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
Can History Repeat? Looking Back at the Spurs’ 1997-98 Season
It’s hardly a secret that San Antonio Spurs fans look back at the late
Reliving the Early 1970s Reign of the San Francisco 49ers
Most NFL fans are familiar with the SF 49ers’ success during the 1980s and
Harry Ghaul: The Best Punter in Cardinals’ History, Who Wasn’t
Every so often, we encounter a football story that just screams to be shared.
Roy Lopez: From Childhood Fan to Arizona Cardinals Player
In professional sports, it’s not uncommon to hear stories of athletes achieving their childhood
FIFA World Cup Finals: Which Is the Greatest Ever?
A World Cup final is a rare event that happens only once every four
Mike Listro’s Weightlifting Legacy: Strength, Determination, and Breaking Records
Mike Listro began lifting weights in his basement at thirteen after watching the movie
George Pjura: American Weightlifting Ageless Wonder
Few sports fans have heard of George Pjura. One reason is that Olympic Weightlifting
The New York Yankees in 1980: A Tale of Determination
After winning back-to-back World Series in 1977 & 1978, the New York Yankees had