[5] There was also a novel, incomplete night baseball game on July 4, 1896 between the Wilmington, Delaware and Paterson, New Jersey clubs.
[8] In addition to that, in 1935, The Sporting News pointed out that Des Moines was not the first to install permanent lights, but it was in fact Independence that did so.
Bowman found the 1930 newspapers documented the planning, purchasing, construction, and game information as it played out at the time.
[11] Bob Rives, in his research article, states that Independence "was the world leader in baseball field lighting".
Rives also mentioned that the pitcher for the Producers made the first pitch ever under the lights in a regular season Organized Baseball game.
[14] The Smithsonian displays an art gallery label that gives credit to Independence for playing the first official minor league at night.
[15] There have even been newspapers, like the Chicago Tribune, that have stated that Independence played the first Organized Baseball game under lights.
[16] The Sporting News disputes this claim, citing earlier professional examples going back to an 1896 game in which Honus Wagner played.
It is, however, true that in 1930 Negro league teams, including the Independence Producers, were carrying portable light setups with them and playing night games on a regular basis.