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
Super Bowl XLII (New England Patriots vs. New York Giants): An Ultimate Recount of the Game
Today we have Super Bowl XLII, which was held on February 3, 2008, at
Sports History On This Day: September 5
September 5, 1906 – Many claim it was the first legal forward pass in American
Sports History On This Day: September 4
September 4, 1920 – History takes us to the racetrack of thoroughbreds. One of the
Sports History On This Day: September 3
September 3, 1908 – Prize fighter Tommy Burns was the world champion in the heavyweight
Sports History On This Day: September 2
September 2, 1946 – Talk about one of the greatest sports competitors of all time
Sports History On This Day: September 1
September 1, 1999 – It became the first in modern professional sports history. Former NHL
Sports History On This Day: August 31
August 31, 1909 – A. J. Reach Co. patented the cork-centered baseball. Previously the balls
Sports History On This Day: August 30
August 30, 1904 – Perhaps the main staple of the Olympics from ancient Greece carried