History Of The Midsummer Classic In The Bay Area

When Major League Baseball puts out the ceremonies and festivities for their All Star Game, no other American sports leagues can compare to the show of the Midsummer Classic.

For years, the MLB All Star week celebration has been a showcase for memorable plays, memorable homers and memorable ceremonies. When it comes to great unforgettable moments, Major League Baseball does it right. So as the All Star Game comes around this week, let's take a look back at the All Star Games that were held in the Bay Area.

 

July 11, 1961: Candlestick Park (San Francisco Giants)

Attendance: 44,115
National League defeats American League 5-4 (First of two All Star Games that year. Other played in Fenway Park).
Winning pitcher: Stu Miller (San Francisco Giants)
Losing pitcher: Hoyt Wilhelm (Baltimore Orioles)
MVP: None. MVP Awards were not given until 1962.
Giants All Stars: OF Orlando Cepeda, OF Willie Mays, P Mike McCormick, P Stu Miller
A's All Stars (Kansas City): 3B Dick Howser
Boxscore
Game Summary: The National League maintained a 3-1 lead into the top of the ninth only to have the American League tie the score as Candlestick's trademark winds began to kick up. In the top of the tenth the American League took a 4-3 lead, but the National League came back against the knuckleball master Hoyt Wilhelm. Hank Aaron singled, went to second on a passed ball and tied it on Willie Mays' double. Then, Wilhelm hit Frank Robinson putting runners at first and second. Pirate legend Roberto Clemente singled to right, scoring Mays with the winning run.

 

July 10, 1984: Candlestick Park (San Francisco Giants)

Attendance: 57,756
National League defeats American League 3-1
Winning pitcher: Charlie Lea (Montreal Expos)
Losing pitcher: Dave Stieb (Toronto Blue Jays)
Save: Goose Gossage (San Diego Padres)
MVP: C Gary Carter (Montreal Expos)
Giants All Stars: C Bob Brenly, OF Chili Davis
A's All Stars: P Bill Caudill, OF Rickey Henderson
Boxscore | Photo Gallery
Game Summary: After that devastating loss to the American League the year before, the Nationals were determined to get back on the winning track. Unlike the American League scoring derby that took place the year before, pitching was the talent showcased in this game.

There were fifty-four All-Star Games to date and only four times in it's history had a pitcher struck out the entire side. This year Fernando Valenzuela, Dwight Gooden, and Bill Caudill all accomplished the feat to guarantee the National League's victory.

The National League scored in the first as Steve Garvey singled and went to second when Reggie Jackson misplayed the ball. Dale Murphy followed with a single to left and Garvey headed for home, bowling over Lance Parrish at the plate for a 1-0 lead. George Brett tied it with a home run in the top of the second and the National League went ahead again on Gary Carter's homer in the bottom of the inning. After that, it was all pitching and another National League win.

 

July 14, 1987: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (Oakland Athletics)

Attendance: 49,671
National League defeats American League 2-0
Winning pitcher: Lee Smith (Chicago Cubs)
Losing pitcher: Jay Howell (Oakland Athletics)
Save: Sid Fernandez (New York Mets)
MVP: OF Tim Raines (Montreal Expos)
Giants All Stars: OF Jeffrey Leonard
A's All Stars: P Jay Howell, 1B Mark McGwire
Boxscore
Game Summary: Ozzie Virgil singled to center. Lee Smith struck out trying to bunt and Hubie Brooks singled Virgil to second. Willie McGee flied out and Tim Raines drilled his third hit of the game, a two-run triple to left-center.

For the National League, the dominant pitchers were Mike Scott, Rick Sutcliffe, Orel Hershiser, Rick Reuschel, John Franco, Steve Bedrosian, Lee Smith and Sid Fernandez.

For the American League, it was Bret Saberhagen, Jack Morris, Mark Langston, Dan Plesac, Dave Righetti and Tom Henke.

The so-called "power hitters" from both leagues were being shut down repeatedly and the fans were beginning to get disappointed in their weak performances at the plate. Many missed the excitement of homeruns and scoring derbies that were supposed take place during the meetings of the league's top sluggers. The pitchers on the other hand, weren't complaining.

 

July 10, 2007: AT&T Park (San Francisco Giants)

Attendance: 43,965
American League defeats National League 5-4
Winning pitcher: Josh Beckett (Boston Red Sox)
Losing pitcher: Chris Young (San Diego Padres)
Save: Francisco Rodriguez (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)
MVP: OF Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle Mariners)
Giants All Stars: OF Barry Bonds,
A's All Stars: P Dan Haren
Boxscore | Photo Gallery
Game Summary: The American League outslugged and outlasted the senior circuit yet again to win home field advantage in the 2007 World Series. An incentive Torii Hunter said isn't necessary, "We're competitors. You don't have to put the World Series on the end of that. We're going to play hard anyway."

Ichiro Suzuki played hard and provided us with an eternal memory, similar to the Fred Lynn first Midsummer Classic grand slam of 1978, when he hit a fifth inning drive off the quirky, yet charming right field wall to record the first ever inside-the-park home run in All-Star history.

 

Breaking down the uniforms and logos of the 2010 All Star Game in Anaheim

 

In recent years, Major League Baseball has done a real nice job in branding the All Star Game jerseys for the players. Each year, teams from the American and National League are given jerseys in the host team's colors. The designs on the uniforms depict an image associated to the host team or the host city. These All Star Game jerseys will be on display at tonight's Home Run Derby.

Here's a look at the previous designs from 2009 (St. Louis), 2008 (New York Yankees), 2007 (San Francisco).

This year, the halos of the Anaheim Angels can be seen in nearly everything connected to the All Star Game.

The American League uniform and the National League uniform will both feature the infamous halo on the front of the jersey with the All Star logo as a patch on the left sleeve. Here is a look at the AL and NL caps. These All Star uniform designs are based off of the current template of batting practice jerseys for every major league team. These templates change every couple years.

The font used for the All Star Game logo is the exact same font that the Angels use for their logo. And since the Angels play in Anaheim, Disney is required to get involved.

There are at least nine different logos associated with the All Star game, including the Home Run Derby logo. You can look through the other eight and every MLB All Star logo here.

The All Star jerseys will not be worn during the actual game itself; they are reserved for the Home Run Derby and the batting practices. The American League players will wear the home whites of their team; the National League players will wear the road grays. Each player will have the All Star Logo on their cap and one of their sleeves. The logo patch should be this one.

I hope you all enjoy the Home Run Derby on tonight and the All Star Game on Tuesday.

If you want to get a little more geeky with uniforms, count how many players wear white cleats during the Home Run Derby and the All Star Game. The Oakland Athletics are the only team in the majors that wear white shoes as part of their uniform. However, during the All Star Game, some players from other teams take this as an opportunity to wear a new pair of cleats that they can't wear anytime else during the season.