Westinghouse Electric’s pitch to light Crosley Field, one of several proposals beat out by General Electric’s winning bid to illuminate the first major league night game of May 24, 1935
Negro league teams played night games in the 1920s, and minor league clubs switched on permanent lights as early as 1930. The major leagues were slower to adopt the technology. Eager to boost sagging attendance, Reds owner Powel Crosley and general manager Larry MacPhail (helped by General Electric) led the way in 1935. Their plan succeeded. In the 1935 season, the team’s seven night games averaged 18,000 fans, compared to just over 4,500 for day games.
