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Night Baseball Famous Firsts Trivia Quiz

Today - rather, tonight - night baseball games will be played in minor and major league ball parks all over the world. Here is a short expose of the beginnings of how night baseball became a reality.

A multiple-choice quiz by undudelike. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
undudelike

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
369,882

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
485

Last 3 plays: Guest 172 (8/10), Guest 209 (9/10), Kabdanis (6/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. When Major League Baseball played that first game under the lights at Crosley Field, the game of baseball, as we know it, was changed forever. What date was the first MLB night game played? Hint

May 24, 1935

May 24, 1967

May 24, 1955

May 24, 1925

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. The switch to turn the lights on at the first MLB night game was located at the White House in Washington, D.C., and traveled nearly 600 miles to Cincinnati, Ohio. Who was the President who threw the switch to that historic first night game? Hint

Harry S. Truman

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Woodrow Wilson

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Who were the two teams that played in the first Major League night baseball game? Hint: A little history will help you here. Hint

Tampa Bay Rays - Cincinnati Reds

Philadelphia Phillies - Cincinnati Reds

Colorado Rockies - Cincinnati Reds

Seattle Mariners- Cincinnati Reds

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. The first night baseball game of any kind was played in Boston, Massachusetts, nearly fifty years prior to the first Major League Baseball game. Who were the teams that competed that night? Hint

New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds

Chicago White Stockings and Providence Greys

Philadelphia Athletics and St. Louis Browns

Business firms of Jordan, Marsh & Co., and R. H. White & Co.

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. The first MLB World Series night game was played at Three Rivers Stadium between the Baltimore Orioles and the Pittsburgh Pirates. In what year did they play? Hint

1981

1951

1961

1971

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Certain teams would rather play most of their home games during the day, and are known for it. What current non-expansion or relocated team yearly plays the least night home games in major league baseball? Think "windy." Hint

Boston Red Sox

Miami Marlins

Chicago Cubs

New York Yankees

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. No homeruns were hit in the first night game in Major League Baseball on May 24, 1935. Who was the first player to hit a homerun in a nighttime MLB game? Hint: Not the guy known for 714 homeruns. Hint

Babe Ruth

Babe Herman

Billy Herman

Herman Long

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Minor league baseball was years ahead of the majors, literally, in terms of playing under the lights. What date did the first night game in professional ball take place? Hint

January 5, 1944

May 2, 1930

December 11, 1955

November 28. 1959

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Did you know the first opening day night game in MLB was on April 18, 1950? Can you tell me what teams played that night? Hint

Cleveland Indians versus Seattle Pilots

Tampa Bay Ray versus Chicago White Sox

St. Louis Cardinals versus Pittsburgh Pirates

Colorado Rockies versus Atlanta Braves

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. To play a night game baseball you obviously need electrical power. What was the name of the power company who provided the lighting for the very first night game? Hint

Northern Electric Company of Boston

Northeast Utilities

New England Power Company

American Electric Power Company

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 11 2024 : Guest 172: 8/10
Mar 21 2024 : Guest 209: 9/10
Mar 11 2024 : Kabdanis: 6/10
Mar 11 2024 : Midget40: 1/10
Mar 11 2024 : turtle52: 2/10
Mar 11 2024 : matthewpokemon: 8/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When Major League Baseball played that first game under the lights at Crosley Field, the game of baseball, as we know it, was changed forever. What date was the first MLB night game played?

Answer: May 24, 1935

The actual switch was pulled some 600 miles away from the White House in Washington, D.C. to Crosley Field in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt

May 24, 1935 - All President Franklin D. Roosevelt had to do was press a gold telegraph key when sitting at his desk in the White House. When done, a signal lamp lit up signaling, who most think was Larry MacPhail, to throw the switch. When done, all 632 mazda lamps on the eight light towers lit up giving a spectacular display.

3. Who were the two teams that played in the first Major League night baseball game? Hint: A little history will help you here.

Answer: Philadelphia Phillies - Cincinnati Reds

All the other teams listed playing the Reds are expansion teams. Even in May 24, 1935, there was 20,442 fans there that night watching the home team, their Reds, win by a 2-1 score. A real defensive battle!

4. The first night baseball game of any kind was played in Boston, Massachusetts, nearly fifty years prior to the first Major League Baseball game. Who were the teams that competed that night?

Answer: Business firms of Jordan, Marsh & Co., and R. H. White & Co.

The very first night game was played on September 2, 1880. It started at 8:00 p.m. and lasted till about 9:30 p.m., which let both teams play a complete nine inning game. The game ended in a 16 to 16 tie. It was played with a combination of employees from both firms.

5. The first MLB World Series night game was played at Three Rivers Stadium between the Baltimore Orioles and the Pittsburgh Pirates. In what year did they play?

Answer: 1971

Roberto Clemente was the MVP of the series with the Pirates winning 4 games to 3.

Answer: Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs only play 30 day home games each year, and were the last of the MLB teams to play under the lights. Consequently, they play the most day home games too.

7. No homeruns were hit in the first night game in Major League Baseball on May 24, 1935. Who was the first player to hit a homerun in a nighttime MLB game? Hint: Not the guy known for 714 homeruns.

Answer: Babe Herman

Babe Herman was the first to hit a homerun in a MLB night game on July 10, 1935 at Crosley Field. He played for the Cincinnati Reds. Herman Long was a 17 year MLB veteran who had over 1,000 errors (1,070) in his career, giving him the record for most errors ever by a Major League Baseball player as of 2014. Billy Herman "knocked" himself out in his first at bat when he hit the ball off the plate and the ball bounced back and hit him in the back of the head. Pretty remarkable!

8. Minor league baseball was years ahead of the majors, literally, in terms of playing under the lights. What date did the first night game in professional ball take place?

Answer: May 2, 1930

Two minor league teams from the Western League played in Des Moines, Iowa that night. The home Des Moines team played a visiting team from Wichita in a game that drew around 12,000 fans at a time when the minor league average was closer to 600 people per game.

9. Did you know the first opening day night game in MLB was on April 18, 1950? Can you tell me what teams played that night?

Answer: St. Louis Cardinals versus Pittsburgh Pirates

Both teams are National League teams. The home team St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2.

10. To play a night game baseball you obviously need electrical power. What was the name of the power company who provided the lighting for the very first night game?

Answer: Northern Electric Company of Boston

Two department store teams to played that night in Hull, Massachusetts. Three wooden poles 500 feet apart and 100 foot high were used.

Source: Author undudelike

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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