The Major League Baseball All-Star Game is an annual exhibition baseball game between the best players from the National League and the American League. The All-Star Game usually occurs in mid-July and marks the middle of the Major League Baseball season.
Choosing the Venue
The venue is chosen by Major League Baseball and traditionally alternates between the two leagues every year. (This tradition will be broken in 2007, when the San Francisco Giants will be the host for the 2007 All-Star Game. Pittsburgh Pirates will host the 2006 event.) The "home team" is the league in which the host franchise plays its games. The criteria for choosing the venue are subjective. For the most part, cities with new parks and cities who have not hosted the game in a long time tend to get the nod. In 2005, Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers, will host the mid summer classic.
Voting
Baseball fans vote on the starting position players for the All-Star Game, with ballots distributed at baseball games before mid-season and, more recently, on the Internet. As of 2004, pitchers and back-up position players are elected by other players, with the teams' managers then deciding how to fill any empty slots which may result from injury or other inability to play. Each major league team is guaranteed to have at least one player selected to participate. Selected players have sometimes declined to take part in the game, citing health concerns or personal matters; as a matter of courtesy, other players have generally been selected to take their place.
Ties
At Fenway Park on July 31, 1961, in Boston, Massachusetts, the first All-Star Game tie in major league baseball history occurred when the game was stopped in the 9th inning due to rain.
Following a highly controversial tie in the 2002 game when both teams ran out of pitchers in the 11th inning, and in response to the increasing complaints of fans that the atmosphere of the games had gradually come to resemble a casual event rather than a competition, Major League Baseball changed the rules to give the All-Star game "meaning" and additional incentive for victory. For the 2003-2004 seasons, the champion of the league that won the All-Star game was to be given home-field advantage for the World Series (as of July 2004, it is not yet clear whether this "experiment" will continue in 2005 and later). Previously, home-field advantage in the World Series alternated between the two leagues each year.
Oddities
In 1945, with severe wartime travel restrictions in effect, the All-Star Game scheduled to be played at Boston's Fenway Park was canceled.
There were two All-Star Games played each season from 1959 to 1962.
Other All Star Weekend Events
Since 1985, the Home Run Derby, a contest between home run hitters, has been played on the day before the All-Star Game. Also, a celebrity softball game is also held the day before the Home Run Derby. The teams are usually a mixture of former stars from the host team's past plus some celebrities (including Meat Loaf, Garth Brooks and many others). Also, since the late 1990s, the Futures Game has also been held during All Star weekend. The two teams (United States and World) are usually chosen based on prospect status in the minor leagues. Several stars have emerged from this game including C.C. Sabathia, Alfonso Soriano and Albert Pujols.
All-Star Games (1933-present)
| Year | Winner | Score |
Venue/Host team | MVP |
| 1933 | American | 4-2 |
Comiskey Park, Chicago White Sox | |
| 1934 | American | 9-7 |
Polo Grounds, New York Giants | |
| 1935 | American | 4-1 |
Municipal Stadium, Cleveland Indians | |
| 1936 | National | 4-3 |
Braves Field, Boston Braves | |
| 1937 | American | 8-3 |
Griffith Stadium, Washington Senators | |
| 1938 | National | 4-1 |
Crosley Field, Cincinnati Reds | |
| 1939 | American | 3-1 |
Yankee Stadium, New York Yankees | |
| 1940 | National | 4-0 |
Sportsman's Park, St. Louis Cardinals | |
| 1941 | American | 7-5 |
Briggs Stadium, Detroit Tigers | |
| 1942 | American | 3-1 |
Polo Grounds, New York Giants | |
| 1943 | American | 5-3 |
Shibe Park, Philadelphia Athletics | |
| 1944 | National | 7-1 |
Forbes Field, Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| 1945 | Not held. |
| 1946 | American | 12-0 |
Fenway Park, Boston Red Sox | |
| 1947 | American | 2-1 |
Wrigley Field, Chicago Cubs | |
| 1948 | American | 5-2 |
Sportsman's Park, St. Louis Browns | |
1949 | American | 11-7 |
Ebbets Field, Brooklyn Dodgers | |
| 1950 | National | 4-3
(14 innings) |
Comiskey Park, Chicago White Sox | |
| 1951 | National | 8-3 |
Briggs Stadium, Detroit Tigers | |
| 1952 | National | 3-2
(5 innings, rain) |
Shibe Park, Philadelphia Phillies | |
| 1953 | National | 5-1 |
Crosley Field, Cincinnati Reds | |
| 1954 | American | 11-9 |
Municipal Stadium, Cleveland Indians | |
| 1955 | National | 6-5
(12 innings) |
County Stadium, Milwaukee Braves | |
| 1956 | National | 7-3 |
Griffith Stadium, Washington Senators | |
|
| 1957 | American | 6-5 |
Sportsman's Park, St. Louis Cardinals | |
| 1958 | American | 4-3 |
Memorial Stadium, Baltimore Orioles | |
| 1959-a | National | 5-4 |
Forbes Field, Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| 1959-b | American | 5-3 |
Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles Dodgers | |
