Saturday marks the nation’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and Major League Baseball has scheduled home promotions to match the holiday. Every team will play on July 4, and most home clubs are offering special giveaways to fans, according to the league schedule.
Promotions range from patriotic caps and T-shirts to commemorative jerseys and novelty items. Several clubs have already handed out holiday-themed items because of their schedules; the Chicago White Sox gave an America 250th homage T-shirt to the first 15,000 fans on June 27, and the New York Mets distributed an America 250 Mr. and Mrs. Met T-shirt on the same day.
Teams with July 4 or nearby giveaways include the Oakland Athletics (country hat on July 3); Boston Red Sox (Red Sox USA soccer jersey for the first 7,500 fans on July 1); Chicago Cubs (Fourth of July T-shirt for up to the first 10,000 fans on July 4); Cincinnati Reds (USA-themed hat on July 4); Cleveland Guardians (patriotic cap for the first 15,000 fans on July 4); Houston Astros (Josh Hader patriotic jersey for the first 10,000 fans on July 3 and a patriotic Orbit beach towel for the first 10,000 fans on July 4); and Kansas City Royals (“Red, White and Bobby” bobblehead for the first 25,000 fans on July 4).
Other promotions listed by clubs include the Los Angeles Angels (patriotic hat on July 3); Los Angeles Dodgers (America 250 commemorative coin on July 4); Milwaukee Brewers (America’s Pastimes T-shirt with special theme night ticket on July 1); New York Yankees (Fourth of July cap for the first 18,000 fans on July 4); Seattle Mariners (patriotic bucket hat for the first 10,000 fans on July 4); Texas Rangers (America’s 250th birthday jersey for the first 10,000 fans on July 4); and Washington Nationals (Nationals patriotic shirt for the first 20,000 fans on July 5).
Not every team is participating in a July 4 giveaway, but the league’s promotional slate ensures a festive atmosphere at ballparks around the country heading into the holiday.