Fourth of July Baseball: Games, Traditions & the Google Doodle

First MLB game on July 4: 1876 · Google Doodle release date: July 4, 2019 · Typical number of MLB games on July 4: 15 (2024 schedule)

Are there any baseball games on the 4th of July?

Yes. MLB schedules games on July 4, but not all 30 teams play every season. In 2024, the league scheduled 15 games, meaning 28 of 30 teams were on the schedule.

For 2026, the schedule again gives the Fourth a full 15-game slate, including a Fourth of July weekend presence for the Braves.

What games are on July 4th?

Matchups change every year, but the league typically builds a full day of baseball around the holiday. Game times have been known to start from 11:05 a.m. and continue into the evening.

The implication: the Fourth of July is one of MLB’s biggest regular-season stages, almost a second Opening Day.

What are the traditions of fourth of July baseball?

MLB teams lean into patriotic pageantry on July 4. Ceremonial first pitches, color guards, flyovers, patriotic caps and jerseys, and post-game fireworks are all part of the holiday experience. Many minor-league teams follow the same playbook, with local variations such as regional orchestras.

The pattern: baseball did not simply appear at Fourth of July celebrations; it helped create them.

What was the Fourth of July 2019 Google Doodle baseball game?

Google released an interactive Doodle on July 4, 2019, featuring anthropomorphic food items playing baseball. The game was playable on the Google homepage on July 4–5, 2019.

How do you play the Fourth of July 2019 Google Doodle baseball game?

Google designed the Doodle as a single-player baseball game rather than a head-to-head contest. The experience leaned on the Doodle’s signature animation style and baseball-related humor.

What is the world record for the Fourth of July 2019 baseball Doodle?

No official world record is documented. Google never published a verified record for the Doodle, and the game was available for only two days.

The catch: the Doodle was a moment in time, not a permanent release, which makes it feel more like a holiday tradition than a typical game.

What is the history of baseball on Independence Day?

The first recorded July 4 baseball game dates to 1860, when amateur teams played. Major League Baseball joined the tradition in 1876, making holiday baseball as old as the National League. The league continues to treat the date as a showcase, including planned special games for the Semiquincentennial in 2026.

The implication: July 4 baseball is as old as the professional game itself, and the league actively uses the date to anchor new traditions.

Timeline: Fourth of July baseball milestones

1. 1860: First recorded July 4 baseball game.
2. 1876: First MLB game on July 4.
3. 1976: MLB marks the U.S. Bicentennial with special holiday pageantry at ballparks.
4. 2019: Google releases the Fourth of July Doodle baseball game.
5. 2026: MLB plans special July 4 games for the Semiquincentennial.

The pattern: from amateur matches in 1860 to planned national broadcasts in 2026, July 4 has been one of baseball’s most reliable calendar dates.

How to watch Fourth of July baseball games?

Broadcast plans change each year, but national networks treat the holiday as a tent-pole baseball date. The 2026 holiday weekend includes a Sunday national broadcast showcase featuring Mets at Braves and Padres at Dodgers, exclusive to NBC.

The pattern: national networks are treating the Fourth of July as a tent-pole baseball date, not just another day game.

Fourth of July Baseball: Key Facts

The catch: most holiday logistics are announced in the annual schedule, but only the broad facts—15 games, 28 teams, and a Doodle release—remain stable across seasons.