Baseball’s Most Memorable Moments (For Fans and Non-Fans)
There are few things, if any, more American than baseball. The official game itself dates back to 1845 — and since then, it’s created memories and traditions share by millions across generations from coast to coast. But there are moments from the game that just about everyone remembers. Here are some of baseball’s most memorable moments even non-baseball fans remember and cherish.
July 10, 2001 Cal Ripken, baseball’s Iron Man breaks Lou Gehrig’s record for consecutive games played. It was during the 2001 All-Star game — his final appearance for the annual series. It wasn’t the only record he broke at that game — at the time, he also became the oldest player to hit a home run (he was a little more than a month away from turning 41). He was also named MVP of the All-Star Game for the second time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TgKQFalZtE
October 24, 2002 If you don’t remember J.T. Snow rescuing a bat boy during the 2002 World Series, you will now. Snow was playing for the San Francisco Giants against the Anaheim Angels. As Snow was on his way home to score off a triple, he scooped up 3-year-old Darren Baker (son of Giants’ manager, Dusty Baker) off home plate — where he was nearly clobbered in a baseball collision. It’s a spectacular act of quick thinking, fast acting and tear jerking.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzV7x8WcR4g
October 14, 2003 For Chicago Cubs fans, this is a painful memory, but a memory that will last a lifetime. In Game 6 of the National League Championship Series between the Cubs and the Florida Marlins, the Cubs and fans were confident about heading to the World Series for the first time since 1945. After more than a half-century of heartbreak, the Cubs were up 3-0 in the eighth inning. That’s when the Marlins hit a foul ball. As many baseball fans do, Cubs fan Steve Bartman reached out to catch it though it was in reach of the left fielder, Moises Alou. Bartman deflected the ball out of the grasp of Alou and, subsequently, the Marlins scored eight runs in that game and won the series. Cubs fans were unforgiving of Bartman who has stayed out of the public eye since 2003 despite numerous requests for interviews.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq8G81oOHhY
October 27, 2004 It was a long wait for the Red Sox, but in 2004, not only did they make it to the World Series, but they also won it, crushing the Curse of the Bambino. It was the first World Series win for the Red Sox since 1918. As luck would have it, the Jimmy Fallon/Drew Barrymore movie, Fever Pitch — about a Red Sox obsessed fan — was filmed during the series. The unexpected win forced a re-write for the film so it could be included.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WIclwwPjm4
July 1, 1992 Of course we can’t leave out our favorite fictional moment in baseball. If you’ve never heard Tom Hanks (as Jimmy Dugan) shout “There’s no crying in baseball!” it might be time to watch A League of Their Own. It’s the one baseball quote men and women, baseball fans and non-baseball fans alike remember and chuckle to on any given day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M8szlSa-8o
At LTD, we celebrate all of our country’s greatest treasures! But you don’t have to be a baseball fan to appreciate the American thrill of baseball — there is so much history and cultural relationships with the game it’s easy to see why it’s our national pastime and a reason to look forward to summer games.
