July 11, 2023 – MLB All-Star Game

Major League Baseball’s annual All-Star Game is tonight in Seattle! The first All-Star game happened on July 6, 1933, at Comiskey Park in Chicago as part of the 1933 World’s Fair. It was originally intended to be a one-time thing, but it was incredibly successful, so it became an annual event.
Starting players are chosen by fans, pitchers are chosen by managers, and reserves are selected by players and managers. MLB chooses the venue for the game each year. There is a controversial rule that each team has to have at least one player on its league’s All-Star roster. Generally, cities with new ballparks or those that haven’t hosted in many years (or ever) tend to get selected. Cleveland Stadium and the old Yankee Stadium both hosted the game 4 times, the most of any ballpark. The Tampa Bay Rays are currently the only club that hasn’t hosted an All-Star Game.
From 2003-2016, the winning league of the All-Star Game was awarded home-field advantage for the World Series. But since 2017, home-field advantage has gone to the team with the better regular season record. There is still some incentive though – the 32 players on the winning team each get $20,000. Each All-Star player also gets tickets to the game for friends and family, first-class airfare, hotel accommodations, a $1,000 cash stipend, and an undisclosed “gift” from either the National or American League. Some players also have clauses in their contracts that entitle them to bonuses if they make the All-Star team.
There have been 91 All-Star Games, with the AL leading with 47 wins. Since 1988, the AL has dominated with 27 wins, including a 13-game streak from 1997-2009. Hank Aaron has the most All-Star Game appearances with 25. There’s a 5-way tie for most All-Star Game MVP awards – Willie Mays, Steve Garvey, Gary Carter, Cal Ripken Jr., and Mike Trout have all been MVP twice. The only player to be named the All-Star Game MVP and World Series MVP in the same year is Derek Jeter, who accomplished the feat in 2000. Learn more here.