New York Yankees: 4 Firework-Worthy Home Runs This Season
Jun 28, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) hits a two-run homer against the Chicago White Sox during the sixth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Yankees started the fireworks early this season, as we count down some of the home runs worthy of recognition.

Did you wait until today to see the fireworks for the Fourth of July? The New York Yankees have been providing them all season long.

Have you been living under a rock? Or just simply not watching because the Yankees are rebuilding? Well, you’ve missed out on some incredible home runs that are worthy of the fireworks treatment.

I mean, when you’ve got Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez rounding up your squad, I think it’s safe to say that home runs will be a common occurrence when the Yankees are playing.

And there have been plenty to cheer about. There have been game-tying shots, walk-off blasts and solo blasts that have traveled far beyond any we’ve ever seen.

So, in honor of the Fourth of July, before you go about with your family barbecues, day drinking and trips to family lake houses, take a look at our top four home runs worthy of fireworks this year.

4. Starlin Castro Ties The Game

All it took was getting down on one knee. Baby Bombers, take note.

Starlin Castro actually skied this one straight to the heavens, while also knotting the game at 11 against the Baltimore Orioles this year. In the bottom of the ninth inning.

You can’t get much more dramatic than that. As the ball carried high and far out of the park, Yankee Stadium was as loud as I’ve heard it in a long, long time.

And just like that, the Bombers made themselves a force to be reckoned with. Down 9-1 early in the game? No problem. This offense came to play.

I’ve already watched this game twice on Yankees Classics and I can tell you, the only way it could get better is if the Stadium launched fireworks after this one.

3. Aaron Judge Sentences The Baseball

Once again, if there was ever a “top” list without Aaron Judge included in it, we might have to have our heads reexamined. While there are plenty of Judge Bombs to choose from, this one was pretty epic.

Every home run by Judge is something special but this … this was absolutely magnificent. He completely pulverized the baseball, launching it 495 feet into the Bronx sky.

We may have seen Aaron Judge but we never saw him quite like this. He evoked fear into starting pitchers everywhere but with this home run, he literally turned into a monster.

Just…what? Is that even possible? Of course it is, especially when it’s coming off the bat of All-Star, Home Run Derby participant and potential MVP Aaron Judge.

Oh, and he’s a rookie. so imagine what happens when he gets to full strength. Actually, there should be a fireworks show after every Aaron Judge Bomb. Lots of money but well worth it.

2. Gardy Goes Yardy In Dramatic Fashion

You know those moments where you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when the event occurred? Yeah, this Brett Gardner home run does that for me.

The “tiny ball of muscle,” as coined by Judge, was down to his final strike on a blustery Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field against the defending World Series champs. Good thing he’s not scared of anything.

Gardner pounded this ball into the wind to right field and drove in three runs to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead. And when he rounded the bases, his emotions spoke for the entire Yankees fan base.

Imagine if this had happened in the Stadium. There would have been an absolute explosion. Because it happened on the road made it that much sweeter for both Gardner and the Yankees.

Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, Brett Gardner put on a show, one that would have benefited from some actual fireworks in the background.

1. Matt Holliday Completes The Comeback

Matt Holliday just wanted to give us a reason to celebrate. And celebrate we all did after he launched a walk-off home run to cap the comeback against the Orioles.

Bottom of the 10th, you knew the Yankees were set up to win. The “how” was still set to be written. That’s when Matt Holliday came up and decided to put an end to it.

The pomp. The circumstance. The Stadium was rocking. And if there was any home run worthy of fireworks, it was this one.

A shot into the Yankees bullpen, Holliday capped the 8-run comeback and put the Yankees and their fans to bed happy. Now THAT is worthy of a celebration.

So tonight when I’m watching the fireworks celebrating America’s freedom, I’ll be thinking of these moments and just how much they deserved this type of celebration.

And Yankees, continue doing what you’re doing. There will surely be more home runs where those great ones came from.


Allison is just a girl with an enormous passion for the game of baseball and the written word. Based in Upstate New York, her life-long relationship with the New York Yankees is something that she developed through close relationships with her mother and grandfather. An aspiring sports writer, she graduated with a journalism degree and is finding places to share her excitement about the sporting world and how it affects us all.