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America's 250th birthday has passed, but MLB was intentional about putting this year's All-Star festivities in Philadelphia.
The same city that brought about the founding of the nation was a natural choice to serve as the host of the All-Star Game 250 years later, and MLB acknowledged the anniversary Tuesday night with a moving tribute after the fourth inning.
Here's a look at the tribute at Citizens Bank Park, which included fireworks and a nod to "The Sandlot."
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All-Star Game fifth-inning Sandlot tribute
MLB paid tribute to the United States' 250th birthday ahead of the fifth inning of Tuesday's All-Star Game, first playing a video narrated by actor J.K. Simmons before shooting off fireworks and playing Ray Charles' iconic rendition of "America the Beautiful."
In a nod to famous baseball movie "The Sandlot," kids came out onto the field on bicycles and spent a few minutes with the All-Stars. Some kids exchanged baseball cards, others talked to the players, and Freddie Freeman was even seen playing catch with a young fan.
— MLB (@MLB) July 15, 2026Many players came out onto the field to watch the firework show and held sparklers during as the fireworks were launched. The show made for a smoky fifth inning in Philadelphia, but no one seemed to mind.
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What is 'The Sandlot?'
"The Sandlot," released in 1993, is considered an iconic baseball movie, focusing on a youth baseball team in the 1960s. The movie includes a scene in which the kids play under the lights — and fireworks — on the Fourth of July, with Ray Charles' rendition of "America the Beautiful" overlaid with the images.
The Sandlot has the single greatest vision of American life ever put on film.
This scene is what it’s all about. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/BOhzNHYSEy
MLB's scene on Tuesday recreated that scene between the firework show and the playing of the song, and it also looped in another scene in which the kids ride their bicycles onto the field.
After the moment, Dodgers 1B Freddie Freeman discussed how he played catch with one of the young fans who "had an arm on him," explaining that he was told to bring out his glove just in case.
“They told me to bring a glove, just incase Noah had a glove. He had his glove, he asked to play catch, so we played some catch…he had an arm on him”
- Freddie Freeman on playing catch during The Sandlot moment on the field pic.twitter.com/FbhDlA1OX1
Jacob Misiorowski, Bryce Harper, Bobby Witt Jr. and Yordan Alvarez were among the other players who interacted with young fans on the field as fireworks lit up the sky.
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