The only two days that there are absolutely zero scheduled major sports contests? The day before, and the day after the annual Mid-Summer Classic. This year's 82nd All Star Game will be played in Phoenix, Arizona at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. This is not the 82nd annual All Star Game. The first All Star Game was played at Comiskey Park in Chicago, as part of the 1933 World's Fair. It was originally intended to be a one-time event, but its immense popularity prompted Major League Baseball to make it an annual event. The first contest was the idea of Chicago Tribune sports editor, Arch Ward. In recognition of his contributions to sports in general, and Major League Baseball in particular, the game's Most Valuable Player is awarded the Arch Ward trophy each year.
The reason that there have been 81 previous All Star games before this year's, is that there were two games played each year from 1959 to 1961, and the game scheduled for Fenway Park in Boston in 1945 was cancelled. (Insert your Red Sox joke here.) There was an all-star roster chosen, but the game was postponed due to World War II wartime travel restrictions. The series resumed in 1946, at Fenway. Yankee Stadium and Cleveland Municipal Stadium are the only two venues to have hosted four mid-summer classic games. Until this year, only three franchises had not hosted an All Star Game: the Diamondbacks, the Florida Marlins and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Marlins were initially awarded the 2000 game, but NL President, Len Coleman, took it away and awarded it to Atlanta and the Braves, saying that the league wanted the game to be played in "newer ballparks." The 2012 game is scheduled to be hosted by the Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium, known as "The K", which opened in 1973 and underwent an extensive remodeling, which was finished in 2009.
Originally, managers and fans selected the players, at least for the first two contests, in 1933 and 1934. Then, managers alone chose the players, from 1935 to 1946. From 1947 to 1957, the fans voted who started, and managers chose pitchers and backups. From 1958 to 1969, players, managers and coaches selected all players. From 1970 to the present day, fans select starters and the manager and his advisors select the rest of the roster. The managers for each league is traditionally the managers that faced each other in the previous World Series. Jim Leyland and Tony LaRussa have managed both sides during their careers.
The All Star Game record book is dominated by Willie Mays. Twenty-four games (tied with Stan Musial), 75 at-bats, 8 extra-base hits (also tied with Musial), 23 total hits, 20 runs scored, 6 stolen bases, 3 triples and 40 total bases (amazingly, also tied with Musial). Stan "The Man" Musial also holds the records for home runs (6) and pinch hits (3). Mickey Mantle struck out 17 times in 16 All Star games. There has been only one inside-the-park home run in 81 games, off the bat of Ichiro Suzuki in 2007, at AT&T Park in San Francisco. The only grand slam in All Star Game history was struck by Boston's Fred Lynn in 1983 at Comiskey Park in Chicago, courtesy of Atlee Hammaker of the Giants.
Pitching records are less distinctive in ASG history. Vernon Louis "Lefty" Gomez, Yankees ace from 1930 to 1942, won three times. Seven different pitchers have been saddled with two losses: Mort Cooper, Whitey Ford, Dwight Gooden, Catfish Hunter, Claude Passeau, John Smoltz and Luis Tiant. Vida Blue and Hunter gave up the most home runs (4). Goose Gossage finished the most games (6), but Mariano Rivera has the most saves (4). Roger Clemens made the most appearances (10 All Star, three Congressional Sub-Commitees). Don Drysdale had the most innings logged at 19-2/3 and the most strikeouts at 19.
The Home Run Derby has been a part of the All Star festivities since 1985. From 1985 to 1990, the National League and American League put up anywhere from two to six players each and the players each had two innings, represented by 5 outs per inning. In 1991, the number of participants was increased to 8 or 10, and the rounds were increased to three, with 10 outs per round. In 25 years of competition, the American League hit more homers in 15 contests, the National League in 10. The only player to have won the Home Run Derby more than once, is Ken Griffey, Jr., who won in 1994 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, 1998 at Coors Field in Denver, and 1999 at Fenway Park in Boston. The greatest home run show, ever, in a non-winning performance: Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers in 2008 in the final season at the old Yankee Stadium. Who can forget? He chose his old (70+ years old) American Legion coach Clay Counsil to pitch to him in the Derby. Counsil's previous and only other visit to Yankee Stadium was on October 8, 1956. Remember that day? Don Larsen, perfect game, World Series. Josh Hamilton, back in the big leagues after a much-publicized battle with substance abuse and a feel-good story of second chances with the Texas Rangers, blasted 28 homers into the night in a frenzied Yankee Stadium atmosphere, in the first round. That he finished second to Justin Morneau in the final round, will never be remembered.
This year, at the annual All Star break, my Yankees are 1 game behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East, with Alex Rodriguez now on the shelf for at least 6 weeks. (Ian Stewart in a Yankee uniform?) The Rockies are 8-1/2 games behind the San Francisco Giants, and truth be told, will probably finish the year farther back than that. The Rockies, due to a variety of factors, are not much more than a glorified Triple A squad, with the exception of Todd Helton, Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez (when healthy), Ubaldo Jimenez, Seth Smith and Jhoulys Chacin. The relief pitching, a supposed strength coming out of spring training, has faltered, at inopportune times. The starters beyond the current Jimenez and Chacin, have been woefully inconsistent, rarely getting past the 5th inning, thereby putting more strain on an inadequate bullpen. Except for Todd Helton and Seth Smith, the Rockies hitters have been underachieving. And, to me, the worst part of the Rockies disappointing season, is manager Jim Tracy and his coaching staff. Absolutely no fire and toughness. Too soft, too little accountability up and down the staff and roster. The success of Kirk Gibson in Arizona and Clint Hurdle in Pittsburgh showcase what this Colorado Rockie club lacks. Heart, and balls.
I predict that the Red Sox, Rangers and Tigers will win their divisions in the AL, with the Yankees claiming the Wild Card. In the National League, I predict the Phillies, Giants and Brewers will win their divisions, and the Braves will claim the Wild Card. A healthy Yankee squad will prevail in the American League and the Phillies will cruise to the National League pennant. Then, with the American League winning this year's All Star game, the Yankees will enjoy home-field advantage in the Series, and they will prevail, 4 games to three, to put the frosting on their 28th World Championship.
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