Robinson Cano’s home run in the top of the 10th propelled the American League to a 2-1 victory over the National League on Tuesday night in Miami. It was the Junior Circuit’s fifth consecutive victory over the Senior Circuit.
Robinson Cano, MVP
The AL has now won 12 of the last 15 contests, thanks to MVPs Robinson Cano, Mike Trout, Eric Hosmer and Mariano Rivera, to name just a few.
But despite the AL’s recent dominance, the overall record of the two teams is 43 wins, 43 losses and two ties. It doesn’t get any more even than that. Imagine that: 88 games and we’re still tied.
Or as Yogi Berri once said, “I always thought that record would stand until it was broken,”
Long-time baseball fans will remember the National League ruled the roost in the 50’s, 60’s, 70′ and most of the 80’s. MVP’s included Maury Wills, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal, Tony Perez and Joe Morgan.
In the early years, the American League was on top, winning 12 of the first 16 games between 1933 and 1949. But the National League won 19 out of 20 times between 1963 and 1982. And now we’re dead even.
This year’s extra inning affair is the 12th in All-Star history. I saw one of those games in person in 1987 at the Oakland Coliseum, when Tim Raines tripled in the 13th inning to give the NL a 2-0 victory.
Most fans don’t know this, but from 1959 – 1962 there were actually two All Star Games, before the leagues reverted to the single game format in 1963.
Every current Major League city has hosted an All Star Game except for St. Petersburg, home of the Tampa Bay Rays. That’s because the domed monstrosity known as Tropicana Field has all the atmosphere of a hospital ward. It is without a doubt, the ugliest ballpark in Major League Baseball.
The Washington National will host next year’s All Star Game, while the 2019 game will be played in Cleveland’s Progressive Field.
