Yankees: Best July 4 Moments in NYY History

1. Dave Righetti No-Hits the Red Sox

This is No. 1 because we simply have to end on a high note. Though it was a playoff-less year for the 91-71 Yankees, nothing beats embarrassing your all-time rival on the Fourth of July at Yankee Stadium. Dave Righetti twirled a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox in his final year as a full-time starter.

The left-hander struck out nine and walked four in the 4-0 win in what was his second consecutive complete game shutout — only this one was of the no-hit variation. Quick fun fact: his very next start against the Kansas City Royals featured a 10.1 inning outing in a 3-2 loss!

Righetti got his run support from Steve Kemp, Don Baylor and Andre Robertson. He struck out Wade Boggs to end the game in front of the Yankee Stadium crowd. The ’83 Sox were nothing special, finishing the year 78-84, but Righetti was just a 24-year-old going up against Boggs, Jerry Remy, Jim Rice, Tony Armas and Dwight Evans.

Talk about an all-time moment on Independence Day. Righetti would then transition to the team’s closer the very next year, finishing his career with 252 saves and two All-Star nods in ’86 and ’87. What a way to go out with a bang.