The “Midsummer Classic.”
It’s a tradition in Major League Baseball that’s been around since 1933 and from 1959-1962 was even held twice in the same season. It’s a game that has had some absolutely incredible moments and some absolutely forgettable ones. In 2003, the year following a very controversial call by then Commissioner, Bud Selig, to call for a 7-7 tie in the 2002 game held in Milwaukee, the league decided to add more incentive to the tradition and allow home field advantage in the World Series to the league who wins the All Star Game. This would greatly change the tide of the Series as the AL would take advantage and win seven straight championships between 2003-2009 before the San Francisco Giants broke the streak with their 2010 championship, the first of three titles over the following five years for the Giants.
Fast forward to 2016.
This season’s game will have 11 players making their All Star debut between the two leagues, with the NL seven Chicago Cubs and the AL dominated by Boston Red Sox. For the first time since the 1963 Cardinals, an entire infield is made up of one team’s All Stars in the NL with 1B Anthony Rizzo, 2B Ben Zobrist, SS Addison Russell, and 3B Kris Bryant all representing the Cubs as starters. In the outfield, the Cubs will have Dexter Fowler starting, as well, with pitchers Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester making the NL’s pitching staff. Rounding out the NL’s infield is San Francisco Giants catcher, Buster Posey, Met’s outfielder, Yoenis Cespedes, and reigning NL MVP and Nationals outfielder, Bryce Harper.
The rest of the NL roster, reserves and pitchers:
C Jonathan Lucroy, BREWERS
C Wilson Ramos, NATIONALS
1B Paul Goldschmidt, D-BACKS
1B Wil Myers, PADRES
2B Daniel Murphy, NATIONALS
3B Nolan Arenado, ROCKIES
3B Matt Carpenter, CARDINALS
SS Corey Seager, DODGERS
OF Adam Duvall, REDS
OF Carlos Gonzalez, ROCKIES
OF Odubel Herrera, PHILLIES
OF Marcell Ozuna, MARLINS
LHP Madison Bumgarner, GIANTS
RHP Johnny Cueto, GIANTS
RHP Jeurys Familia, METS
RHP Jose Fernandez, MARLINS
RHP Kenley Jansen, DODGERS
LHP Clayton Kershaw, DODGERS
RHP Mark Melancon, PIRATES
RHP A.J. Ramos, MARLINS
RHP Fernando Rodney, MARLINS
RHP Stephen Strasburg, NATIONALS
RHP Noah Syndergaard, METS
RHP Julio Teheran, BRAVES
The American League has three Red Sox starting in the field with outfielders Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr and shortstop Xander Bogaerts while DH David Ortiz is selected to his 10th All Star Game in his final season. They’ll also send closer, Craig Kimbrel to San Diego. The World Champs, Royals, have catcher Salvador Perez starting behind the plate and Eric Hosmer at first. Houston will have second baseman, Jose Altuve, starting and Baltimore has slick-fielding third baseman Manny Machado rounding out the infield. The outfield finishes off with exciting Angels five-tool wizard, Mike Trout in center.
The remainder of the AL reserves and pitchers:
C Stephen Vogt, ATHLETICS
C Matt Wieters, ORIOLES
1B Miguel Cabrera, TIGERS
2B Robinson Cano, MARINERS
3B Josh Donaldson, BLUE JAYS
SS Francisco Lindor, INDIANS
SS Eduardo Nunez, TWINS
OF Carlos Beltran, YANKEES
OF Ian Desmond, RANGERS
OF Mark Trumbo, ORIOLES
DH Edwin Encarnacion, BLUE JAYS
RHP Dellin Betances, YANKEES
RHP Brad Brach, ORIOLES
LHP Zach Britton, ORIOLES
RHP Alex Colome, RAYS
RHP Wade Davis, ROYALS
RHP Marco Estrada, BLUE JAYS
LHP Cole Hamels, RANGERS
RHP Will Harris, ASTROS
RHP Kelvin Herrera, ROYALS
LHP Andrew Miller, YANKEES
RHP Danny Salazar, INDIANS
LHP Chris Sale, WHITE SOX
RHP Steven Wright, RED SOX
The always popular “Final Vote” candidates for each league (voting ends at 4 PM EST on Friday, July 8th) :
NL: 1B Brandon Belt, SF – OF Ryan Braun, MIL – 3B Jake Lamb, ARI – OF Starling Marte, PIT – SS Trevor Story, COL
AL: 2B Ian Kinsler, DET – 3B Evan Longoria, TB – 2B Dustin Pedroia, BOS – OF Michael Saunders, TOR – OF George Springer, HOU
Managers Ned Yost (AL) and Terry Collins (NL) bring their rosters to San Diego for the 87th MLB All Star Game on July 12th with the first pitch set to take place at 7:30 PM EST from Petco Park.
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