MLB All-Star Game Fast Facts | CNN

MLB All-Star Game Fast Facts

CNN Editorial Research
3 minute read
Updated 9:27 AM EDT, Wed August 10, 2022
Legendary baseball player Babe Ruth takes a swing during the 1934 All-Star Game. The game was played at the Polo Grounds in New York.
Legendary baseball player Babe Ruth takes a swing during the 1934 All-Star Game. The game was played at the Polo Grounds in New York.
Irving Haberman/IH Images/Getty Images
Joe DiMaggio, right, congratulates Ted Williams after Williams' ninth-inning homer won the All-Star Game for the American League in 1941.
Joe DiMaggio, right, congratulates Ted Williams after Williams' ninth-inning homer won the All-Star Game for the American League in 1941.
AP
American League manager Connie Mack, left, and National League manager John McGraw play a sandlot "hand-over-hand" game to determine which team would bat first in the 1933 All-Star Game.
American League manager Connie Mack, left, and National League manager John McGraw play a sandlot "hand-over-hand" game to determine which team would bat first in the 1933 All-Star Game.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
US President Franklin D. Roosevelt throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the All-Star Game in Washington in 1937. Many Presidents have thrown out the first pitch at the All-Star Game.
US President Franklin D. Roosevelt throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the All-Star Game in Washington in 1937. Many Presidents have thrown out the first pitch at the All-Star Game.
Universal Images Group via Getty
Future Hall of Famers Ernie Banks, left, and Mickey Mantle talk before the All-Star Game in Baltimore in 1958. That year, both were leading their respective leagues in home runs.
Future Hall of Famers Ernie Banks, left, and Mickey Mantle talk before the All-Star Game in Baltimore in 1958. That year, both were leading their respective leagues in home runs.
Pictorial Parade/Getty Images
Pete Rose collides with catcher Ray Fosse as he scores the winning run in the 12th inning of the 1970 All-Star Game. Both players were injured. Rose was criticized by some for playing so aggressively in an exhibition game.
Pete Rose collides with catcher Ray Fosse as he scores the winning run in the 12th inning of the 1970 All-Star Game. Both players were injured. Rose was criticized by some for playing so aggressively in an exhibition game.
AP
Willie Mays slides into home during the 1964 All-Star Game at New York's Shea Stadium. Mays holds the career record for most All-Star hits (23) and stolen bases (six).
Willie Mays slides into home during the 1964 All-Star Game at New York's Shea Stadium. Mays holds the career record for most All-Star hits (23) and stolen bases (six).
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
In 1949, black players took part in the All-Star Game for the first time. The first four players, from left, were Roy Campanella, Larry Doby, Don Newcombe and Jackie Robinson.
In 1949, black players took part in the All-Star Game for the first time. The first four players, from left, were Roy Campanella, Larry Doby, Don Newcombe and Jackie Robinson.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Chuck Klein hits the ball during the first inning of the first All-Star Game. The National League had special uniforms for that first year. After that, players followed what the American League did and just wore their own team's uniforms.
Chuck Klein hits the ball during the first inning of the first All-Star Game. The National League had special uniforms for that first year. After that, players followed what the American League did and just wore their own team's uniforms.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
The starting American League outfield for the first All-Star Game: from left, Babe Ruth, Al Simmons and Earl Averill. The All-Star Game was the brainchild of Arch Ward, who was the sports editor for the Chicago Tribune. At the time, the United States was in the midst of the Great Depression and many baseball teams were struggling financially.
The starting American League outfield for the first All-Star Game: from left, Babe Ruth, Al Simmons and Earl Averill. The All-Star Game was the brainchild of Arch Ward, who was the sports editor for the Chicago Tribune. At the time, the United States was in the midst of the Great Depression and many baseball teams were struggling financially.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
US President John F. Kennedy watches the flight of a ball during the All-Star Game in Washington in 1962.
US President John F. Kennedy watches the flight of a ball during the All-Star Game in Washington in 1962.
Stringer/AFP/Getty Images
A look inside a dugout at the first All-Star Game in 1933. Kneeling together at center are Carl Hubbell and Lefty Grove. The All-Star Game has been held every year except for 1945, when World War II forced restrictions on travel, and 2020, when the season was shortened because of the Covid-19 pandemic. From 1959 to 1962, there were actually two All-Star Games each season.
A look inside a dugout at the first All-Star Game in 1933. Kneeling together at center are Carl Hubbell and Lefty Grove. The All-Star Game has been held every year except for 1945, when World War II forced restrictions on travel, and 2020, when the season was shortened because of the Covid-19 pandemic. From 1959 to 1962, there were actually two All-Star Games each season.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Three National League stars — from left, Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron — stand together for a victory portrait after the All-Star Game in 1961. Aaron appeared in more All-Star Games than any other player (25).
Three National League stars — from left, Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron — stand together for a victory portrait after the All-Star Game in 1961. Aaron appeared in more All-Star Games than any other player (25).
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Harmon Killebrew hits a game-tying home run for the American League in 1965.
Harmon Killebrew hits a game-tying home run for the American League in 1965.
Kent Kobersteen/Star Tribune/Getty Images
Stan Musial, left, is congratulated by National League manager Mayo Smith after hitting a walk-off home run to win the All-Star Game in 1955.
Stan Musial, left, is congratulated by National League manager Mayo Smith after hitting a walk-off home run to win the All-Star Game in 1955.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Vintage photos of baseball's All-Star Game

