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On this date in 2003, the Cubs won their first playoff series in 95 years, taking game five of the NL Division Series over the Braves 5-1.

On this date in 1993, Michael Jordan shocked the world by announcing his retirement from basketball.

On this date in 1984, Walter Payton broke Jim Brown’s career records for rushing yards and 100-yard games.

On this date in 1956, Don Larsen threw the first—and still ONLY—perfect game in MLB postseason history, and just the sixth-ever.

On this date in 1906, Chicago’s West Side Grounds hosted the first-ever crosstown World Series game.

On this date in 1920, Bill Wambsganss turned the first—and still ONLY—unassisted triple play in World Series history.

On this date in 1999, an injured Pedro Martinez twirled six innings of no-hit relief to propel the Red Sox into the ALCS.

On this date in 1958, Ernie Banks played in a post-season exhibition at Yankee Stadium, the first of only two games Mr. Cub would ever play in the Bronx.

On this date in 1967, Oakland Arena hosted the first-ever regular-season ABA contest, a 134-129 Oakland Oaks victory over the Anaheim Amigos.

On this date in 2024, more than 52,000 people completed the Chicago Marathon, one of the six World Majors. In this bonus episode, we discuss where those extra 385 yards actually came from.

On this date in 1994, the Chicago Wolves played their first-ever home game, a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Vipers at the Rosemont Horizon.

On this date in 1917, the White Sox won their second World Series, knocking off the Giants in Game Six at the Polo Grounds, the most memorable play made by a Triple Crown winner who’d be exiled from the game two years later.

On this date in 1979, Charleston Charlies’ alumni John Candelaria and Kent Tekulve combined to shut out the Orioles 4-0, taking the World Series to a winner-take-all Game Seven the following night.

On this date in 1989, the Loma Prieta Earthquake brought the Bay Area—and the World Series—to a screeching halt.

On this date in 1966, Chicago’s fifth pro basketball team—The Bulls—would play their first-ever home game.

On this date in 1884, BBWAA Career Excellence Award winner Tim Murnane played the final game of his professional career, which began as a barnstormer for Savannah.

Chicago sandlot legend Lou Gertenrich died on this date in 1933. Lou also played two big league games, filling in for the visiting Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburg Pirates.

On this date in 1928, Yankee great Whitey Ford was born in New York City.

On this date in 2005, the White Sox hosted the Astros in the first World Series game played in Chicago since 1959.

On this date in 1977, former Cleveland Indian George “Pickles” Gerken died at the age of 74.

On this date in 1951, The Sporting News broke the story behind a scathing five year-old report that MLB owners vigorously tried to deny ever existed.

On this date in 2016, the Cubs played their first World Series game in 71 years—losing by six runs, just as they had in their previous outing, in 1945.

On this date in 2016, the Cubs earned their first World Series victory in 25951 days.

Today we honor Pumpsie Green, the first Black player in Red Sox history, born on this date in 1933.

After two decades of telling it like it was, Cubs color analyst Steve Stone left the team on this date in 2004, a victim of the club’s inability—and unwillingness—to look in the mirror.