To even the average baseball fan, just one look at Tuesday's MLB All-Star Game rosters will reveal an abundance of players from two teams: the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox. The two clubs, who won 52 and 46 games in the first half, sent a combined 13 players to San Diego for the midsummer classic.

The Cubs started their entire infield, composed of Anthony Rizzo, Ben Zobrist, Addison Russell and Kris Bryant. This was the first time the feat was achieved since 1963, when the St. Louis Cardinals also had their whole infield start for the National League. Center fielder Dexter Fowler was also selected to the starting lineup, however he was replaced due to injury. Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester were also selected to the NL pitching staff.

On the American League side, the Red Sox had four players in the starting lineup, headlined by designated hitter David Ortiz, who is enjoying an outstanding final year in the big leagues. He was joined by shortstop Xander Bogaerts, center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. and right fielder Mookie Betts in the starting nine. The perennial AL East power was also represented by knuckleball pitcher Steven Wright and closer Craig Kimbrel, but Kimbrel was replaced due to injury.

Of the 13 players previously listed, 11 of them have one thing in common: they were all acquired to their current team by the same general manager. That man is Theo Epstein, the former Red Sox general manager and current Cubs President of Baseball Operations.

Epstein is a Yale graduate, where he earned a degree in American studies, graduating in 1995. After some time working in the San Diego Padres organization (ironically), he became the youngest general manager in Major League history, signing with the Boston Red Sox in November, 2002.

By 2004, he developed a team that won the franchise's first World Series in 86 years. He acquired David Ortiz in January, 2003, after the Minnesota Twins gave up on the first baseman/designated hitter. Since 2003, Ortiz has now been named to ten All-Star teams while playing on three Red Sox World Series teams (all put together by Epstein). Ortiz will go down as one of the greatest Red Sox players in the storied history of the franchise, and he can forever thank Epstein for a second chance in the MLB. The future Hall of Famer was 0-1 in his final All-Star Game, drawing a walk before receiving a standing ovation from the San Diego crowd.

After winning two World Series in 2004 and 2007, Epstein did some reloading of his roster after nearly a decade at the helm of the Red Sox. In August, 2009, he signed amateur free agent Xander Bogaerts. Bogaerts reached the Major Leagues in 2013 as a 20-year-old, and helped the Red Sox win their third World Series in seven years. The young shortstop was 1-2 in his first All-Star Game, hitting a double off of Jose Fernandez.

Just two years after signing Bogaerts, and two years before the Red Sox won their third World Series in nine years, Epstein again relied on the MLB Draft to find future pieces for his franchise. With the 40th pick of that 2011 draft he selected Jackie Bradley Jr., who was a highly regarded outfielder from the University of South Carolina. In 2013 and 2014, Bradley's first two seasons in the MLB, he hit under .200, looking like a bust. Midway through the 2015 season Bradley became one of the more consistent hitters in the Red Sox lineup. That production carried over into 2016, and Bradley became a first time All-Star. He was 2-2 with two singles on Tuesday night. Later in that 2011 draft, Epstein used a fifth round selection on Mookie Betts. By 2014, Betts as well was in the Red Sox lineup. He became a regular in 2015, having a fantastic year that nearly saw him reach the 20/20 plateau, and made his first All-Star team in 2016. Betts went 1-2 and scored a run in San Diego.

At the conclusion of that 2011 season in which he selected Bradley and Betts, Epstein left the Red Sox. He signed a five year deal with the Chicago Cubs to become their President of Baseball Operations. As in Boston before, Epstein was given the job to construct a team that could break a World Series drought.

In 2010, while still with the Red Sox, Epstein traded highly regarded prospect Anthony Rizzo to the San Diego Padres in a deal for first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Epstein had originally drafted Rizzo to the Red Sox in 2007. After taking the job with Chicago in October of 2011, Epstein made a trade with San Diego to bring Rizzo to Chicago in January 2012. The move has paid off, as Rizzo has been one of the most productive first basemen in the NL since becoming a Cub. In his third All-Star game, and first start, Rizzo was 1-2.

With the second pick of the 2013 MLB Draft, Epstein selected third baseman Kris Bryant from the University of San Diego. Bryant breezed through the minor leagues, reaching the big leagues in April, 2015. He proved he was ready for the MLB, as he won Rookie of the Year, and made the All-Star team. This year Bryant made his second All-Star Game, starting for the first time, and hit a homerun on a fastball from Chris Sale in the first inning.

Just a month after drafting Bryant, and still with a struggling Cubs team, Epstein dealt catcher Steve Clevenger and pitcher Scott Feldman to the Baltimore Orioles. In return he received Pedro Strop, now a solid reliever for the Cubs, and starter Jake Arrieta. Arrieta made just his first All-Star team this year, but he won the Cy Young Award last year in the National League. Since becoming a Cub, Arrieta has won 48 games and thrown two no-hitters. He did not make an appearance on the mound in San Diego.

One year later, in July 2014, Epstein traded Cubs ace Jeff Samardzija and fellow starter Jason Hammel to the Oakland A's for Dan Straily, Billy McKinney and young shortstop Addison Russell. Russell would become a Cub the following spring in 2015, and in his first All-Star Game he went 0-2. Later that year, in December, Epstein signed free agent pitcher Jon Lester to a six-year, $155 million deal. Lester had played under Epstein in Boston, winning two World Series and making two All-Star Games, however he was not originally drafted by Epstein. This year was Lester's fourth All-Star selection overall, and his third under Epstein. He threw 2/3 scoreless innings on Tuesday, allowing just one baserunner, on a walk.

In January 2015 Epstein traded Dan Straily and Luis Valbuena to Houston for center fielder Dexter Fowler. He resigned Fowler in February, 2016, and Fowler responded by making his first All-Star Game in 2016. In December, 2015, Epstein signed veteran utility player Ben Zobrist to a four-year, $56 million contract. Although the move was scrutinized by many, Zobrist became an All-Star for the third time in his career in 2016 and went 0-2 in San Diego.

All of the draft picks, signings and trades can be credited to the mastermind that is Theo Epstein. He can truly be called a baseball genius, as his moves, although questioned by some, have worked everywhere he has gone. He is building winning teams and creating an atmosphere that is helping players become superstars in the MLB.

There's just something about Theo Epstein and the city of San Diego.