The Best Sports Moments of All Time That Happened on July 4th

It’s the 4th of July, and it’s likely you and your family will take in a sporting event; MLB has a full slate of action, the local minor leagues, Independents, and American Legions teams are all playing today.

Nolan Ryan struck out his 3,000 batter on July 4th, 1980 to join 15 other pitchers. Nolan holds the record for most Ks with 5,714.

Hall of Fame member Richard Petty won for the 200th career win (and last) with a victory in the Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4th, 1984.

St. Louis catcher Tim McCarver did the dumbest thing in baseball on July 4th, 1976 – hitting a grand slam home run, but passing teammate Gary Maddox in the base paths, being awarded a single instead.

Temperamental John McEnroe beat Borg in four sets on July 4th, 1981.

Joey Chestnut ate 66 hot dogs, breaking all kinds of records in just two minutes, winning the 2007 Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest sponsored by Nathan’s

Ty Cobb’s 40 game hitting streak ended on July 4th, 1911. The Georgia Peach went 0-4 breaking the hard-earned streak.

On July 4th, 1939, one of the greatest moments in baseball took place on the field, but not in a game; having only recently been diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig told a sold-out New York stadium that he was retiring from baseball, and that he considered himself to be the “luckiest man on the face of the earth.”

George Steinbrenner, the one-time owner of the iconic New York Yankees owner, was born on July 4, 1930, in Ohio.

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