Why I Love MLB All-Star Weekend

The NFL and NBA specifically need to watch Major League Baseball players during their All-Star Weekend and learn a few things. From 2003 through 2016, Major League Baseball's winner of the All-Star Game, the team from that league would have home-field advantage in the upcoming World Series. The Collective Bargaining agreement in 2017 ended this rule, which I was not happy about. This game had real meaning and the stars of baseball really cared and tried to win the game. Even though it has ended since, the MLB ASG is still by far the most competitive ASG in professional sports. The NFL has made it a flag football game and the NBA is possibly one more ASG away from getting rid of their ASG entirely.

Mark Sheldon / MLB.com

In my near 20 years of watching sports, baseball was my real first true love. It was a real connection between my father and I. Watching the Phillies and Yankees win titles in back to back years was special for us. Other than just the playoffs and World Series, MLB's All-Star Weekend holds a special place in my heart. The biggest stars of my generation have come and gone and come again into this memorable time in mid-July. Not as much for this Home-Run Derby, but the best of the best have competed and won the derby. Just in the last decade, stars like Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, Giancarlo Stanton, and Juan Soto have took home the trophy. There's been multi-time winners, along with hometown champions. Todd Frazier won in 2015 in Cincinnati and Bryce Harper in 2018 in Washington.

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I love the MLB ASG probably more than most baseball fans. I just love turning on the TV in the middle of summer to watch guys like Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Miguel Cabrera, Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani in their team's regular jerseys show off their talents. Side note, I'm so glad they are brining back players wearing their own team jerseys instead of an all star jersey for the game itself. Some of the most memorable ASG moments for me came in the 2013 ASG at Citi Field in New York. Prince Fielder of all people hit a triple, Brandon Phillips barehanded a throw to first during a double play. Some of the starters in this game included, Trout, Harper, Ortiz, Cabrera, Mauer, Bautista, Molina, Votto, and in his final ASG the greatest relief pitcher/closer ever, Mariano Rivera.

Aaron Judge 2018 ASG HR off Max Scherzer, Patrick McDermott / Getty Images

Us baseball fans may have some issues with All-Star voting and the selection process, and trust me as a Phillies fan I have some serious issues this year, however the MLB for the most part gets their All-Star Weekend right. I cannot wait for next year's game in Philadelphia, and I really hope the stars like Schwarber, Judge and Ohtani decide to compete in the derby together.