History in Houston

History will be made tonight in Houston.

When Greg Maddux of my Cubs takes the mound this evening against Roger Clemens of the 'Stros, it will be the first time in 113 years that two 300-game winners have faced each other in the National League.

The last time this happened in the Senior Circuit was in July of 1892, when Philadelphia's Tim Keefe and St. Louis' Jim "Pud'' Galvin faced each other twice. The American League had a far more recent such matchup, with California's Don Sutton facing Minnesota's Steve Carlton on Aug. 4, 1987.

An interesting piece of history. Perhaps more significant, though, is that-riddled by injuries though they are- the next three games will give the Cubs the chance to demonstrate beyond all doubt that they are the main competition to the evil St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central.

The Cubs changed cable outlets this year, and our local provider- bereft of Cubs games- substituted those of those pestilential ruddy birds. We will probably be switching to satellite as a result. But tonight, WGN will be carrying the game, so I'll still get to watch Derrek Lee continue his assault on the Triple Crown.

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