10 GREATEST MOMENTS THAT CHANGED THE GAME

1.    THE INTEGRATION OF BASEBALL (1947): Jackie Robinson came broke into the majors in 1947, breaking baseball's color barrier and making it integrated. He introduced the Negro leagues' electrifying style of play to the majors and quickly became baseball's top drawing card and a symbol of hope to millions of Americans. With Robinson as the key player, the Dodgers won six pennants in his 10 seasons. He dominated games on the base paths, stealing home 19 times while riling opposing pitchers with his daring baserunning style. Robinson was named National League MVP in 1949, leading the loop in hitting (.342) and steals (37), while knocking in 124 runs. He had threatening skills, and he burned with a dark fire.

2.    INTRODUCTION OFMAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL UNDER THE LIGHTS (1935): On May 24, 1935 Night baseball came up from the minors for its first big league tryout. The innovation was heartily accepted by the 25,000 fans and the Cincinnati Reds. President Franklin Roosevelt threw the light switch to the historic first Major League night game from the White House six hundred (600+) miles away from Crosley Field. The contest went errorless, despite the fact it was the first under lights play for practically all the players. The Reds played exactly seven night games, which included one game at night against every National League team.

3.    RED SOX FIRST WORLD SERIES VICTORY IN 1903 OVER THE HEAVILY FAVORED PIRATES: Red Sox star, Damon singled in bottom of 9^th inning to beat Pirates. Boston rebounded from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates, five games to three, in the first World Series of the 20th century, a best-of-nine affair.

4.    THE MIDSUMMER CLASSIC: The first All-Star game became the "Game of the Century" when the American League won by 4-2, because of a two-run, third-inning homer by Yankee great Babe Ruth. This exhibition game featured the 36 greatest major league players. Now it has been ranked the most popular and important all-star event in American sports history. Chicago Tribune sports editor Arch Ward wanted to do something constructive and uniquel for Chicago's Century of Progress Exposition. His idea of pitting the American League against the National League was welcomed by the fans.  

5.    REMODELED ASTRODOME: The Astrodome, which opened in 1965, introduced baseball in the indoors with the help of roof. It had a large theater format. Also the failure of natural grass to grow in the Astrodome resulted in the invention of a synthetic turf, Astroturf. The Astroturf changed the trail of ground balls, produced numerous player injuries and was just plain ugly to look at. The Phillies ruined the jubiliant occasion by recording a 2-0 victory behind lefty Chris Short.

6.   "THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED" 1958: on December 28, 1958, played in what is widely recognized as "the greatest game ever played." On that day at Yankee Stadium, the Baltimore Colts beat the Giants for the NFL Championship in professional football's first-ever "sudden-death" overtime period.

7.    FRANK ROBINSON: THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAJOR-LEAGUE MANAGER: In 1975, Frank Robinson became the first black man to manage a major league team. For four decades he served as a manager and helped several players on to managerial roles.

8.    MAJOR LEAGUE’S DEBUT ON AIR (1939): Major league baseball made its television debut with the airing of Cincinnati's 5-2 win over the Dodgers in a doubleheader opener at Brooklyn's Ebbets Field.

9.    INTERLEAGUE PLAY: The Interleague play was introduced in 1997. Prior to that the American League and National League met in the World Series, with the leagues being represented by the teams that had won their respective league's pennant. On June 12, 1997, the Texas Rangers hosted the San Francisco Giants at The Ballpark in Arlington for the first ever interleague play.

10. THE YANKEE RON BLOMBERG BECOMES FIRST DESIGNATED HITTER IN 1937:  On April 6, 1973, the American League began using the designated hitter position. The Yankees Ron Blomberg, facing Boston's Luis Tiant became the first official DH in the ML and screwed up the game of baseball. Blomberg walks with the bases loaded and winds up 1-for-3 in the 15–5 loss to the Red Sox.