6AM City In-house

Using sports analysis for local history

A historical play-by-play of Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, CA
Soccer is being played in an oval sports stadium
Soccer, football, baseball — what can’t Hughes Stadium do? | Public Domain photo via Wikimedia Commons
Pro tip: This story is best read aloud to self in a sports broadcaster voice.

Thank you for tuning into this edition of SACtoday where we — City Editor Matt and City Editor Jordan — will be taking the field of Hughes Stadium to provide insider analysis on its enduring legacy, complete with historical play-by-plays and color commentary on some of its big-hitting moments since opening in 1928.

Great to be here today with you Matt, and what a stadium this is — historic, holds a ton of records, and knows how to switch up the game plan depending on the matchup — it’s going to be a great story today.

First things first, if you’re talking Hughes, you got to be talking baseball — which is a funny thing as it’s really a football and track and field stadium. That fact didn’t stop the Sacramento Solons baseball team from calling the stadium home during the 1974-76 seasons, and earning the title of most “dinger-tastic baseball team of all time.”

And, you know — we’ve talked about the Solons before — that was a group of guys who really only played here for a couple of years, but put up some big numbers during their short stay thanks to the field’s small size.

Part of Sacramento City College, Hughes has hosted an impressive number of teams and big-named football games, like the Camellia Bowl and Causeway Classic. The most surprising one? Hughes was home to the first Pig Bowl — a first-class game of tossing the pigskin between cops that still runs to this day.
DON'T TURN THAT DIAL
6AM City In-house

Click here to have your event featured.

Thursday, October 20
  • Connie Han Trio | Thu., Oct. 20 - Sat., Oct. 22 | 7:30 p.m. | Mondavi Center, 523 Mrak Hall Dr., Davis | $22.50 - $45.00 | The jazz pianist the New York Times described as having “fearsome technical chops” comes to UC Davis.
  • Cage Match | Thu., Oct. 20, Thu., Nov. 3, Thu., Nov. 17 | 8-9 p.m. | Sacramento Comedy Spot, 1050 20th St., Suite 130, Sacramento | $6.00 | Two teams take the stage to battle it out with mental mettle for an improv crown, but there’s a catch — the audience decides the winner.
Friday, October 21
  • Lodi Wine Night at Cal Auto Museum | Fri., Oct. 21 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | California Automobile Museum, 2200 Front St., Sacramento | $20.00 - $60.00 | Peruse the museum’s collection of classic cars as you partake in tastings from 20+ Lodi wineries.
  • Sacramento Vegan Chef Challenge | Fri., Oct. 21 | 5-9 p.m. | Track 7 Brewing Co., Natomas 826 Professor Lane, Suite 100, Sacramento | Free | Nosh on more than six dishes from this year’s challenge at the Natomas taproom.
Saturday, October 22
  • Farm to Fort | Sat., Oct. 22 |6-10 p.m. | Sutter’s Fort, 2701 L St., Sacramento | $40.00-$125.00 | The producers of Capitol Beer Fest present this inaugural foodie event with unlimited beer, wine, and spirits tasting, as well as bites from local restaurants and food trucks.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather
  • 89º | Sunny | 0% chance of rain ☀️
  • The National Weather Service says the Sacramento region will see cooler temperatures and shower chances in the mountains this weekend, thanks to a change in the Rex Block pattern we had been experiencing. Breezy conditions may develop on Sun., Oct. 23.
Sports
  • The Sacramento Kings lost 108-115 against the Portland Trailblazers in the team’s opening game of the 2022-2023 season. The Kings take on the LA Clippers next in a home game on Sat., Oct 22 — grab tickets. 🏀
  • After canceling last year’s event due to a historic rainstorm, the rescheduled Ironman California looks to run its triathlon course on Sun., Oct. 23. Organizers expect ~4,000 athletes to swim 2.4 miles in the American River, speed through a 112-mile bike course, and run a marathon that ends in Capitol Mall. 👟 (Sac Bee)
Coming Soon
  • We can already hear the Charlie Brown skating music in our heads. The Downtown Ice Rink will once again bring holiday cheer to 701 K St. starting Nov. 9. ⛸️
Arts
  • The City is looking for local artists to create public art installations and drive community engagement in phase one of its Del Rio Trail project. The trail is a 4.8-mile multi-use path that winds between the Land Park and Meadowview neighborhoods. Learn more. (Sacramento City Express)
Traffic
  • In case you missed it... Several roads in downtown Sacramento will be closed for Ironman California, with some areas not reopening until Tues., Oct. 25, like the section of Capitol Mall between Ninth and 10th streets. See the full list of road closures. 🚧 (FOX40)
Opening
  • The San Carlos-based Red Hot Chilli Pepper restaurant franchise, which specializes in Indian-Chinese fusion inspired by the culture in East India, is nearing completion on a new location in Folsom at 2791 E. Bidwell St. The owners expect to open the eatery by Tues., Nov. 15. (Sac Biz Journal)
Transit
  • Have an e-bike and are unsure if you can ride in bike lanes? Don’t worry: electric bikes can be used in bike lanes — even those with motors that help bicyclists reach 28 mph if riders are 16 or older and wearing a helmet — per the California Department of Motor Vehicles. 🚲 (Sac Bee)
Shop
Learn
  • Did you know? Babbel offers multiple ways to learn a new language (think: lessons, podcasts, videos, and live online classes). SACtoday readers can choose from 14 languages with lessons that focus on practical, everyday phrases — plus useful tips and cultural knowledge to better understand the words they’re learning. Me encanta. 🗺️ *
Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

A spirited return 💀

Souls of the City returns to Old Sacramento
A digital artwork of a skull with a flower motif replacing its eyes
Explore the Mesoamerican traditions behind Día de los Muertos. | Graphic courtesy of Sol Collective
Following two years of virtual programming brought on by the pandemic, Sacramento’s biggest Día de los Muertos festival will return to in-person celebrations this Sat., October 22 from 5-10 p.m. in Old Sacramento.

Called Souls of the City, the free event offers arts programming and hands-on education about the Mesoamerican traditions that inform the holiday. The festival is presented by nonprofit cultural center Sol Collective and the Sacramento History Museum.

Some of the activities you can expect:
This year also marks the first time the event has invited lowriders to attend and showcase their cars, having partnered with the Sacramento Lowrider Commission.
REGISTER TO ATTEND
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Matt.

Editor’s pick: To be honest, the thought of phantom spirits really unnerves me, but I still want to see “The Ghost of Woodland Opera House” — a new play inspired by a specter that is said to haunt the historic Yolo County venue. All I can say is, when it comes to local legends, I ain’t completely afraid of no ghosts.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? We looked in our closets to bring you three Sac-inspired Halloween costumes.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Jordan Radach, Matt Marcure, Trevor Peters, Britt Thorson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Julie Brown | Advertise with us.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you?
SUBSCRIBE

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

Copyright © 2023 6AM City Inc, All rights reserved.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY