The All Star Game has been played since 1933, originally planned as a one time show piece. However, it was so successful that Major League baseball decided to do it every year, which it has annually (except 1945). It even staged two of them from 1959 through 1962. In the beginning the National League won most of the games, but since 1996 it's generally been the American League. Some say that it is because of the designated hitter used by the American League but not the National League. That is possible, since each roster would have an additional hitter. However, I prefer tradition and insist that the pitcher come up to bat like the position players.
In 2008 the game was played in Yankee Stadium, in the Stadium's final year. New York City went absolutely hog wild over it, and had a parade of Hall of Famers and the All Star Players, and also commissioned an artist to create 42 (in honor of Jackie Robinson) miniature Statues of Liberty that were painted in baseball themed colors and placed around New York City. The colors were broken down as follows:
- the 30 current teams (with an extra one for the host - the Yankees);
- the 2 teams that headed for California in 1958 (Dodgers & Giants);
- the two New York Ballparks;
- the American and National Leagues;
- four commemorating the All Star Game;
- one in tribute to the artist himself.
There was also a parade on 6th Avenue on July 15, 2008, the day of the game. Marching up (or actually being driven up in Chevrolet Pickups) were most of the living members of the Hall of Fame, as well as the All Stars themselves. I got to see most of the Hall of Famers, as well as the manager, coaches and some of the players of the American League squad.
New York City has hosted the All Star game before.
- 1939
Yankee Stadium
- 1942Polo Grounds
- 1949Ebbets Field
- 1960Yankee Stadium
- 1964Shea Stadium
- 1977Yankee Stadium
The American League has won the contest each time since 1997 (except for a tie in 2003). The next page has pictures of the Statues on Parade that I took.
