If your are a true fan of baseball you know very well what the Midsummer Classic is. The 2016 MLB All Star Game and Home Run Derby took place this past week and boy, was it fun to watch. Not only did we see a record-breaking home run total from Giancarlo Stanton but also a classic baseball game between the best of each league. Which made me start to think of what are my favorite moments of watching the MLB All Star Game. Well that is what this article is all about my favorite moments from past All Star games.
10. Pedro dominates again
Let's start off with one of the most dominating performances of All Star Game History. Pedro Martinez started for the American League in Fenway Park in 1999. It was the third time that Boston was able to host the Mid Summer Classic. Pedro Martinez, at that time, had 15 wins already in the first half and wanted to showcase how he got there in front of the Fenway Faithful. Pedro Martinez became the first man to strike out all three of the first batters faced in an All Star game.
9. Farewell, old friend.
In 2008 it was the final year in the old Yankee Stadium, as they were in the process of moving across the street for the next season, but not before one more bang in the old one. Since the New York Yankees failed to make the postseason that year, having the All Star Game there was almost like having the World Series there. Some familiar faces were being cheered like A-Rod and Jeter, and there was some more booing for players like Big Papi and Manny Ramirez. The 2008 MLB All Star Game in New York would be the longest All Star Game played ever at 4 hours and 50 minutes. It also tied the 1967 MLB All Star game record of 15 innings played.
8. Hunter steals from Bonds.
Coming in at number eight is a very light-hearted moment. If you have ever watched baseball, you'll notice most of MLB players are still like little kids. They love to play the game the right way and have fun while doing it, and in 2002 there was a moment that was just that. Barry Bonds helped his team go to the 2002 World Series, but before that he would have to enjoy the festivities of the All Star Game. And when I say festivities, I mean when you hit the ball to right center field, you expect it to go out of the park like you have done so many times before. Well that would have happened if Torii Hunter wasn't playing center field and robbed him for the final out in the first inning. Of course Bond had to pick up Torii, have a laugh about it and send him on his way but it sure is a moment that if you watched it you wouldn't forget.
7. It really matters now.
For so long, the All Star Game was just that a game. It show cased what the best can do without any real reward. Until then, commissioner Bud Selig said we needed to change this and added the stipulation that the winner of the All Star game would have home field advantage. So in 2003, it made it into a real baseball game. The National League was two innings away from winning and helping whomever won the National League Pennant secure home field advantage. That is, until a pinch hitter came in and stole the game from the National League. Hank Blalock came in with a runner on down by one and hit a two-run Home-run to give the American league a one-run lead and the win.
6. Chipper's Final Stand
In 2012, one of the best players for the Atlanta Braves said that he was going to call it quits at the end of the season, but not until one more final All Star appearance. For most of his career, he lost more All Star Games than he won. In his final game, he didn't lead on the field, but his speech that he made before the game helped lead the National League to a victory. It just reminded us of how much of a leader he has been for the Braves and all of baseball.
5. Big Papi's Final Stand
As we all know by now all good things have to come to an end. Even the career of one of the best postseason hitters of all time David Ortiz. His final All Star Game was this past week. And by looking at him right now you could not tell that it is his final season. The way that he is playing seems like he could have at least one or two more seasons in him, but he is choosing to walk away on his terms like the way that he has played his terms. I can't wait to see what this postseason will have in store for him.
4. It ends how?
Even though we already talked about a part of this All Star Game already we will talk about it again. There have only been two ties in MLB All Star Game history; the first in 1961 in Fenway Park, before the All Star Game didn't have much meaning, and in 2002. It was because of this All Star Game that we have the home-field advantage rule. Then commissioner Bud Selig saw this game and realized he did not want another All Star Game to end in a controversy. The next season he made it abundantly clear that from here on out, it will matter for the fans and for the players. And ever since then it has. Thank you Bud Selig.
Now I have to take a quick minute to warn you that there maybe tears in the next few. I have saved these for last. The las few have had so many great moments in the game and almost always saved their best for the All Star Game. I hope that you enjoy.
3. Ain't Mo-body better than him.
In 2012 we thought that we saw the last of Mariano Rivera when he went down with a knee injury. We had hoped it wasn't so, and it wasn't. But the beginning of the 2013 season he had said that it would be his final year. And boy, it was a tear jerker. His final game that he pitched at Yankee Stadium left no one with a dry face, and when he went to his final All Star Game the spotlight was all his. When he left the bullpen and came out to his theme song sung by Metallica "Enter Sandman" and was alone on the mound, you could tell he had one more great thing in him. In his final All Star Game he really did "exit light, enter night."
2. Who else?
I think that it is only fitting that number two is the man that wears number two. Derek Jeter in 2014 called it a career just like his former teammate did in the previous year. He was the Lone Man from the Core Four when the New York Yankees dominated the 90s and the early 2000s. It was only fitting that the team that hosted the All Star Game in Minnesota where he has dominated as a hitter would be the final place that he would make his final All Star appearance.
1. The Man with a Thousand Stances
What can you say about MLB's first Iron Man? This man was the ambassador for the sport. Cal Ripken, Jr. had one of his greatest moments of his career in his first at bat with a lead-off home run. How many times can you say in your life, "My first at-bat in my last All Star Game, I homered." Not too many can say that. But Cal can.
