All-Star Explanation for Brits
At my disposal in my role at WANdisco is the profound knowledge of my colleague and cultural sage, Rob.
Asking about the point of the All-Star game in Baseball, he explained about mid-season breaks, and the rest of his answer was worth republishing:
Anyway, back to the All-Star game. Until the 90’s the American League just played other American League teams and same with the National League.
Only the Allstar game and the World Series had players from each league playing each other. So the All-Star game is the best players from the first half of this season for the AL playing the best players from the NL.
Players used to select the starters and the manager of each team (the manager from the previous year’s 2 world series teams) picked the reserves.
Now, fans vote the starters and it’s a big popularity contest. SOmeone like BigPapi would go even if he’s not playing the best
But, it’s an exhibition.
Means nothing…. UNTIL
ALLSTAR GATE! 1998 or 1999.
The game went 13 innnings and both managers were trying to get everyone into the game. They are real sensitive about using pitchers too hard because the last thing they want is an injury in this exhibition
So, after 13 innings, the managers didn’t want to throw the current pitchers anymore and had run out. The commissioner was in a box down by the field and the umps went over and they called the game a tie!
We are Americans. We don’t do ties. That’s for Canadians and hockey and the rest of the world and futbol
HUGE Uproar. So the spineless commissioner then changed it so that the home field in the world Series (7 game series one team hosts 4 times the other 3) goes to the league winning the allstar game.
Silly. Thanks Rob 
