Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies Play First Night Game
By David Hill
Night games are commonplace in Major league Baseball these days, to the point where a day game outside of Wrigley Field during the week is a rarity. However, that was not always the case, as the first night game in MLB history was played on this day between the Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies at Crosley Field.
There is nothing quite like night baseball. After a long day at work, the ability to come home and watch a game with a cold beer is one of the true joys in life. It’s difficult to imagine not having a night game during the season to relax to.
Yet, until this day in 1935, that was the case. Baseball games were played during the afternoon, using the sunlight to illuminate the field. Night games, played under the lights, were just a dream until the Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies played the first night game at Crosley Field.
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As may be expected in the first night game in major league history, the Reds and Phillies bats struggled in Cincinnati’s 2-1 victory. The Reds got their first run in the bottom of the first when Billy Myers led off with a double and scored on Ival Goodman’s groundball to first. Cincinnati scored another run in the fourth, after Billy Sullivan and Harlin Pool hit consecutive singles to put runners at the corners, with Sullivan scoring on Gilly Campbell’s groundout.
Philadelphia would push a run across in the top of the fifth on Joe Bowman’s groundout, but Paul Derringer managed to shut down their offense on six hits, striking out three in his complete game victory. Bowman pitched well in the tough loss, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk in his seven innings pitched.
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The game would prove to be successful, and the Reds would go on to play one night game against each team in the National League that year. As the current schedule shows, those night games were just the beginning.