July 4 is a big day in the US calendar, and it’s also a big day for the New York Yankees, who have a tradition of performing brilliantly in games on this landmark day in American history. The team also holds a tradition of celebrating “Old Timer’s Day” either on the big day or on the weekend before it. They’re one of the only teams to do this, and they recognize the contribution of past great players to their club.
Of course, a game on July 4 is an excuse for many to engage in a little sports betting when, normally, they might not do so. It’s a chance to relax, place a casual bet and follow the game to see if it goes their way. This might be something you do too. Can’t catch a game? Grab a promo and get your bets in. Below is a little look at the Yankees’ July 4 tradition, that of fine Yankees performances, some memorable moments, and a look at their upcoming July 4 battle with the Baltimore Orioles.
Honoring The Greats
Independence Day gives the club a chance to pay homage to some of its finest players and show gratitude by publicly acknowledging their contributions. Coaches, players, Hall of Famers, and others are introduced to the crowd.
Perhaps one of the most memorable 4 July moments came in one of the precursors to Old Timers Day when Lou Gehrig said goodbye to the crowd and the club in 1939. The Yankees Hall of Famer and captain was a six-time World Series champion, but illness cut his career short. He passed away two years after the speech.
Then there have been outstanding moments on the diamond that have made the games great and highly memorable. Here are some July 4 games that have gone down in history:
Yankees vs Philadelphia Athletics on July 4, 1925
This double header was a classic, with pitchers on both teams refusing to give even a sniff of the upper hand to the other side. Left-handers Herb Pinnock, of the Yankees, and Lefty Grove of the Philadelphia side matched each other with zeros for 14 innings. The Yankees had struggled to get any baserunners home at all, and it looked at one point like the As would take the lead. Finally, the Yankees struck back, and a single lined to centerfield by Steve O’Neill would win the game. The two teams then had to meet again in the second of the two matches.
Yankees vs Boston Red Sox on July 4, 1983
On this day in Yankees history, Don Righetti made it a miserable encounter for the Boston Red Sox. Until that night, Don Larsen had been the last person to throw a no-hitter, which he achieved in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series. Don Righetti had other ideas though and threw a no-hitter, giving Yankees fans a real reason to cheer.
Yankees vs Texas Rangers on July 4, 1985
Fast forward a year and this time it’s Phil Niekro achieving a feat of brilliance. In the team’s 5-0 win over the Texas Rangers, Niekro became the ninth pitcher in MLB history to reach 3,000 strikeouts in a career. By doing so, he joined an exclusive club that included players such as Walter Johnson and Tom Seaver. During his 24-year career, Niekro struck out 3,342 players in 5,404 innings he pitched.
Upcoming match versus Baltimore Orioles
On July 4, 2023, the Yankees will be going up against the Baltimore Orioles, a fixture they may well be looking forward to even for the mere fact that on 4 July, 2022, they didn’t play and it felt weird.
The New Yorkers spent a considerable amount of money developing their players in 2022 and will be hoping to produce some magic out on the diamond against Baltimore. High-octane delivery is expected in pitching. The club and the fans will also be hoping for Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton to keep delivering big hits when facing off against the Baltimore pitchers.
The Orioles aren’t going to make it easy for the Yankees, however, who are trailing the side in the standings. The Baltimore lads are having a good season and are chasing the Tampa Bay Rays, who are ruling the AL East just now. There’s a real feel-good vibe about Baltimore, and the Yankees could have a real job on their hands trying to break them down while they’re in this team spirit. Orioles’ games have been fun, close and, a lot of times, Baltimore has come out on top. It’s going to be an interesting encounter.
There have been some memorable moments and matches involving the Yankees on July 4. This 2023, the team will be hoping to excel as is their tradition on this day and pull another awesome win out of the bag for their fans.
