and setting the stage for modern leagues—imagine if two rival sports networks suddenly combined to dominate TV!
1920 - The American League (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/AmericanLeague) decides to let pitchers who relied on the spitball (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Spitball) in 1920 keep using it while they remain in the majors. The National League (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/NationalLeague) follows suit. In total, 17 hurlers are officially allowed to employ this pitch—eight in the NL and nine in the AL. NL pitchers include: Bill Doak (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/BillDoak), Phil Douglas (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/PhilDouglas), Dana Fillingim (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/DanaFillingim), Ray Fisher (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/RayFisher), Marvin Goodwin (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/MarvinGoodwin), Burleigh Grimes (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/BurleighGrimes), Clarence Mitchell (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/ClarenceMitchell), and Dick Rudolph (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/DickRudolph). AL pitchers are: A.W. Ayers (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/DocAyers), Slim Caldwell (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/RayCaldwell), Stan Coveleski (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/StanCoveleski), Red Faber (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/RedFaber), Dutch Leonard (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/DutchLeonard(leonadu01)), Jack Quinn (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/JackQuinn), Allan Russell (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/AllanRussell), Urban Shocker (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/UrbanShocker), and Allen Sothoron (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/AllenSothoron). (2) For those new to the game, the spitball involves moistening the ball with saliva to make it curve unpredictably—think of it as a sneaky trick that could fool batters but raised ethical questions. And this is the part most people miss: Was this a fair 'grandfathering' of skill, or just legalized cheating that gave an unfair edge? It sparked heated debates about sportsmanship versus strategy, with some arguing it tainted the integrity of the game.
1928 - National League (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/NationalLeague) President John Heydler (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/JohnHeydler)’s proposal for a designated hitter (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Designatedhitter) gains support from legendary manager John McGraw (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/JohnMcGraw), yet the American League (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/American_League) opposes it. Here's where it gets controversial— the DH rule, which lets a hitter bat in place of the pitcher, still divides fans today. Some see it as protecting aging hurlers, while others call it a dilution of strategy. What side are you on?
1928 - In a combined session, rules are updated to stop minor league squads from offloading top prospects (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Prospect) to allied big-league teams at inflated costs, only to reclaim them and force other ML clubs to foot a higher bill. Additional reforms prohibit signing players younger than 17 and cap first-year contracts at $7,500. This aimed to level the playing field, preventing shady dealings that favored connected organizations— a classic example of big-money manipulation in sports.
1964 - The Yankees (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/NewYorkYankees) part ways with their longtime broadcaster Mel Allen (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Mel_Allen). This iconic announcer made phrases like 'going, going, gone' for homers and 'how about that' for on-field drama famous. His firing marked a shift in baseball media, leaving fans to ponder if loyalty or ratings should dictate such decisions.
2002 - The Cubs (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/2003Cubs) ink free agent (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Freeagent) outfielder Troy O’Leary (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Troy_O%27Leary) to a one-year deal worth $750,000. (2) This move was part of the Cubs' strategy to bolster their lineup, though it raised eyebrows about overspending on veterans.
Now, let's glance at broader historical events on this date:
1398 - Conqueror Tamerlane seizes and pillages Delhi, overpowering Sultan Nasir-u Din Mehmud's forces by igniting hay-laden camels and driving them against the Sultan's armored elephants. A brutal tactic from ancient warfare that shows how ingenuity can turn the tide in battle.
1777 - France officially acknowledges the autonomy of Britain's American territories.
1790 - The famous Aztec calendar stone is unearthed in Mexico City, offering a window into pre-Columbian culture.
1903 - The Wright brothers achieve the first controlled, powered flight at 10:35 a.m., with Orville at the controls near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. This groundbreaking moment revolutionized travel—imagine the world before airplanes!
1933 - The inaugural National Football League Championship unfolds at Chicago's Wrigley Field, where the Chicago Bears (https://www.windycitygridiron.com/) defeat the New York Giants (https://www.bigblueview.com/) by a score of 23-21. This also introduced the 'Bronko Nagurski Rule,' allowing forward passes from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage.
Common references:
*pictured.
Keep in mind, some details here circulate online without verification, so we encourage citing reliable sources to keep the facts straight.
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Getting the conversation ready...
What do you think about the spitball exemption—was it a clever loophole or a stain on baseball's honor? And on the DH debate, should pitchers bat everywhere, or is the rule a necessary evolution? Share your takes in the comments—do you agree or disagree, and why? Let's keep the discussion rolling!
