First Night Game in Baseball History Holcomb Park Des Moines Iowa Former home of the Des Moines Demons Des Moines Boosters (Western League) Photographs of the 1st night game in baseball history appear courtesy of Chris Hunter of the Schenectady Museum and Science Center from the G.E. Collection of Historic Photographs (special thanks to Stephen L.J. Russo) |
1914 brought to Des Moines one of the most historic ballparks that this world would
see. Future home to the 1st night game in professional history, Holcomb Park
would capture the fascination of the baseball world. It was in the shadows of
growing unrest from the upcoming World War I, that a large wooden ballpark sprung
up for the Western League's Des Moines Boosters. It would be awhile before this
ballpark reached its historic status but for now, this Class-A team (equivalent
to today's Double-A or Triple-A) would make excellent use of the facility.
The 1914 Des Moines Boosters played average baseball finishing a game above .500
behind future NY Yankees pitcher George Mogridge (21-15, 3.07) and future White
Sox' Tex Jones (35 2B, 9 3B, 20 HR, .297). By 1915 however, it wasn't just
the George and Tex show. Tex Jones came back for a fantastic season putting up
a 43 2B, 14 HR, .320 performance but it was the pitching staff that turned this
team around. George Mogridge was just stellar at 24-11, 1.93 but he was flanked
by future Red Sox' Paul Musser who was practically unbeatable at 20-2, 3.00 and
by future Washington Senators' Claude Thomas (22-13, 2.09). Finishing with an
87-53 record, the Des Moines Boosters would capture 1st place and bring home
their first every Championship to Holcomb Park. |