If you’re a baseball fan like me, this is one of the best days of the year.
Tonight is the MLB All Star Game in Minneapolis; a night when the game’s biggest and brightest stars converge on one location. For our family, it has always been a fun time to get together and share special times.
Twice in our recent memory, the All Star Game fell during our summer vacation and we built our trip itinerary around being back in our room in time to watch the big game. In other years, we’ve made plans to be home together, as we are tonight, to enjoy the festivities. We did the same, last night, for the Home Run Derby.
Don’t tell Paul but next year’s game will be played, near-by, at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. He might begin lobbying efforts for a July 2015 roadtrip right away!
As for this year’s game, it’s the 85th edition of the best pro ‘exhibition’ game there is. Coming into tonight’s play, the series is almost evenly split in terms of wins and losses. The N.L. has won 43 times and the A.L. has 39 wins. There have been two ties in history.
The Nationals won three in a row before last year’s A.L. victory. Prior to that mini-run, the American League had been on quite a roll dating to the late 90s.
The thing I love most about the game is seeing all the teams represented on the rosters. And, it’s very exciting when the players representing YOUR team have their moment in the spotlight.
That spotlight will be a little cooler, temperature-wise. With this nice weather respite the eastern two-thirds of the country is enjoying, the game could experience record-low temps.
It’s cool, too, to see the various parks represented. MLB has done a great job of spreading around the host sites for the ASG. With the advent of ‘modern’ ballparks, beginning in the early 1990s, the league has done a great job of showcasing these facilities (such as tonight’s game at Target Field and the aforementioned 2015 All Star Game at the GABP).
Thinking strategically, if that practice continues, you’d expect to see upcoming games located in places like Nationals Park (D.C.), Citizen’s Bank Park (Philly) and the new Yankee Stadium. South Florida has never played host to the game, so Marlins Park is another option.
There will be stars and heroes on the field tonight. Some great All Star game memories will be made. Then, the game will pause for the rest of the All Star break before the second of half this very interesting 2014 season resumes on Friday.
JG
Originally posted 7/15/2014
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