Cubs catcher John Baker is winning pitcher, and scores winning run (Video)
By Dan Zinski
John Baker got to do something Tuesday night that hadn’t been done since 1968. The Cubs catcher came on in the top of the 16th inning to pitch in a tie game, and was credited as the winning pitcher when the Cubs scored in the bottom of the frame to claim the victory. And which Cub scored the winning run to give John Baker the pitching victory?
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John Baker.
The last position player to get a pitching win while scoring the winning run was Rocky Colavito in 1968. Baker is a member of a very exclusive club indeed. A club that no one was even aware existed before last night.
The 16-inning game between the Cubs and Rockies was the longest game in Cubs history by time (they have played longer games by number of innings). It was tied 3-3 from the 4th inning until the 16th.
Another distinction for Baker: He becomes the first man to both pitch and catch for the Cubs in the same season since the world-famous Malachi Kittridge in 1896. Malachi Kittridge is the most 1800s-baseball-player name ever invented.
John Baker is now a deep-trivia immortal.
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