The All-Star game may have been imposed on Major League Baseball by Chicago Tribune sports editor Arch Ward in 1933, but the popular Midsummer Classic remains an enjoyable part of the game for fans.
Interesting Facts about the MLB All-Star game: No. 1
For four seasons, 1959-1962, MLB held two All-Star games. The National League won five of the eight games while the American League won two. One game officially ended as a tie, 1-1, when rain ended the game after nine innings of play.
Interesting Facts about the MLB All-Star game: No. 2
The second, and last, All-Star game to end in a tie was in 2002. The controversial game ended after 11 innings when both sides ran out of available pitchers.
Interesting Facts about the MLB All-Star game: No. 3
For at least a dozen times a son has followed in his father’s footsteps by being named to the All-Star roster. It most recently happened in 2010 when Nick Swisher was picked for the American League team. His father played on the National League team in 1976.
Interesting Facts about the MLB All-Star game: No. 4
There have even been a handful of times when brothers played together on the same team. Dixie and Harry Walker did it twice — once in 1943 and again in 1947. Brothers have played on opposite teams too. Aaron and Bret Boone did it in 2003.
Interesting Facts about the MLB All-Star game: No. 5
Only one athlete has been named an All-Star in two American sports: MLB and the NFL — Bo Jackson.
Interesting Facts about the MLB All-Star game: No. 6
Even though the 1967 game lasted 15 innings, it was not as long as the 2008 game, which also lasted 15 innings. The 2008 game took nearly five hours to complete.
Interesting Facts about the MLB All-Star game: No. 7
Using the game to determine home field advantage for the World Series is relatively new. In 2003, MLB and the Players agreed to a two-year trial to test the idea. The trial was extended and is still in effect today.
Interesting Facts about the MLB All-Star game: No. 8
Although there has only been one grand slam hit in an All-Star game (by Red Sox Fred Lynn), there have been plenty of home runs. The player with the most career All-Star home runs is Cardinals Stan Musial with six.
Interesting Facts about the MLB All-Star game: No. 9
Musial is also one of only three players to play in 24 All-Star games. Willie Mays and Hank Aaron are the other two. Mays, though, holds the record for most at-bats with 75.
Interesting Facts about the MLB All-Star game: No. 10
Only two players have ground into three double plays in their All-Star career: Cincinnati Reds Pete Rose and New York Yankee Joe DiMaggio. But, Bobby Richardson has the distinction of being the only player to ground into two double plays in one game (1963).
Although not a record, this year’s game (and the World Series) is the first time the game can be watched digitally on mobile devices as MLB tries to grow its audience.
Sources:
Major League Baseball All-Star Game History
Baseball Almanac: All-Star Game
