The weekend of July 4th felt like the perfect time for British sports fans to take in some of America’s National Pastime - and Major League Baseballl’s Home Run Derby X was, well, a home run.
Thousands of sun-soaked fans kitted out in their favourite jerseys from teams ranging from the Boston Red Sox to the San Diego Padres flocked to Crystal Palace Park on Saturday. With the weather providing the heat, the four teams - the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and Red Sox - created a genuine spectacle that provided high-level baseball entertainment on this side of the Atlantic.
Fans tucked into gourmet hot dogs and Chicago-style pizza while watching the action as the Red Sox faced the Cubs in the first match, pitting Boston legend Jonny Gomes and his team of superstar Paige Halstead, wild card Liv Cooke and rookie Kennard Dawson against Chicago icon Geo Soto, superstar Alex Hugo, wild card Spencer Owen and rookie Jordan Edmonds. It proved to be the perfect start, setting the tone for the competitive day with a tight affair.
