July 20, 1858 – The very first charged admission to see a baseball game occurred for a New York All-Star team against a Star-studded lineup of Brooklyn ball players. The National Association of Base Ball Players was organized earlier in this year in recognition of the potential profits that baseball could provide.
The first admission fee of half of a dollar was charged that year for the All-Star game between the Brooklyn and New York clubs. You see until that point in time baseball players joined a dues-paying club in order to rent the fields to play their games on.
Typically these were amateur teams in name, but almost always featured a few players who were covertly paid. That $0.50 admission was not a small fee. Many unskilled workers at that time would only make $2-3 per week in earnings.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
Sports History On This Day: July 23
July 23, 1925 – As a child did you ever imagine yourself crushing that game-winning
Sports History On This Day: July 22
July 22, 1967 – They just couldn’t find their way out or at least the
Sports History On This Day: July 21
July 21, 1957 – A milestone moment in sports history. A young lady by the
Sports History On This Day: July 20
July 20, 1858 – The very first charged admission to see a baseball game occurred
The Incredible Run of the 1955 to 1966 Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers
In one form or another, the Dodgers have existed for nearly a century and
Super Bowl XXXIX (Eagles vs. Patriots): An Ultimate Recount of the Game
Today we have Super Bowl XXXIX, which was held on February 6, 2005, at
Sports History On This Day: July 19
July 19, 1922 – This was truly a monumental moment in swimming history! American swimmer
Sports History On This Day: July 18
July 18, 1921 – Babe Ruth smacked a ball fair 560 feet for his 139th