The Daily Dose/April 22, 2026
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
PLAY BALL: Today marks the 150th anniversary of the first National League game, a 7-6 win by the Boston Red Caps over the Philadelphia Athletics. The game was played at the Jefferson Street Grounds in north Philadelphia – now a residential district – and the NL is the world’s oldest professional sports league.
Dry, Technical Matter: It was also the first major league game. Before the National League, there was the National Association (NA), which formed in 1871. Though it was the highest level of professional baseball at the time, it is not considered a major league by anyone with half a brain due to its lack of central leadership, haphazard scheduling, and teams departing mid-season.
Please Pass The Dry, Technical Matter: Boston’s Jim O’Rourke had the first NL hit, and in 1904, at age 54, he came out of retirement to play a game for the New York Giants and became the oldest player to get a base hit. In 1876, the pitcher’s box was 45 feet from home plate, pitches were delivered underhand, nine balls constituted a walk, and batters could request a high or a low pitch.
Really Dry, Technical Matter: Of the eight original NL teams, only Chicago and Atlanta – originally in Boston and then Milwaukee – have been in the league continuously for the past 150 years. Chicago, then known as the White Stockings, won the first NL pennant with 52-14 record.
Oh Jesus H: The NL would remain the only major league until 1882, when the American Association began a 10-season run, and in 1884, the Union Association made it three major leagues for one season.
Hey, What About Us: The first American League game was played on April 24, 1901, with Chicago defeating Cleveland 8-2.
The Bottom Line/Warm, Personal Remembrance: In 150 years, the National League has played over 120,00 games, and we’ve seen some of them. Our personal fave came on April 11, 1987, when the San Diego Padres became the first team in major league history to lead off a game with three consecutive home runs. One of the reasons you go to ballgames is to see something that’s never been done before, and that certainly qualifies. Noted party-pooper Steve Garvey broke the string with a flyout to center.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow almost goes tactical. Today’s Diary.
We checked his key and verified it still worked, and those playing along with the home version of Hotel Nite Auditor might well be noticing the red flag: perhaps he is not the registered guest to the room…
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On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it.
In 1944 – Helicopters are used in combat for the first time when elements of the 1st Air Commando Group – now the 1st Special Operations Wing – use a Sikorsky R-4 to rescue a US pilot and three British soldiers behind enemy lines in Burma. Due to limited capacity in the heat and humidity of southeast Asia, troops were rescued over multiple trips. The first non-combat rescue had been in January, following the sinking of the USS Turner near New York Bay.
In 1876 – The first major league baseball game is played, with the Boston Red Caps defeating the Philadelphia Athletics 6-5 at the Jefferson Street Grounds in Philadelphia. It was the first game in National League history, and Boston leftfielder Bill Parks was the only player to make his only major league appearance in this game. The Red Caps are now the Atlanta Braves, and the Athletics were expelled from the league in September for refusing to make their final western road trip.
In 1972 – America is at #1 on Billboard’s album chart – then known as the Top LPs &Tapes chart – for the fifth and final consecutive week with America. It was the first chart album of for the group, their first of four Top 10 albums, and remains their only #1. The album also went #1 in Canada, peaked at #14 in Great Britain, and was Billboard’s 8th-biggest album of the year. The album produced two chart singles, including the #1 Horse With No Name.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
The wise accomplish all they want without arousing the envy or scorn of others. They make achievements only for the sake of fulfilling their inner yearnings.
Deng Ming-Dao
365 Tao
Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.
Cy Young is the perfect game pitcher with the most wins, 511, the most in big league history.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
What was Billboard’s #1 album of 1972? – Answer next time!