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CNN  — 

Here’s a look at Major League Baseball’s annual All-Star Game, where representatives from the National League and American League compete in the contest also known as the “Midsummer Classic.”

Facts

July 19, 2022 - The 92nd MLB All-Star Game takes place at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The American League defeats the National League 3-2. This is the American League’s ninth straight win.

July 13, 2021 - The 91st MLB All-Star Game takes place at Coors Field in Denver. The American League defeats the National League 5-2.

The American League has won 47 times and the National League has won 43 times. There have been two games that were tied.

Selection Process

The All-Star team managers are the managers of the teams that were in the World Series the previous season.

Typically, each team has a 32-man roster, which includes 20 position players and 12 pitchers. In 2022, Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera were selected as legacy selections by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred so each team had 33 players.

The players and the Commissioner’s Office choose all the pitchers and reserves.

Fans vote for the starting positions, eight position players and one designated hitter from each league, in two phases.

In Phase 1, fans vote from a full ballot of position players. The top two vote-getters from each position and top six outfielders advance to Phase 2, except for the top overall vote-getter in each league who automatically earns a spot on the starting roster. In Phase 2, or the All-Star Ballot Finals, fans select from the two finalists at each position to determine the remaining starters.

All 30 Major League teams must be represented on the All-Star roster.

The Home Run Derby takes place the day before the All-Star Game. Eight players try to hit the most home runs in this bracket-style, timed competition.

2022 All-Star Game Rosters

History

July 6, 1933 - The first game is held in Chicago’s Comiskey Park. Babe Ruth hits the first home run in All-Star history. The AL team wins 4-2.

1945 - The game is not held as there are strict war time restrictions on travel.

1950 - The game goes into extra innings, a first.

1959-1962 - Two All-Star Games are held each season.

1961 - Due to rain, an All-Star Game ends in a tie for the first time.

1962 - The Most Valuable Player award is introduced. Maury Wills of the Los Angeles Dodgers is named the MVP for the first game, and Leon Wagner of the Dodgers is the MVP of the second game.

2002 - The game ends in a tie for the second time in All-Star history.

2003 - For the first time, the league that wins the All-Star Game will have home field advantage in the World Series. Since 1903, home field advantage has alternated between the leagues.

2008 - The game lasts four hours and 50 minutes, the longest in history. The game also ties with 1967 for most innings played, at 15.

December 2016 - As part of a collective bargaining agreement, the MLB decides the winner of the All-Star Game no longer has home field advantage in the World Series.

July 3, 2020 - For the first time since World War II travel restrictions, the MLB All-Star game is canceled, due to Covid-19.

April 2, 2021 - In a statement, the MLB announces that the 2021 All-Star Game and draft will not be held in Atlanta in response to the passage of an elections bill that placed restrictions on voting in the state of Georgia.

April 6, 2021 - Coors Field in Denver, home to the Colorado Rockies, is announced as the host park for the 2021 All-Star Game.