History of Baseball's All-Star Game

The Major League Baseball All-Star Game is the game's perennial showcase for the game's best players. The "Midsummer Classic" has seen legends take the field and provide some memorable moments. Every era of the All-Star Game has been dominated and defined by the greats: the pre-war era with Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio; the post-war era with Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays; and the modern era led by Cal Ripken, Nolan Ryan and Gary Carter. All-Star Games since 2000 have seen the rise of players like Derek Jeter write their names into the game's history book.

The First All-Star Game

According to Baseball-Almanac.com, Arch Ward, a sports writer for the Chicago Tribune, is credited with coming up with the idea of an All-Star Game featuring baseball's best players. The first game was held on July 6, 1933, at Chicago's Comiskey Park, home of the White Sox. For the first two All-Star Games, the managers and the fans picked the teams.

Among the legends named to the All-Star teams in that first game were Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx (who, amazingly, never entered the game). It seems only fitting that the first home run in All-Star Game history was hit in that game by Babe Ruth, who was already in the twilight of his career (he would retire two years later). Fellow Yankee Lefty Gomez earned the win as the American League won 4 to 2. Over 49,000 fans took in the game, an impressive number even by today's standards.

Pre-World War II Games (1933 - 1941)

In the years before World War II, the All-Star Game was a popular event, showcasing a number of players who would play on to greatness. Dizzy Dean, Joe DiMaggio, Hank Greenberg and Mel Ott. From 1935 to 1946, the managers picked the players of the teams.

The American League dominated the All-Star Game in the pre-war era, winning six of nine games. A number of memorable moments occurred in this period: in 1935, Jimmie Foxx saw his first action in an All-Star game. Despite being named to the first two AL All-Star teams in 1933 and 1934, the Boston first baseman never got into the game because Lou Gehrig was playing. Foxx made the most of his chance: in his very first at bat, he hit a two-run home run in front of nearly 70,000 fans and earned the game winning RBI in a 4 to 1 win.

In 1939, Yankee Stadium hosted its first All-Star game, and Joe DiMaggio hit a home run in his home park to lead the AL to victory.

World War II Era Games (1942 - 1945)

The attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 would have a profound effect on baseball. A number of major league players would go off to war, including Ted Williams, Bob Feller, Warren Spahn and Yogi Berra. In fact, baseball canceled the 1945 game because so many were at war.

The era did see the All-Star Game debu the likes of Stan Musial, Pee Wee Reese, and Lou Boudreau. The 1942 game was the last All-Star Game to be played at the historic Polo Grounds in New York.

Post World War II Games (1946 - 1969)

All-Star Games after the war were truly representative of this "Golden Age" of baseball. Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Nellie Fox, Mickey Mantle, Duke Snider, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks and Roy Campanella all made their All-Star debuts.

From 1947 to 1957, fans chose the All-Star starters and the mangers picked the reserves. From 1958 to 1969, managers, players and coaches picked the teams.

Ted Williams made his return to baseball--and the All-Star Game--in 1946. His return to the "Midsummer Classic" was a memorable one: he went 4 for 4 with two home runs, including a memorable homer off of Rip Sewell.

In 1949, the race barrier was broken in the All-Star Game when four African Americans, including Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby, made the team.

The 1952 game was memorable for not only being a rain-shortened game, but for being Mickey Mantle's first All-Star game. Mantle, however, never entered the game.

In 1955, Stan Musial hit a home run in extra innings to give the National League the comeback win. Stan "The Man" would play in 20 straight All-Star Games.

From 1959 to 1962, two All-Star Games were held each year, in order to raise money for the player's pension fund. From 1963 to 1985, the National League was dominating; the senior circuit won 20 of 22 games.

Modern Era (1970 - Present Day)

The modern era saw the rise of many future Hall of Famers, many who made their mark in the Midsummer Classic.

In 1970, the fans finally had their say again. Once again, the fans voted for the All-Star starters, with the All-Star managers picking the pitchers and reserves. The 1970 game was a great one, which featured the famous collision at home plate of Pete Rose and Ray Fosse.

In 1989, 42-year-old Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers started the game against 40-year-old Rick Reuschel of the San Fransisco Giants. Ryan got the best of the NL, and Bo Jackson homered to lead the AL to victory.

In 2001, Cal Ripken of the Baltimore Orioles said farewell to baseball and the All-Star Game by homering in his final at bat and winning the MVP trophy.

In 2003, Texas Ranger Hank Blalock homered in his first All-Star at bat in the eighth inning off the usually untouchable Eric Gagne to give the AL the victory.

No matter what year it is, the All-Star Game holds a certain magic, not only for the fans, but for the players themselves.