|
| 1960-a | National | 5-3 |
Municipal Stadium, Kansas City Athletics | |
| 1960-b | National | 6-0 |
Yankee Stadium, New York Yankees | |
| 1961-a | National | 5-4
(10 innings) |
Candlestick Park, San Francisco Giants | |
| 1961-b | TIE | 1-1
(9 innings, rain) |
Fenway Park, Boston Red Sox | |
| 1962-a | National | 3-1 |
D.C. Stadium, Washington Senators | Maury Wills, LA (NL) |
| 1962-b | American | 9-4 |
Wrigley Field, Chicago Cubs | Leon Wagner, LA (AL) |
| 1963 | National | 5-3 |
Municipal Stadium, Cleveland Indians | Willie Mays, SF (NL) |
| 1964 | National | 7-4 |
Shea Stadium, New York Mets | Johnny Callison, PHI (NL) |
| 1965 | National | 6-5 |
Metropolitan Stadium, Minnesota Twins | Juan Marichal, SF (NL) |
| 1966 | National | 2-1
(10 innings) |
Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis Cardinals | Brooks Robinson, BAL (AL) |
| 1967 | National | 2-1
(15 innings) |
Anaheim Stadium, California Angels | Tony Perez, CIN (NL) |
| 1968 | National | 1-0 |
Astrodome, Houston Astros | Willie Mays, SF (NL) |
| 1969 | National | 9-3 |
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington Senators | Willie McCovey, SF (NL) |
| 1970 | National | 5-4
(12 innings) |
Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati Reds | Carl Yastrzemski, BOS (AL) |
| 1971 | American | 6-4 |
Tiger Stadium, Detroit Tigers | Frank Robinson, BAL (AL) |
| 1972 | National | 4-3
(10 innings) |
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta Braves | Joe Morgan, CIN (NL) |
| 1973 | National | 7-1 |
Royals Stadium, Kansas City Royals | Bobby Bonds, SF (NL) |
| 1974 | National | 7-2 |
Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh Pirates | Steve Garvey, LA (NL) |
| 1975 | National | 6-3 |
County Stadium, Milwaukee Brewers | Jon Matlack, NYM (NL)
Bill Madlock, CHC (NL) |
| 1976 | National | 7-1 |
Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia Phillies | George Foster, CIN (NL) |
| 1977 | National | 7-5 |
Yankee Stadium, New York Yankees | Don Sutton, LA (NL) |
| 1978 | National | 7-3 |
San Diego Stadium, San Diego Padres | Steve Garvey, LA (NL) |
| 1979 | National | 7-6 |
Kingdome, Seattle Mariners | Dave Parker, PIT (NL) |
| 1980 | National | 4-2 |
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles Dodgers | Ken Griffey, Sr., CIN (NL) |
| 1981 | National | 5-4 |
Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland Indians | Gary Carter, MON (NL) |
| 1982 | National | 4-1 |
Olympic Stadium, Montreal Expos | Dave Concepcion, CIN (NL) |
| 1983 | American | 13-3 |
Comiskey Park, Chicago White Sox | Fred Lynn, CAL (AL) |
| 1984 | National | 3-1 |
Candlestick Park, San Francisco Giants | Gary Carter, MON (NL) |
| 1985 | National | 6-1 |
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minnesota Twins | LaMarr Hoyt, SD (NL) |
| 1986 | American | 3-2 |
Astrodome, Houston Astros | Roger Clemens, BOS (AL) |
| 1987 | National | 2-0
(13 innings) |
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland Athletics | Tim Raines, MON (NL) |
| 1988 | American | 2-1 |
Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati Reds | Terry Steinbach, OAK (AL) |
| 1989 | American | 5-3 |
Anaheim Stadium, California Angels | Bo Jackson, KC (AL) |
| 1990 | American | 2-0 |
Wrigley Field, Chicago Cubs | Julio Franco, TEX (AL) |
| 1991 | American | 4-2 |
SkyDome, Toronto Blue Jays | Cal Ripken, Jr., BAL (AL) |
| 1992 | American | 13-6 |
Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego Padres | Ken Griffey Jr., SEA (AL) |
| 1993 | American | 9-3 |
Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore Orioles | Kirby Puckett, MIN (AL) |
| 1994 | National | 8-7
(10 innings) |
Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh Pirates | Fred McGriff, ATL (NL) |
| 1995 | National | 3-2 |
The Ballpark in Arlington, Texas Rangers | Jeff Conine, FLA (NL) |
| 1996 | National | 6-0 |
Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia Phillies | Mike Piazza, LA (NL) |
| 1997 | American | 3-1 |
Jacobs Field, Cleveland Indians | Sandy Alomar, CLE (AL) |
| 1998 | American | 13-8 |
Coors Field, Colorado Rockies | Roberto Alomar, BAL (AL) |
| 1999 | American | 4-1 |
Fenway Park, Boston Red Sox | Pedro Martinez, BOS (AL) |
| 2000 | American | 6-3 |
Turner Field, Atlanta Braves | Derek Jeter, NYY (AL) |
| 2001 | American | 4-1 |
Safeco Field, Seattle Mariners | Cal Ripken, Jr., BAL (AL) |
| 2002 | TIE | 7-7
(11 innings) |
Miller Park, Milwaukee Brewers | None selected. |
| 2003 | American | 7-6 |
U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago White Sox | Garret Anderson, ANA (AL) |
| 2004 | American | 9-4 |
Minute Maid Park, Houston Astros | Alfonso Soriano, TEX (AL) |
Future schedule host teams
The rotation between AL and NL parks has been broken to allow for more new stadiums to be featured. This has come with minimal controversy, mainly because the average fan does not know what stadium will host the all-star game two years from the present.
Among the cities in the running for 2008's all-star game are St. Louis, San Diego, Anaheim (whose stadium was so completely transformed in the late 90's and early 2000's that some people almost consider it a whole new entity), Philadelphia and Phoenix. Washington and Tampa Bay are also possibilities.
ja:オールスターゲーム (MLB)
