On July 6, 1894, the Tigers and the New Orleans Pelicans played the first night game in Nashville. This was long before ballparks were equipped with electric lights, and night games were seen only as gimmicks. To put time into perspective, the first major league night game was not played until over 40 years later in 1935. Originally planned for an Independence Day doubleheader, the game was postponed by rain. An attempt to play on July 5 was also rained out, but the spectacle was finally rescheduled for July 6 as a tripleheader. The first two games would be played during the afternoon, with the special night game to be played that evening at 8:30 as an exhibition. The special program commenced with a fireworks display and was followed by a balancing act and slack-wire walking demonstration. Members of both teams competed in long-distance throwing and sliding competitions and a dash. Fifty-four large electric lights were placed around Athletic Park to illuminate the field, and the baseball was covered with phosphorus to aid visibility. Adding to the novelty of a night game, players marched onto the field wearing burlesque costumes that included ballet outfits, loud suits, dresses, wigs, and bonnets. The estimated 4,000 fans in attendance were entertained by antics such as base runners leading fielders on a chase through dark regions of the outfield and climbing up a light pole to avoid being tagged out. Nashville won, 3–2.