SABR Local Grants Update: Boston Red Sox recognize first night baseball game in Hull, Massachusetts
From left, Bill Nowlin, Steve Greenberg, and Herb Crehan visit the signboard commemorating the first night baseball game in Hull, Massachusetts prior to their trip to Boston by boat on August 9, 2026.
On Sunday, August 9, 2026, a storyboard highlighting the first baseball game played under artificial light in 1880 was dedicated in Hull, Massachusetts, and recognized by the Boston Red Sox in a pregame ceremony at Fenway Park. The project was partially funded through a Local Grant received by the SABR Boston Chapter in 2025.
The September 2, 1880 game featured players from Boston department stores Jordan Marsh and R.H. White and sponsored by Northern Electric, a Boston company pioneering electric street lighting for municipalities. Northern Electric hoped to create future business from the publicity showing that their lighting system was powerful enough to play a nine-inning baseball game at night. Hull was selected as the site as popular resort and its short boat ride from Boston. Major newspapers differed on lighting effectiveness but the game lasted nine innings, ending at 16-16. The game was halted because the last boat to Boston was leaving.
The Town of Hull and the SABR Boston Chapter were honored on August 9 before the Red Sox game, which drew a crowd of 36,817 at Fenway Park. The public address announcer recited a brief history of the first night game and then extolled the efforts of the Town of Hull and SABR to memorialize this significant baseball event. Steve Greenberg, President of the Hull Chamber of Commerce, and Herb Crehan of SABR were introduced to the crowd.
An installation ceremony was previously held in Hull on June 11, 2025, with Greenberg serving as master of ceremonies.
Click here to read Craig B. Waff’s recap of the 1880 game in Hull, which was included in SABR’s book, Inventing Baseball: The 100 Greatest Games of the 19th Century.
Visit SABR.org/local-grants to learn more about the SABR Local Grants program.
Originally published: August 24, 2026. Last Updated: August 24, 2026.