May 24, 1935 – A landmark event occurred at the ballpark in Cincinnati, Ohio. President Franklin D. Roosevelt flicked the switch ceremoniously from the Nation’s Capitol and the lights went on for a Major League baseball game for the first time in history!
Despite the neigh-sayers, National League President Ford Frick embraced the technology in a speech while in attendance saying, “One game of course, but the players were not handicapped in any way that I could see and I believe we will have more of it in 1936.”
Very prophetic words indeed as look at the amount of night baseball games played in this era of the sport. The Reds held on to win it 2-1 over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies in front of a crowd of over 20,000. According to a post on OfftheBenchBaseball.com, there are twice as many MLB night games played nowadays as there are daytime versions.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
Kent McCloughan: The Forgotten Architect of the Bump-and-Run
Land on Kent McCloughan’s page on Pro Football Reference and it’s likely that you’d
Legendary USMNT players with the most World Cup goals
The World Cup heads to America in 2026, returning to North American soil with
What Historical Upsets Teach Us About Line Value and When to Trust the Underdog
The most memorable moments in sports history are almost always upsets. Leicester City winning
The Best Esports Games for Online Betting in 2026
Esports keeps growing in 2026, both in audience size and in opportunities for online
The Difference Between Social Casinos and Real-Money iGaming Platforms
In recent years, the digital gaming landscape has expanded significantly, offering players an array
What’s The Right Amount of Weight Training?
I recently heard a weightlifting coach say that overtraining doesn’t exist. That’s a very
Bart Starr: The GOAT at Quarterback in Green Bay Packers History
The Green Bay Packers have an illustrious history of greatness at the quarterback position.
Remembering the First Wildcard Weekend of the 1970s
The 1978 NFL season incorporated a bunch of changes that resulted in important changes