06/24/1935 • 3 views
First Recorded Night Baseball Game Played Under Lights
On June 24, 1935, the first widely reported professional baseball game played under permanent electric lights took place, marking a turning point in how and when the sport could be staged for paying audiences.
Background
Experiments with night baseball had been attempted at smaller venues and in exhibition settings before 1935. Early examples include various semi-professional and independent clubs that staged games under temporary or improvised lighting in the 1880s and 1900s. However, these were isolated demonstrations rather than part of a regular major league schedule. During the 1920s and early 1930s, promoters and some minor-league clubs increasingly invested in permanent lighting systems as municipal electric power became more reliable and affordable.
Crosley Field and Major League Adoption
Crosley Field in Cincinnati became the first major league park equipped with a permanent lighting system intended for regular league use. The team’s owner and local business leaders supported the installation as a means to draw evening crowds. On the evening of June 24, 1935, the Cincinnati Reds played the Philadelphia Phillies in what is widely recorded as the first major league night game under permanent lights. Contemporary newspaper coverage and team records from the period document the event and its significance for baseball scheduling.
Impact and Legacy
The success of the Crosley Field experiment encouraged other major league clubs to adopt night baseball. Within a few years, several National and American League teams installed lights, and night games became a standard feature of the professional schedule. Night baseball expanded attendance possibilities, made weekday games accessible to fans who worked daytime hours, and helped clubs stabilize revenues during economically difficult times.
Historical Notes and Sources
While the Crosley Field game of June 24, 1935, is generally cited as the first major league night game under permanent lights, prior instances of play under lights occurred at lower levels of baseball and in exhibition formats dating back decades. Researchers and contemporary accounts distinguish between early ad hoc or exhibition night games and the organized, scheduled night games made possible by permanent lighting installations in major league parks. Primary contemporary sources include newspaper accounts from June 1935, team archives, and baseball history references that document the Crosley Field installation and the Reds–Phillies game.
The introduction of night baseball is one of several technological and business changes in the 20th century that shaped professional sports scheduling and fan access. Its adoption reflects both technological diffusion—reliable electric lighting—and economic pressures that pushed teams to find new ways to attract audiences.