Today in 1908 - Cubs collapse in the 9th, Fried chicken causes an incident

Cubs fall apart in the 9th and lose 10-5. Also, the great Fried Chicken Incident of 1908.

There's a saying "the more things change, the more they stay the same." For all the differences in the game of baseball between 1908 and 2016, some things are still exactly the same. Like fried chicken.

Remember back in 2011 when the Boston Red Sox had an epic collapse at the end of the season, leading to tons of finger pointing, accusations, and firings? Well one of the main culprits in all of it was the great Fried Chicken and Beer Incident. To refresh your memory, while the team collapsed around them, Sox players Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, and John Lackey spent the entire month of September holed up in the clubhouse drinking beer, eating fried chicken, and playing video games. (Full story here if you want it)

Well it turns out, this wasn't the first time fried chicken caused a problem for a baseball team. The Cubs had a Fried Chicken Incident of their own on this day in 1908.

After yesterday's games, the team was traveling via train back to Chicago for today's home and home against the Pirates. While stopped in Cleveland, three members of the team, including pitcher Ed Reulbach, were hungry and decided to hop off the train and buy some fried chicken at the train depot.

Unfortunately for them, they didn't make it back in time and the train left without them. Since the men had only hopped of for a second, none of them had any of their stuff ... ticket stubs, hats, luggage, etc. Luckily, one of the men had some extra money in their pocket, and the three got on the next train and made it to the game in time.

Mmmm ... chicken. Totally worth the risk!

Speaking of the game, it probably would've been one worth missing since pitcher Jack Pfiester collapsed in the 9th inning, giving up five runs and leading the Cubs to a 10-5 loss. The injury bug continued to bite the Cubs as well ... they were already without Evers, Kling, Slagle, and Schulte to start the game ... and then player-manager Frank Chance added his own name to that injury list after wrenching his back on a ground ball.

In addition to losing the game, the Cubs also lost their slim lead on first place, handing it back to the Pirates by a half game. Overall record on the year now sits at 41-26.

In good news, this was game one of a massive 18 game home stand, so hopefully the friendly confines of home helps heal all the wounded and gets the Cubbies back on track. Three games against Brooklyn starting tomorrow.