On July 6th, 1933, the first major-league All-Star Game was played at Chicago’s Comiskey Park. Babe Ruth hit the first home run of the All-Star game, a two-run homer in the bottom of the third driving in Charlie Gehringer. The American League defeated the National League 4-2. Yankees pitcher Lefty Gomez was the winning pitcher. Cardinals second baseman Frankie Frisch did hit a homer for the National League.

Voting done for the 2024 All-Star game that is being hosted by the Texas Rangers. The game is scheduled to be played on Tuesday, July 16th.

All-Star voting is always controversial. It is compounded by the fact that every team is supposed to have a representative at the annual game. What that means is that each year there are worthy players that are left off the full roster.

For me the real controversy this year is that the game is being hosted by the only team in Major League Baseball that does NOT hold a Pride Day Celebration game. Given the nature of Texas politics, this particular fact is not a surprising one. BUT it is something I would assume would instantly disqualify the Rangers from hosting a celebration like the All-Star Game.

The first All-Star Game in 1933 was played by white players in a league segregated by hate. 91 years later it is being played in a stadium that belongs to an owner that goes out of his way to advertise his hate.