MLB Announces First Ever All-Star Game
The MLB All-Star Game is a staple of the regular season, a chance to see the best in the game face off in an exhibition. On this day in 1933, the first ever All-Star Game was announced as part of the World’s Fair in Chicago.
It is difficult to imagine an MLB season without the All-Star Game. It has become a staple in the minds of fans, a chance to watch the best that the game has to offer that season go head to head in an exhibition during the dog days of July. Before interleague play, it was the only chance people had to watch the best of the American League face off against their National League counterparts.
However, prior to 1933, the All-Star Game did not exist. Major League Baseball, in the form that we know it, had been around for over thirty years. Yet, until the exhibition was announced on this day, as a part of the World’s Fair in Chicago, the only overlap between the leagues came in the Fall Classic.
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The game, which was scheduled for July 6 at Comiskey Park, proved to be something to behold. With the rosters being voted on by the fans, 24 of the game’s 36 players would end up in the Hall of Fame. Babe Ruth and Frankie Frisch each hit home runs, and Lefty Grove earned the victory in the American League’s eventual 4-2 victory.
With few exceptions, the All-Star Game has been a yearly extravaganza, even happening twice a year in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. There have been some truly memorable moments in the game, from Pete Rose bowling over Ray Fosse to Carl Hubbell striking out five consecutive Hall of Famers to Cal Ripken hitting a home run in his final All-Star Game at bat. It has become quite the event, and the perfect celebration of the game.
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Of all the All-Star Games, the MLB has the best one going. On this day in 1933, the idea to play the first game was announced, setting in motion a truly special event each year.