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
When The NFL Lost It’s Greatest Tackle: Retired Cardinals’ Numbers
In the long, long history of the Arizona Cardinals, it is interesting to note
Sports History On This Day: June 20
June 20, 1936 – Faster than fast that was how many described him. Jesse Owens
Sports History On This Day: June 19
June 19, 1946 – This is really going to be the beginning of historic games
Sports History On This Day: June 18
June 18, 1911 – It was truly sports history in the making! The greatest comeback
Sports History On This Day: June 17
June 17, 1915 – Chicago Cubs relief pitcher George “Zip” Zabel is brought out of the
Sports History On This Day: June 16
June 16, 1968 – Legendary golfer Lee Trevino won his first major title at the
Sports History On This Day: June 15
June 15, 1970 – An exciting 18-hole playoff took place at the LPGA Championship at
Pro Football Hall of Fame Talk (w/ Vinny Lospinuso)
Vinny Lospinuso rides shotgun in the DeLorean with me this week to talk all