New York Nine
In 1859: At the Fashion Race Course near Flushing, NY (close to where Shea Stadium is today), spectators paid to see a baseball game for the first time. It was also considered the first “All-Star” game. About 1,500 fans paid fifty cents each to watch the New York Nine defeat the Brooklyn Nine (more creative names were to come, I guess) 22-18 in a game that benefited the city’s fire departments. No word on whether there were hot dog launches, sausage races or A-Rod heckling.
In 1993: The Atlanta Braves caught fire. Literally. A pre-game blaze in the Fulton County Stadium press box delayed the start of the Braves-Cardinals game. Trailing the San Francisco Giants by 10 games in the N.L West, newly acquired Fred McGriff (perhaps the best midseason pick-up in recent history) hit a two-run homer to ignite a rally from a 5-0 deficit in the late innings. The Braves won, 8-5, and never cooled down. They went 51-17 after the All-Star break and eventually overtook the Giants to win their third of 14 consecutive division titles.
