Guess who hit the first home run in All Star Game history back in 1933? Hint: He had a reputation for the compulsive pursuit of food, drink, women, and some of the mightiest home runs ever swatted by an unofficial sultan of same.
When Chicago Tribune sports editor Arch Ward came up with the idea for an annual All Star Game to be played between the very best players of the American and National Leagues, it’s doubtful he foresaw the mutations that would change the game from one that players and fans in 1933 really cared about to the watered down event it has become today in 2010.
America changed. So did baseball. Television and population increase were at the heart of it all, but, of course, things never are quite that simple. The spread and growth of new people with new interests over the years has allowed baseball to move teams, expand the number of major league franchises, and to pitch its game to the public far differently – but this market momentum has all taken place in the middle of a much greater and far more diversified competition from other sports and other new leisure-time attractions.
Net effect? With almost twice the number of clubs that existed in 1933 (30 now to 16 then), the Baseball All Star Game has become less of a “best players in baseball” contest and more of a “most popular players from each team” competition.
As an Astros fan, I’m happy that our great defensive center fielder, Michael Bourn, got selected as our team representative, but that fact doesn’t cause me to vacate the belief that there are a number of other guys from other clubs out there who are far more deserving this year than our .260-hitting Astros guy. As good as he is, I don’t even think that Michael Bourn is actually better than pitcher Roy Oswalt at this point in his MLB career. I just think that Oswalt’s poor W-L record from poor hitting support has made him a less popular choice than Bourn, plus the NL does have some good pitchers out there with records that make them more deserving, but I think you get my point, anyway.
The All Star Game is what it is. It’s a break in the pennant race and a chance for fans to watch an exhibition game between some of the best and just about all of the most popular players from each of thirty major league teams. Plus, the home run hitting contest conducted the night prior to the game is still fun to watch as a friendly father-son/daughter playground activity.
It’s just too bad that the outcome of this meaningless recess from the school of pennant race reality has to determine something as important as home team advantage in the World Series!
Commissioner Bud Selig says he made the change in the interest of helping the players and fans care more about the outcome of the All Star Game.
Oh really, Mr. Selig? Is that what you were thinking?
If so, well then – how about making the runner-up in the home run hitting contest seal the deal by kissing the posterior of the winner at home plate during the trophy presentation? An incentive to win built on that level might even get Mark McGwire to come out of retirement to take on all those sluggers from that House of Representatives steroid investigation committee in a special home run hitting contest between him and them only!
And the McGwire-Effect would really make about as much sense as the All Star Game winner does as the determining factor on home field advantage in the World Series.
Tags: All Star Game, Baseball, culture, History
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