Bleed Cubbie Blue · Sep 3, 2022
Today in Cubs history: Billy Williams’ consecutive game streak ends
Cubs Hall of Famer Billy Williams owns the sixth-longest streak of consecutive games played in MLB history, 1,117 games. At the time he retired, it was the National League record, broken in 1983 by Steve Garvey.
This is the story of the day the streak ended, September 3, 1970.
The Cubs had a fast start to their 1970 season after the disappointment of 1969. They won 11 in a row in April and by early June had a five-game lead in the NL East. Then followed a 12-game losing streak which dropped the team under .500 in late June. (Thus began the “June Swoon,” a collapse endured by many Cubs teams in that era.)