Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Here's everything you need for a very merry MLB Christmas

By Chris Landers

From baking cookies to leaving a special note for Santa to throwing back that 10th cup of cocoa, no two Christmas traditions are the same. No matter how you celebrate, though, there's one thing every yuletide celebration could use: a little more baseball. Luckily, MLB never takes a day off -- and we've got all the ingredients necessary to get any baseball fan in the holiday spirit.
If you'd like to reflect on the year of baseball that was, simply check out our Deck the Calls video above -- a compilation of the best calls from the 2016 season, along with some very special readings from MLB luminaries. Or, if adorable childhood photos are more your speed, you can enjoy your favorite big league stars sharing their most cherished holiday memories. As you can see, Nelson Cruz was born to be a slugger:

But Christmas isn't just about the past -- it's also about looking forward, and MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince did just that by giving out gifts to every MLB team. (Of course, if you're going to focus on the past, why not relive Max Scherzer's jaw-dropping, 20-strikeout start from back in May?)
Plenty of MLB stars, on the other hand, don't need any gifts -- they've already got everything they could want. Like Jason Kipnis, whose offseason workout regimen seems to be paying dividends: 

And Carlos Gómez, who has the snazziest family -- and Christmas tree -- on the block:

Danny Valencia, meanwhile, reminded us that Christmas isn't the only holiday in town:

And official Cut4 Star Wars correspondent Sean Doolittle spent his Christmas Eve ... well, talking about Star Wars, what else?

We just hope someone let Justin Verlander and Kate Upton know that they might have gotten their dates mixed up:

Of course, no holiday would be complete without Hunter Pence doing Hunter Pence things. He may be a married man now, but his love for Game of Thrones beats as strongly as ever:

Even MLB teams are ready for Santa. Like the Phillies, for example, who found the perfect GIF to go with "Last Christmas" ...

... and promptly set off an Internet singalong:

Our supply of Christmas carols exhausted, there's only one thing left to do. And though it's been said many times many ways, nothing says "Merry Christmas" quite like a hug from Big Papi:

Up Next
What do you get when you combine a block party and a baseball league?
Related
Gather 'round as Major Leaguers share some of their favorite Christmas memories
Get in the holiday spirit as these managers, players and broadcasters read Christmas poems
BarberJordan
When baseball's biggest stars need a haircut, they come to José 'Jordan' López
By Matt Monagan •
beephero
Competition, joy and a little pain: Beep Baseball is a world of freedom for blind athletes
By Eric Chesterton •
AP_702417634020
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has one of the best baseball card collections in the world thanks to one man
By Michael Clair •
NYC
Where to live in New York if you've just come into $324 million
By Matt Monagan •