The MLB All Star Game happened on Tuesday night. Indeed, it is a happening, as the best stars in baseball celebrate the game in July, in the middle of the season, for two glorious days, then return to the rigors of the long season to determine a champion.
Unlike other all star contests, this game is played harder—even if it is for sheer entertainment. How can it not be when pitchers are throwing at 100+ m.p.h., trying to strike out an array of sluggers who are household names?
I fell in love with this game as a child. Then again, I have loved baseball since I was a child. And still do.
At all levels of competitive baseball, there are all star teams. I was fortunate to make two squads in Highland Park, participating in one game against Jamesburg (we lost). It meant the world to me to be among the best in my small town.
Think how that must feel for those who excel at the highest levels and are selected to represent their particular league in the All Star Game. To borrow an advertising slogan from Master Card: “Priceless.” For good reason.
While gifted with superior athletic talent, the inner child comes out quickly for those chosen to participate. The need to compete is always present, yet they smile and joke with their opponents when on the base paths, at bat or on the mound. Who wouldn’t be happy to be there—with the best of the best?
It isn’t about the money—only a few players have All Star Game clauses in their contracts and the winning team players only receive about $25,000 for the game. It’s the accomplishment and the accolades that accompany such a feat. Which is what a player relishes.
There are always a few moments in a game which are noteworthy. First, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes, one year removed from pitching for LSU, became the first top pick from the preceding draft to start in the ASG. He has earned this start in just 11 MLB appearances, where he has taken baseball by storm, including his last start, seven innings of no hit ball.
Skenes faced the top of the AL order. While he easily sat down Cleveland’s Steve Kwan, the leading hitter for average this season, and M.V.P. candidate Gunnar Henderson from Baltimore, he ran into difficulty with the Yankees’ Juan Soto.
Fans were hoping for a chance to see Skenes face New York slugger Aaron Judge in a mano-a-mano matchup. 100 m.p.h. velocity versus Triple Crown-type power. That was only going to happen if Soto reached base.
Soto, with one of the best batting eyes in baseball, had virtually guaranteed that this matchup would eventuate. And he made good on his promise by drawing a base on balls from the Pirates’ pitcher in a tough at bat.
Alas, we didn’t get to see much. Judge swung on the first pitch he saw and grounded to third base to end the inning. Still, we were treated to Skenes showing on the national spotlight he is simply that good. Of course, we were able to see his diminutive girlfriend, LSU gymnast/influencer Livvy Dunne, cheer him on.
The star for the National League notwithstanding Skenes was Shohei Ohtani. The former Angels pitcher/outfielder, now wearing Dodger Blue, was the NL designated hitter. In the third inning, he ended his home run drought in the Midsummer Classic by belting a 400 foot homer off Tanner Houck of Boston to put the NL up by 3-0. With that majestic swat, Ohtani became the first player to be the winning pitcher in an All Star Game and subsequently collect a home run. Don’t be surprised if the Japanese star adds a win as a pitcher for the National League in the future.
Remember that guy Soto, who the Yankees traded for and who may be testing the free agency market at the end of the season, regardless of how the Yankees fare? He had a blast with Judge, his new bestie, when miked up in the field. He prevented a double by quickly retrieving a base hit with a rocket throw to second base.
That wasn’t enough. In the bottom of the third inning, Texas’ Marcus Semien singled and Kwan drew a walk. Henderson was retired and up stepped Soto. He lined a hit to center field and surprised the NL by taking second when the toss was slow in coming back to the infield. Suddenly it was 3-2 NL. Judge again grounded out to third. Local kid David Fry, representing Cleveland, drove in Soto with a single in his first ASG place appearance and it was 3-3. Soto’s double and 2 R.B.I. placed him with names like Jeter, DiMaggio and Gehrig who did the same. All with a great grin on his face.
The American League won the game 5-3 courtesy of a two run homer from Boston’s Jarren Duran in his first ASG at bat. Duran was named M.V.P.
All totaled, there were 32 first time players at the 2024 All Star Game. They were there along with the hoi polloi like Soto, Judge, Jose Ramirez, Bryce Harper and Chris Sale, among others.
Wins leader Philadelphia placed seven on the NL team. The Dodgers had six on the squad and San Diego put five on the roster. Cleveland and Kansas City led the AL team with 5 and 4, respectively. Baltimore had the opening AL battery with Corbin Burnes starting and Adley Rutschman catching him. Kansas City duplicated that later with Salvatore Perez catching and both Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo on the mound.
AL pitchers recorded nine strikeouts, with flame throwers Mason Miller, Kirby Yates and Emanuel Clase each string out two batters. Oakland’s Miller was the winning pitcher while Hunter Greene from Cincinnati suffered the loss. San Diego’s Robert Suarez faced two hitters and set them down on strikes in an impressive eight pitch effort. Both teams threw plenty of strikes. While the AL won, the team only had five hits compared to ten by the NL.
Was this a masterpiece All Star Game? Hardly. I had thoughts about Willie Mays, in my mind, the quintessential player in All Star Game history. I didn’t see him enough in the regular season, and I was way too young to see him in his New York prime.
But I did see him on the national stage year after year in the All Star Game. Mays would terrorize pitchers with his strong batting, then go wild on the base paths or defensively come up with gem after gem.
At my first baseball game at Yankee Stadium, I heard teens arguing over who was the greatest center fielder in baseball—the Yankees’ Mickey Mantle; Brooklyn’s Duke Snider; or Mays of the Giants. It was a heated discussion which I only had Mantle as my frame of reference, so I knew no better.
Watching the All Star Game annually and twice from 1959 through 1962, I was able to see Mays excel. As much Mantle was beloved, he was the best switch hitter and my childhood favorite Yankee. Willie Mays was the best centerfielder ever and his name resonated with the greats of all time—Ruth, Gehrig, Williams, Aaron.
I still watch the All Star Game with great interest. This year was a little bit sadder with the recent passing of such a legend.
One last thought. With so many new players in this year’s contest, the thought crossed my mind as to how many will remain with their original franchise. In researching the topic, 190 players all time have remained with their team for their entire careers. Twenty-six names are Yankees. Thirteen active players are with their only team for more than 10 years and three were All Stars—Jose Altuve, who was injured; Perez from Kansas City; and Cleveland’s Ramirez. In this day of free agency and trade deadlines, that’s amazing. How many in the group which played will add to that number is small and will be determined. Remember—Mays, Aaron and Ruth did not stay with their original teams.
On that note, it is on to Trust Park in suburban Atlanta for the 2025 game. You know I will be watching. I am a MLB All Star Game addict.
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