When no shows are the show

Mike Veeck

The Class A Charleston Riverdogs set a record that no one sees 22 years ago today as they host Columbus on “Nobody Night.”

The brainchild of team president, master promoter and all-around fun-is-good guy Mike Veeck deliberately keeps fans out of Joe Riley Stadium in an attempt to set a record for lowest attendance for a single game.

Charleton’s Joe Riley Stadium

The Riverdogs succeed, too, hitting rock-bottom zero when the official attendance is recorded in the middle of the fifth inning.

After the fifth inning, fans are allowed in the ballpark to see what they are missing.

The previous low attendance is believed to be 12 for an 1881 National League game in Chicago between the White Sox and Troy Trojans.

Oh, not that anyone notices back on this day in 2002, but Charleston beats Columbus 4-2.