First Night Baseball Game

The first MLB night game took place on May 24, 1935, at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. You might be surprised to learn that President Roosevelt switched on the lights from Washington D.C. by pressing a gold telegraph key, sending a signal 500 miles to the stadium. Over 20,000 fans showed up — more than three times the Reds' average attendance. There's plenty more to uncover about how that historic night forever changed America's favorite pastime.

Key Takeaways

• The first MLB night game took place on May 24, 1935, at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, Ohio, illuminated by over one million watts.
• President Franklin D. Roosevelt switched on the lights remotely from the White House using a gold telegraph key connected by copper wire.
• Despite poor attendance averaging 6,000 fans, the night game drew 20,422 spectators, proving the concept's massive commercial potential.
• Paul Derringer pitched a complete game victory over the Phillies, finishing in just 1 hour and 35 minutes.
• The event's success was undeniable, prompting Brooklyn to install lights three years later and permanently transforming baseball scheduling.

When and Where the First MLB Night Game Took Place

The first night game in Major League Baseball history took place on Friday, May 24, 1935, at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, Ohio—a day later than originally planned, after drizzle and cold temperatures forced a postponement of the scheduled Thursday game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Despite the persistent weather conditions, the rescheduled game moved forward. Crosley Field showcased a remarkable lighting innovation: 632 floodlights powered by over one million watts, positioned high above the stadium to bathe the entire field in artificial light.

You'd have witnessed history that night, as neither the American nor National League had ever hosted a night game before. The National League had permitted each team up to seven night games, but Cincinnati's was the first. The Reds defeated the Phillies 2-1 in front of a crowd of 20,422 eager spectators who came out to experience the historic occasion.

The moment the lights came on was made possible by President Franklin Roosevelt, who pressed a gold telegraph key from Washington, D.C., sending an electric pulse roughly 500 miles to Crosley Field, where MacPhail then flipped a switch to illuminate the field.

Why the Reds Fought So Hard to Play at Night

Behind that historic night at Crosley Field was a fight that nearly didn't happen. Every other major league owner vehemently opposed Larry McPhail's proposal, forcing him and Reds owner Powel Crosley to push relentlessly for approval. Owners finally compromised, permitting just seven night games — one against each National League opponent.

McPhail's strategic vision went beyond novelty. The Reds averaged only 6,000 fans per game during the 1935 season, and he recognized that daytime games simply excluded working-class fans. Night baseball's revenue generation potential was obvious to him: give workers an evening option, and they'd show up.

They did. Over 20,000 fans attended that first game — more than triple the seasonal average — proving McPhail's instincts completely right and silencing every skeptic in the process. The Reds defeated the Phillies 2-1 in front of 20,422 fans, with Paul Derringer pitching a complete game to secure his place in baseball history.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt flipped the switch to officially illuminate Crosley Field's 632 lights, making him an unlikely but memorable participant in one of baseball's most transformative moments.

How FDR Switched On the Lights From Washington

On the evening of May 24, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a gold telegraph key inside the White House, sending an electric pulse 500 miles over copper wire to Cincinnati's Crosley Field. Given the technological limitations of 1935, this remote activation was remarkable — Western Union carried the signal until it triggered a lamp near first base, signaling Reds President Larry MacPhail to flip the master switch. Instantly, 632 floodlights across eight massive towers flooded the previously darkened field with over one million watts of light.

The ceremonial significance of presidential involvement wasn't lost on the crowd, which erupted in a tremendous cheer. By involving FDR directly, the Reds transformed a local event into a nationally symbolic moment, announcing that night baseball had officially arrived in the major leagues. The game itself proved to be a resounding success, as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Philadelphia Phillies by a score of 2-1 in a clean, errorless contest.

The historic night drew an extraordinary turnout, with over 20,000 fans packing Crosley Field to witness the occasion — a stunning figure considering the Reds were averaging only around 6,000 fans per game that season.

What Happened the Night the Reds Made History

With FDR's electric pulse setting the stage, what followed was a historic night that matched the spectacle of its setup. The pre game festivities alone drew 20,422 fans, dwarfing Cincinnati's typical 6,000 per-game average. You'd have watched Norwood's band, marching color guards, two American Legion posts, and fireworks before the first pitch.

When game performance took center stage, Paul Derringer delivered. He held Philadelphia to six hits across all six innings, earning his fifth win. Cincinnati scored first in the bottom of the first on Billy Myers' double, added another in the fourth, and held off Philadelphia's lone fifth-inning run. Samuel Byrd's diving catch in the sixth preserved the 2-1 lead. The entire game wrapped up in just one hour and 35 minutes.

The Reds' opponent that night, the Phillies, had already been part of Reds history when Noodles Hahn threw the first no-hitter of the 20th century against them back in 1900.

What Records the First Night Game Actually Set

That night didn't just make history—it shattered records across five categories. When you look at the game attendance figures, 20,422 fans packed Crosley Field, crushing the Reds' average day game draw of just 5,821. That single crowd became the largest the franchise had ever seen.

The gameplay duration records were equally striking. You're looking at a 1-hour, 35-minute finish—half the length of today's average MLB game and the shortest documented night game in league history at the time.

On the field, both teams played error-free baseball, silencing doubters who feared the lights would hurt visibility. Paul Derringer threw a complete game, surrendering only six hits in a tight 2-1 victory. Every record set that night reinforced one truth: the experiment worked. The New York Giants were notably absent from this growing movement, as they were the only team that outright refused to play night games against the Reds.

How the 1935 Reds Game Triggered Night Baseball Across Both Leagues

When the lights came on at Crosley Field, every skeptic in professional baseball had to take notice. The economic impact was impossible to ignore — 20,422 fans showed up despite both teams finishing near the bottom of the standings. That crowd dwarfed the Reds' season average of just 6,000 fans per game.

Public reception from players, fans, and press was overwhelmingly positive, proving artificial lighting could reshape how audiences engaged with the sport. Night baseball quickly became woven into American nightlife as a cultural phenomenon rather than a gimmick.

Other franchises could no longer justify their wait-and-see attitudes. Brooklyn installed lights three years later, hosting the Reds on June 15, 1938. What started in Cincinnati gradually transformed scheduling across both leagues permanently. The Cincinnati Reds won the historic first night game by a score of 2-1 over the Philadelphia Phillies.