Cubs Historical Investigation: Unveiling the Tyler Houston Episode
Let’s delve into the annals of history!
Stumbling upon this photograph unexpectedly, I was immediately captivated. This particular image, despite its recent origin, lacks a precise date, making it an intriguing puzzle for historical sleuthing. What adds to the allure is that it captures a specific play, enabling us to swiftly narrow down the timeframe.
According to Getty Images:
In a game at Wrigley Field in May 1999 in Chicago, Illinois (correcting the misspelling), Tyler Houston #7 of the Chicago Cubs can be seen attempting to tag Bret Boone #24 of the Atlanta Braves.
A meticulous examination reveals that Tyler Houston played third base in only two games against the Braves at Wrigley Field in May 1999. After scrutinizing the play-by-play of both games, pinpointing the exact moment became a straightforward task.
This particular play unfolded in the top of the first inning on Saturday, May 15, 1999. With one out, Bret Boone doubled to right and attempted to advance to third but was thrown out by Sammy Sosa to Mark Grace to Houston. For those interested, a video capturing this play is available:
The Cubs emerged victorious in this game with a score of 5-1, marked by Henry Rodriguez’s two-run homer off Greg Maddux, highlighting a three-run first inning.
At that point in the season, the Cubs had a sluggish start but managed to reach a 17-16 record with this win, placing them five games behind the leaders. Following this success, they embarked on an impressive 15-6 run, achieving a 32-23 record and trailing by just one game on June 8.
However, what ensued became a harrowing chapter in Cubs history. A dramatic downturn saw them lose five consecutive games and 10 of the next 11.
\From their promising 32-23 start, the team stumbled to a dismal 35-72 record, the worst in baseball during that stretch.
The culmination of this downturn was the loss of 95 games, leading to the dismissal of manager Jim Riggleman.
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