Hey Now

Last night, Major League Baseball held its annual All Star Game – also known as The Midsummer Classic and the A.L. beat the N.L. 3-0.

Unfortunately, last night’s game wasn’t…well…a classic.

Not sure what could have jazzed up last night’s game. Perhaps The Racing Presidents could have raced up I-95 from D.C. to Queens to spice things up.

Mr. Met just isn’t very charismatic (though I do applaud his efforts to stand up to cancer).

Don’t get me wrong: the game had some nice moments. Mariano Rivera’s entry into the game in the 8th inning, when he received a rousing response from players on both teams as he entered the game to make his final All Star Game appearance, was one for the ages. And Rivera received the MVP award for last night’s game. Baltimore 3B Manny Machado made a nice play to throw out Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt. Still, Rivera is what we’ll remember from last night.

There wasn’t a snapshot moment, such as Pete Rose barreling into Ray Fosse at home plate to score the winning run in the 1970 game or Reggie Jackson’s epic blast at Tiger Stadium in 1971. And who can forget the light moments from John Kruk’s at bat vs. Randy Johnson in ’93.

There were other special moments last night, but, none of them were a part of the game. It was nice, for example, to see Neil Diamond between the top and bottom of the eighth inning to lead the crowd in a rendition of “Sweet Caroline.” That lovely song became the anthem of support that fans in ballparks all across America sang back in the spring to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing.

Diamond, as you might recall, showed up at Fenway Park unannounced, when games resumed later that week, to sing the song in person. Red Sox fans sing that song during the eighth inning at each home game but that one was special. And so it was last night.

The pre-game festivities were also nice. But the 2013 game in New York didn’t match the off-field pageantry. It was just a game.

Maybe that’s part of the charm of the MLB All Star game after all?

JG

(Source: Washington Post)

Originally posted 7/17/2013