Baseball seasons traditionally come in three parts. The early stages through the months of Spring set teams up for the dog days of summer. Once they roll around, the real battle begins.
As spring now slips under the keel of the 2023 season, disappearing into the wake of the approaching summer, the milestone that marks the halfway point of the year is on the horizon: the All-Star Game.
Throughout the month of June, MLB fans will vote for their favorite players at each position to represent the American and National Leagues in the annual MLB All-Star Game.
As part of the break for the All-Star Game, the MLB also holds crowd-pleasing events like the All-Star Futures and All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball game, plus the Home Run Derby contest, creating a festive atmosphere. This year will see the Pacific Northwest tapped to host as the 2023 MLB All-Star Game will take place at the Seattle Mariners’ home stadium, T-Mobile Park, on Tuesday, July 11. It will be broadcast nationally and have a primetime slot, with first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
Historically, the All-Star Game was born out of the idea of putting on benefit games for the families of players who died unexpectedly. In an effort to give players some form of pension fund, the first All-Star Game was held on July 6, 1933, at Comiskey Park in Chicago as part of the 1933 World’s Fair. Intended to be a one-off, the popularity of the format saw the league make it an annual contest.
The American League has the edge on the National League historically, winning 47 games compared to 43 and two ties. The American League has also outscored the National League 381-374 over the ninety-one game span.