July 4th Fun: Incorporating Baseball Into Your Independence Day Weekend

 There will not be live baseball to watch this July 4th, but that does not mean it cannot be funneled into your weekend festivities

Baseball is a game synonymous with American culture; it is possibly more American than hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet. Over the years, there have been some incredible performances and feats which have engraved baseball’s name permanently on the holiday. According to an article published by Bleacher Report, here are some of the memorable July 4th moments over the years:

• 1911 – Ty Cobb’s 40-game hitting streak would come to an end by going 0-4
• 1912 – Tigers’ pitcher George Mullen no-hits the St. Louis Browns in a 7-0 rout
• 1925 – Yankees’ Lefty Grove outlasts A’s starter Herb Pennock in a game that was scoreless until the 15th inning
• 1939 – Yankees retire Lou Gehrig’s #4 on the 70th anniversary of his infamous farewell speech after his battle with ALS
• 1960 – Micky Mantle hits home run #300
• 1984 – Phil Niekro of the New York Yankees achieves his 3,000th strike out

Unfortunately, this Fourth of July, we will not have the opportunity to watch live baseball as the Summer Camp will be underway as teams begin to prepare for the regular season, which is due to begin on July 23rd. But that does not mean there has to be no baseball on July 4th, though. Outside of the standard batting practice or playing catch, Here are some ways to work in America’s pastime into your weekend:

Wiffle Ball

Wiffle ball is a classic game typically played with a plastic bat and a hard plastic, hallow ball with some holes in it. The rules are quite similar to baseball, except teams are generally much smaller–as little as one pitcher and one fielder, and the game is typically played without baseball gloves.

Try a backyard style game where bases are landmarks more than actual bases and ghost runners are abound to continue to allow players to hit. That is what makes it fun!

Pepper

Pepper is a game designed to be fast and focused; there is one batter and a slew of fielders. Depending on whether the batter will swing or not will depend on how close you would want to be. I have played it both ways, but if the intent is to play with relatives, it might make more sense to bunt the ball rather than swing.

The objective is to see how long the batter can last hitting. The fielders will throw the pitch; a swing and miss, foul ball, or a pop up that gets caught would result in the batter losing their spot and becoming the fielder in the back of the line. A swing and miss or foul out would result in the first player in line (also the pitcher) to hit, while a pop up that gets caught would result in that player automatically getting to hit.

K-Zone

This game is a little out of the box, but it is a super fun game developed by some local folks I know in the Royal Oak area. The idea is pretty similar to cornhole, except the boards are more upright and the throws are overhand.

Shoot them a message to learn more about the game or to place an order. You can find them on Facebook or Instagram at Starling Pine Designs.

Google 4th of July

For the fans of the game less active or would like a break from the heat, Google’s 4th of July baseball game is a free and easy way to have some fun. Score as many runs as you can while avoiding three swing and misses. You can find the game here.

MLB The Show 20

The Show has become the premier baseball game for those who enjoy video games; and MLB The Show 20 might not be a bad alternative to watching live baseball this 4th of July. Whether you enjoy quick play with current players, building your own dynasty team to win the World Series, or exploring the game’s best players from the past, The Show has something for you.

They have also done a nice job of beginning to incorporate prospects into their work. Safe to say Tiger fans have been calling up Casey Mize and Matt Manning in their own leagues.

How do you plan to incorporate baseball into your July 4th holiday? Post in the comments or let me know on Twitter @MCB_jakeboes.