Dodgers News: Doc settles the question: fireworks or drone show?

LOS ANGELES — While most of us were watching fireworks, grilling burgers, or lounging at the beach on the Fourth of July, Dave Roberts was doing what he always does this time of year—working a ballgame.

During his pregame media session on Independence Day, the Dodgers skipper was asked if he had any special memories tied to the holiday from his playing or managing days. His response was honest, humble, and unmistakably “Doc.”

“I don’t, unfortunately,” Roberts said. “I probably should have categorized it.”

Roberts chuckled a bit at the realization, but it wasn’t lost on him how significant the day is for fans and for the sport.

“I do know I work on Fourth of July. So, yeah, it’s great. It’s a special day,” he said. “I don’t get the chance to barbecue and, you know, lay out by the pool or the beach. But yeah, I think it’s great. I love knowing that people go out and do their family thing and take in a ballgame, which is great.”

That’s the heart of what makes baseball such a central part of America’s birthday. Whether it’s the MLB’s iconic red, white, and blue caps, the patriotic pregame tributes, or the tradition of playing a full slate of games, baseball on the Fourth is as American as it gets.

Roberts, now in his ninth season managing the Dodgers, embraces the role his team plays in that.

Even without the chance to kick back with family and friends on the holiday himself, Roberts finds joy in knowing that what happens at Dodger Stadium each year becomes part of so many fans’ summer memories.

When asked whether he preferred modern drone shows or old-fashioned fireworks, Roberts didn’t hesitate: “Fireworks guy. Old school. Old school.”

That tracks. Roberts is known for being steady, grounded, and thoughtful in both how he manages his club and how he views the game’s place in the wider world. Fireworks, not flash. Tradition, not trend.

And while he might not have had a specific Fourth of July moment that stands out, he clearly sees the day as something bigger than himself—something woven into the fabric of the game and the country.

It’s a reminder that while baseball is often thought of as “just a game,” on days like the Fourth of July, it becomes something more: a celebration of freedom, family, and yes, Dodger Blue under the lights. And it’s fitting that someone like Dave Roberts, who brings consistency, class, and quiet patriotism to the dugout every day, is at the center of it.

So even if he’s not flipping burgers or lighting sparklers, Roberts is doing his part to make Independence Day feel like it always has—a day to gather, cheer, and watch America’s pastime.

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