Five Most Cheerful Moments in Baseball History

With dramatic defensive plays and exuberant comeback triumphs, the game of baseball has witnessed an extremely rich historical past that spans over decades. Often regarded as an “American pastime” sport, baseball originated in the 18th century from English games like cricket and rounders. The game has witnessed countless historical revolutions, including the Civil War, the great economic depression and the World Wars where soldiers used to play baseball during their downtime. With technological advancements and player transition, a new format of baseball, including Major League Baseball (MLB) and other American leagues came into existence. With time, the popularity of baseball has witnessed a steep rise among the fans. In addition to the most iconic rivalries in baseball, including New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers vs. The San Francisco Giants also witnessed many cheerful moments that have been etched as glorious souvenirs of the game. 

Jackie Robinson vs Racial Prejudices

Jackie Robinson’s inclusion in the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1947 was widely celebrated as a step towards wrecking apart the color barrier of the game. After having an incredible season with the Montreal Royals in 1946, Jackie Robinson was open-heartedly welcomed to the Dodgers squad in April 1947 as their number 42. Robinson established himself as the first African-American player to ever play for Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era and successfully paved the way for future African baseball players. While American sports history was largely plagued by racial biases and discrimination, the legendary baseball player, Jackie Robinson, faced a lot of struggles both on and off the field but continued to act as a formidable catalyst for social change and altered the legacy of American baseball to an unparalleled extent.

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Thomson’s iconic “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” Moment 

The action-packed game between the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers of 1951 struck the highlights majorly due to Bobby Thomson’s glorious “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” moment. While the New York Giants were struggling to win the game against the Brooklyn Dodgers, Bobby Thomson took the batting in the last inning and smashed a stellar home run, leading the Giants to an ultimate victory in the National League. Thomson’s match-winning home run was celebrated by millions of baseball aficionados around the world and the walk-off home moment continues to resonate as one of the most memorable and iconic moments in the history of baseball.

Lou Gehrig’s Unpredictable Departure 

Often regarded as the “Iron Horse”, Lou Gehrig was one of the most prominent baseball players on the face of the earth. Gehrig undoubtedly ruled the 1920s and 1930s as the first baseman for the New York Yankees. Lou Gehrig played consecutive 2,130 games and successfully led the Yankees to clinch six World Series Championships, winning two individual American League MVP awards. Although Gehrig broke several records and was considered to be a legendary player who could have elevated the baseball game with his stellar knocks and unmatched fan following around the world, his starry baseball career was cut short after he was diagnosed with a degenerative disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that weakens muscles and largely impacts the physical functioning. At the age of 37, Lou Gehrig was compelled to retire from baseball. Gehrig’s farewell speech shook the baseball world and garnered appreciation and unconditional support from millions of fans worldwide. Later in 1941, Lou Gehrig passed away due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease, leaving behind a legacy that still resonates in the annals of MLB.

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Ripken’s surpassed the “highest consecutive matches” record 

Lou Gehrig’s untimely departure from the game created a void in the game of baseball until Cal Ripken, often referred to as the Iron Man of baseball, took over. On September 6, 1995, Cal Ripken smashed Lou Gehrig’s record for playing the highest number of consecutive matches with his 2,131st match with his team, the Baltimore Orioles. Ripken’s star-studded achievement was celebrated by both fans and critics as he established himself as the next big thing in the world of baseball. The stadium echoed with roaring applause and cheers as Ripken’s fans celebrated his achievement with a standing ovation that lasted for over twenty minutes. The electrifying atmosphere at the stadium after Ripken’s record-breaking match is still considered to be one of the most glorious and cheerful moments in baseball history.

Joe Carter’s 1993 home run 

The sixth game of the World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Philadelphia Phillies witnessed a match-winning home run from Joe Carter’s bat that is still revered as one of the most iconic moments in the history of baseball. While the Toronto Blue Jays were on the verge of losing the series with one run at the bottom of the 9th inning, Joe Carter took on the crease against a formidable pitcher of the Philadelphia Phillies, Mitch Williams. Carter’s iconic home run flew over Toronto’s skydome left-field wall, leaving the crowd at the stadium galvanized and spellbound. A few seconds after the home run, the crowd went berserk and Carter commemorated his glorious moment by fiercely running around the bases. The match-winning home run established Joe Carter as one of the most crucial players in the annals of baseball.