What made the All-Star Game so noteworthy in the 1960s and ’70s was the specific identities of the American League and National League.
Players like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente were identified as quintessential National League baseball players, and when they stepped onto the field in an All-Star game, they wanted to win for their league just as they wanted to win for the Giants, Braves and Pirates, respectively, during the regular season.
American League players like Al Kaline, Carl Yastrzemski and Reggie Jackson were clearly identified with their league as well, and they wanted to win just as much as the National Leaguers. However, they simply did not have anything close to the talent level of their National League counterparts.
The game has changed so much since those memorable days. Free agency and interleague play are two of the major factors that have taken away or dulled each league’s specific identity.
As Mike Trout and Josh Donaldson lead the American League into the All-Star Game and Bryce Harper and Buster Posey do the same for the National League, is there the same feeling of league pride on either side?
Former major league commissioner Bud Selig came to the conclusion that neither side had the inspiration to compete in the All-Star Game the way it once did. As a result, Major League Baseball attached home-field advantage to winning in the All-Star Game.
This innovation, which came about after the infamous 7-7 tie in the 2002 edition, has been widely ridiculed since then. Since managers are trying to get as many players in the game as possible, which often seems to be the top priority, the critics have a point.
However, home-field advantage merely alternated back and forth between the two leagues prior to the Selig decision. Home-field advantage in playoff games in the NFL and postseason series in the NBA and NHL go to teams that earned the best regular-season records.
Baseball never went that way, so Major League Baseball never lost anything.
Some of the juice has returned to the All-Star game, and while it may not be at the same level as it was when Mays was running circles around the American League and Johnny Bench was blasting long home runs, fans will get a chance to see the best players in each league attempt to put their imprints on the sport and win for their leagues on Tuesday night.
It may not be perfect, but it is quite a bit better than what the NBA and NHL offer and miles better than the NFL’s weak link of a Pro Bowl.
When: Tuesday, July 14
Where: Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati
TV: Fox
Ticket Info: Score Big
Broadcast Start Time: 7 p.m. ET
Game Time: 8 p.m. ET
History
There have been three major chapters written as the 86th All-Star Game gets ready to take center stage.
The American League dominated in the early years of the game, winning 12 of the first 16. However, that changed in 1950, when the National League began to turn things around. From that year through 1982, the National League was nearly unbeatable, rolling off a 30-5-1 streak.
The American League rebounded with a memorable 13-3 triumph in Chicago’s Comiskey Park in 1983, and the Junior Circuit has pulled off an impressive 22-9-1 run heading into the 2015 game. The AL has often had the more talented starting lineups and greater depth since the 1983 game, which may be the case again this year.
The National League lineup features slumping rookie Joc Pederson (.230, 20 HR, 40 RBI) of the Los Angeles Dodgers and second baseman DJ LeMahieu (.311, 4, 35) of the Colorado Rockies in the eighth and ninth spots. Those two could be weak spots for National League manager Bruce Bochy, even though Pederson was impressive in the Home Run Derby.
The American League has Kansas City shortstop Alcides Escobar (.290, 2, 33) in the ninth spot; he does not measure up with the other Junior Circuit starters.
The bigger advantage could come off the bench. The American League is going to be able to bring in difference-makers like Manny Machado (.298, 19, 48), Stephen Vogt (.287, 14, 56), Jason Kipnis (.323, 6, 37), Prince Fielder (.339, 14, 54) and J.D. Martinez (.289, 25, 59).
The National League will try to counter with Yadier Molina (.284, 2, 32), Adrian Gonzalez (.283, 18, 55), Nolan Arenado (.293, 24, 70) and Justin Upton (.253, 14, 48).
The pitching appears to be relatively even on both sides, with Chris Sale (157 K, 2.72 ERA, 0.947 WHIP) of the Chicago White Sox having had the most impressive first half thanks to his consistent ability to strike out top-level hitters.
Prediction: American League 7, National League 5
MVP: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI). Trout will become the first player to win back-to-back All-Star MVP awards.
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