Many sports fans in York County will be sitting in front of their television sets tonight watching the Major League Baseball All-Star game and enjoying an evening of baseball’s stars playing what should be an exhibition game that counts for nothing but pride.
Unfortunately, MLB in 2002 decided to make this annual summer game count for something after the fans’ uproar in the aftermath of that year’s 7-7 tie. The game ended in the 11th inning when the National League and American League squads ran out of pitchers. The managers for the teams met with the umpires, and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig chose to end the game there.
The next day, fans from across the world voiced their displeasure and were outraged that the game ended in a tie. Baseball reacted and decided that every All-Star game will count: The league that wins earns home-field advantage for its representative in the World Series.
It is time for MLB to rid itself of this absurd decision. The All-Star game is one of the most beloved of all the major sports all-star contests and should remain a contest of jovial spirit, not one that can affect the eventual winner of the World Series. It should remain as a true exhibition of the game’s stars playing for the fans.
Prior to 2002, none of the games had ever ended in a tie, as the players played for league pride. There is nothing wrong with playing for pride and pride alone.
Yes, the All-Star game remains fun to watch and the players enjoy themselves prior to the contest with the home run derby, and fans are treated to retired stars returning to play in their own all-star contest. Knowing that the winner earns its league representative an advantage in the World Series, however, takes a little bit of this good feeling away.
The All-Star game will forever be a classic contest where the best baseball players in the world compete for one night against each other. It’s a chance for fans to watch matchups that normally don’t occur during the regular season. It’s fun to see one league’s best hitter square off against the other league’s best pitcher, which usually doesn’t happen during the regular season unless the teams meet during interleague play. If the game ends in a tie, then it should be OK, as it is only an exhibition. But that’s not the case any more, and it is a shame that this game counts for something. The All-Star game is about fun. The other 162 games during the regular season are the ones that count, and yes they are also fun and entertaining, but the midsummer classic is special.
It has been played since 1933, with the American League winning 4-2 that year. Amazing memories have been created since then with game-winning home runs, standout pitching performances, out-of-this-world defensive plays and so on. Players on each winning team always looked happy to be on the winning side, earning a year of bragging rights, which is all that is truly needed for this special event.
Ӣ Ӣ Ӣ
Today’s editorial was written by Sports Editor Al Edwards on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
