May 24, 1883: The Brooklyn Bridge Opens

May 24, 1883: The Brooklyn Bridge is opened to the public. Under construction for 13 years, designed by John Roebling and overseen after his death by his son Washington Roebling, it crosses the East River, making it possible to cross from Manhattan to the then-separate city of Brooklyn, or vice versa, even when Winter has made the River freeze over, thus preventing ferry boats from doing so.

Among the dignitaries on hand are President Chester Arthur, born in Vermont but living in New York State for most of his life; and the Governor of New York, Grover Cleveland, who would be elected to succeed Arthur as President the next year.

Longer suspension bridges have since been built, including in New York. But the Brooklyn Bridge remains the most celebrated crossing in America, and a symbol of the City.

The Bridge's central walkway/bikeway

It was followed in 1903 by the Williamsburg Bridge, and in 1909 by the Manhattan Bridge and the Queensboro Bridge. The Triborough Bridge opened in 1936, the Queens-Midtown Tunnel in 1940, and the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel in 1950.

The original call for a bridge came in 1867, after the River froze over, making ferry traffic impossible; but not thickly enough for people to safely walk across the River. A later Winter event, the Blizzard of 1888 on March 12 of that year, was the impetus for eventually building the Subway, which opened on October 27, 1904.

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May 24, 1883 was a Thursday. At the time, football was collegiate only, and didn't look much like the game we know today. Hockey was confined to Canada. And basketball hadn't even been invented.

But baseball had 2 major leagues. These games were played in the National League that day:

* The New York Gothams lost to the Cleveland Blues, 1-0 at Kennard Street Park in Cleveland. The Blues only lasted 1 more season. This was the 1st season of play for the Gothams, who had previously played across the Hudson River from the State capital of Albany, as the Troy Haymakers. In 1886, after a big win, their manager, Jim Mutrie, proudly called them "my big boys, my giants," and they were the New York Giants from then on. At least, until they moved to San Francisco after the 1957 season.

* The Buffalo Bisons beat the Philadelphia Quakers, 8-4 at Riverside Park in Buffalo. The Bisons went out of business after the 1885 season, and have no connection to the longtime minor-league team of the same name. This was the 1st season for the Quakers, who had been the Massachusetts-based Worcester Ruby Legs. They became the Phillies the next season.

* The Providence Grays beat the Chicago White Stockings, 9-5 at Lakefront Park in Chicago. The White Stockings, forerunners of the Cubs, had won the Pennant in 1876, 1880, 1881 and 1882, and would again in 1885 and 1886. The Grays would win the Pennant in 1884, but that led the players to ask for big raises, and the team couldn't afford them. They played just 1 more season before going bust.

* The Detroit Wolverines beat the Boston Beaneaters, 5-1 at Recreation Park in Detroit. The Beaneaters would win the Pennant anyway, and they are the forerunners of the team now known as the Atlanta Braves. The Wolverines would win the Pennant in 1887, but followed the same pattern as Providence, going out of business after just 1 more season.

And these games were played in the American Association, which lasted from 1882 to 1891:

* The Philadelphia Athletics beat the New York Metropolitans, 11-2 at the original Polo Grounds, at 112th Street and 5th Avenue in East Harlem. The Athletics won the AA Pennant this season, and the Metropolitans did so the next. But both teams would fold, and have their names adopted by later teams.

* The Pittsburgh Alleghenys beat the Baltimore Orioles, 16-4 at Oriole Park in Baltimore. The Alleghenys, forerunners of the Pirates would join the NL in 1887, the Orioles in 1892. The Orioles went out of business after the 1899 season, and have no connection to the current American League team of the same name.

* The Cincinnati Red Stockings beat the Columbus Buckeyes, 10-8 at the Bank Street Grounds in Cincinnati. This was the 2nd season for the team that would become the Cincinnati Reds. Contrary to what they would have you believe, they are not officially connected to the Cincinnati Red Stockings of 1869 and 1870, and are thus not "the first professional baseball team" or "the oldest professional baseball team." The Buckeyes only lasted 1 more season.

* And the St. Louis Browns beat the Louisville Eclipse, 5-4 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. This was a forerunner of the ballpark the Browns, as the St. Louis Cardinals, would call home from 1920 to 1966; and a new, AL, version of the Browns would call home from 1902 to 1953. The Eclipse joined the NL in 1890, the Browns/Cards in 1892. The Eclipse went out of business after the 1899 season.