Cincinnati Reds Host First Night Game in 1935

May 24, 1902 - Cleveland third baseman Bill Bradley is the A.L.'s first player to hit a home run in each of four consecutive games, a record not matched until Babe Ruth does it June 25, 1918.

May 24, 1928 - In the first game of a doubleheader in Philadelphia, a record 12 future Hall of Famers take the field in the Yankees 9-7 victory over the A's. This number does not include non-playing Hall of Famers Herb Pennock and Stan Coveleski, managers Miller Huggins and Connie Mack, nor umpire Tom Connally.

May 24, 1930 - Babe Ruth homers in both games of a doubleheader, giving him nine long balls in one week.

May 24, 1935 - The Cincinnati Reds host the Philadelphia Phillies in the first major league night game, winning 2-1. On the initiative of Larry MacPhail, President Franklin D. Roosevelt throws the switch at the White House to turn on the lights. The Reds will play seven night games, one each against the other N.L. teams. Ben Chapman is on base seven times in the game, a major league record, on two doubles and five walks.

May 24, 1940 - The Cleveland Indians edge the St. Louis Browns 3-2 in the first night game at Sportsman's Park before 24,827. Bob Feller beats Eldon Auker and adds a home run as well.

May 24, 1946 - Joe McCarthy quits as Yankees manager Bill Dickey replaces him.

May 24, 1979 - Billy Martin issues a public apology to Reno sportswriter Ray Hagar, with whom he brawled last November. Hagar had filed suit for assault, leading to an out-of-court settlement.
May 24, 1984 - Detroit (35-5) beats California 5-1 for its 17th consecutive win on the road, breaking the A.L. record set by the 1912 Senators, and tying the major league mark set by the 1916 Giants. The Tigers will finally lose tomorrow in Seattle 7-3.

May 24, 1989 - Yankees reliever Lee Guetterman gives up five runs in the ninth inning of New York's 11-4 loss to California, ending his consecutive scoreless inning streak at 30 2/3. It is the longest season-opening streak in the majors since Harry Brecheen's in 1948, and the longest season-opening streak ever by a reliever.

Billy Martin's Birthday Ends In Fight

May 16, 1939 - The first A.L. night game is played at Shibe Park, with Cleveland beating the host Philadelphia Athletics 8-3 in ten innings.

May 16, 1954 - Ted Williams returns to action after breaking his collarbone in spring training and goes 8-for-9 with two home runs and seven RBI in a doubleheader against the Tigers. Williams has three hits in game one, a 7-6 loss. He goes five-for-five in the nightcap, including two home runs, but Boston loses 9-8 in 14 innings.

May 16, 1957 - The Yankees celebrate Billy Martin's 29th birthday in a raucous fashion. An ensuing fight at Manhattan's Copacabana Club leads to $5,500 in fines and the eventual trade of Billy to Kansas City. Hank Bauer allegedly starts the fight by hitting a patron, although Bauer denies it.

May 16, 1967 - Philadelphia voters approve a $13 million bond issue to build a new stadium.
1979 - N.L. owners approve the sale of the Astros from the Ford Motor Credit Company to John J. McMullen for a reported $19 million.

May 16, 1984 - The Twins sell 51,863 tickets to their 8-7 loss to the Blue Jays, but only 6,346 fans show up for the game. The skewed numbers are the result of a massive ticket buyout plan organized by Minneapolis businessman Harvey Mackay to keep the Twins in Minnesota; if the club does not sell 2.41 million tickets this season it can break its lease with the Metrodome. Taking advantage of reduced prices on the Family Day promotion, Mackay pays $218,718 for 44,166 tickets.