Here are 5 of the most exciting baseball games ever played on July 4th:
1921 Yankees vs. Giants
The New York Yankees and New York Giants were two of the best teams in baseball in 1921, and their game on July 4th was a classic. The game went into extra innings, and the Yankees eventually won 7-6. The game was full of excitement, with both teams scoring runs in the late innings.
1939 Yankees vs. Red Sox
The 1939 Yankees and Red Sox were two of the most heated rivals in baseball, and their game on July 4th was no exception. The game was tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 9th inning, when Lou Gehrig hit a walk-off home run to give the Yankees the win. The home run was Gehrig's 23rd of the season, and it helped him to cement his place as one of the greatest players in baseball history.
1985 Braves vs. Mets
The Atlanta Braves and New York Mets played a doubleheader on July 4th, 1985, and both games were exciting. In the first game, the Braves won 10-9 in 11 innings. In the second game, the Mets won 11-10 in 12 innings. Both games were full of late-inning drama, and they were both decided by one run.
1983 Yankees vs. Red Sox
The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox played a game on July 4th, 1983, that was notable for Dave Righetti's no-hitter. Righetti pitched a perfect game through 8 innings, but he gave up a walk in the 9th inning. The Yankees won the game 4-0, and Righetti became the first Yankees pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series.
2011 Washington Nationals vs. Chicago Cubs
The Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs played a game on July 4th, 2011, that was won by the Nationals on a walk-off play in the 10th inning. The play involved pitcher Henry Rodriguez bunting for a single, then stealing second base, and then scoring on a wild pitch. The play was so exciting that it was replayed on SportsCenter multiple times, and it is still talked about today.
These are just a few of the many exciting baseball games that have been played on July 4th. Baseball and Independence Day are two of the most American things there are, and it is fitting that some of the most exciting games in baseball history have been played on this day.