FUN WITH MAPS – ISSUE 2022-093 DAILY FEATURE:

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (May 24, 2022) – In Issue 2022-093 of Steve Kovacs Fun with Maps, the teams took their places on the opposing sides of the diamond in Cincinnati, approximately 401.5 miles away (as the crow flies) a U.S. President flipped a switch, and the Umpire Shouted. . .  

Play Ball!

Over 25,000 fans turned out when the President Roosevelt symbolically turned on the lights from Washington DC for the first night baseball game played under the lights.

As some of you will know, it occurred at Crosley Field in Cincinnati on May 24, 1935.

The Reds won 2 to 1 that night versus the Philadelphia Phillies.

Night games became a must have for teams and they rapidly followed suit in the 1930’s and 40’s.  The last ballpark to be equipped with lights was Wrigley Field in Chicago given their tradition of playing only day games.  The Cubs had their first night home game in 1988.

By the way, the Reds won 68 games and lost 85 games in 1935…

Mitchell’s map of Cincinnati from 1877 is shown here.  The color-coding is for the various war.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Antique Maps & Fun Facts here on Loveland Beacon.