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
Sports History On This Day: March 25
March 25, 1958 – Boxing legend Sugar Ray Robinson, claimed victory in a 15 round split-decision
Sports History On This Day: March 24
March 24, 1936 – A Stanley Cup playoff game takes a record 9 periods to
Sports History On This Day: March 23
March 23, 1938 – Commissioner, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis declared that seventy-four of the players in the
Tailgating Challenge: An American Tradition With Founder Luke Lorick
When you go to a sporting event, do you tailgate? If not, have you
Sports History On This Day: March 22
March 22, 1903 – In New York City tickets went on sale for a brand
1976 New England Patriots: One of the Best Teams That Didn’t Win a Super Bowl in the 1970s
From 1960 to 1975, the New England Patriots, formerly playing as the Boston Patriots,
Sports History On This Day: March 21
March 21, 1941 – Abe Simon stepped in the ring with Heavy Weight Champion Joe Louis at
A Running Game and Super Bowl VIII
All throughout the 1973 NFL season, pro football’s offensive strategy revolved around the running