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
What Was The NFL Coaching Carousel Like In The 1970s?
Perhaps no other era in the sport of pro football has seen the renewing
Biggest Comebacks in Super Bowl History
We are not even halfway through the 2022 NFL regular season yet but many
13 Statements About Alexander Cartwright and the Founding of Baseball
***This article was submitted by Doron “Duke” Goldman.*** Alexander Cartwright has been called both
Remembering Charley Trippi (Pro Football Hall of Famer)
We recently learned of the passing of Charley Trippi, one of the most versatile
Boxing Throughout the Years: Fights that Left a Mark in the World
Boxing has been providing fantastic entertainment for fans throughout the years. Sometimes, a bout becomes
Remembering Roy Wayne Farris as “The Honky Tonk Man”
“Sha Na Na” was a syndicated comedy variety show featuring the 50’s style rock &
The Greatest Phoenix Suns Players of All Time
Since joining the NBA in 1968, the Phoenix Suns have been home to some
Jack Glynn: Teenage General Manager For Chicago Cardinals
In the early years of the 20th century before the start of the National