From tubas to pianos, the Dodgers’ 1951 promotion was as loud as it was legendary.

On August 13, 1951, the Dodgers hosted “Musician Depreciation Night” at Ebbets Field, offering free admission to anyone who brought a musical instrument. More than 2,400 fans showed up with everything from trumpets to fiddles — even a glockenspiel and piano. The promotion was a tongue-in-cheek response to the Musicians Union, which had protested the “Dodger Sym-phony,” a group of six fans who played in the stands — two of whom were union members performing without pay. After leading the crowd in three songs, the Dodgers got back to business and beat the Braves. It was one of the most delightfully offbeat nights in Brooklyn baseball history.