The All-Star Game doesn't mean as much to me now as I get older, but being a kid I used to love the game. Maybe its the state of being older, maybe it's the state of the game, but here are some of my memorable moments from the All-Star Games:
1983: Only one thing sticks out from this game. I was 12 years old and was visiting my grandmother in Miami. After watching two innings of the game, grandma decided it was "time for bed." I couldn't believe it, I always stayed up as late as I could for the All-Star Game and now she is going to make me go to bed at like 9 p.m.?!?!?! Well I missed the seven-run third inning, including Fred Lynn's grand slam. I had to read about it in the newspaper the next day.
When I returned home the next day, my grandfather, who was living with us at the time and divorced from my grandmother, said "Did you see that game?" I had to reply: "No. Grandma made me go to bed." Grandpa had one of his classic quotes of all-time "That mean old witch!" Good stuff.
1987: An extra-inning game that didn't end in a tie -- what a concept. This was an Expos' party. Tim Raines hitting that triple in the 13th inning to drive in teammate Hubie Brooks and Ozzie Virgil. I didn't get much sleep that night, but can still picture Raines heading for third. (Some things just stick in your head for strange reasons -- this is one of them).
1990: I was watching the game at a buddies house and of course, the game went into a rain delay. Pretty bad, but we stayed up to watch it through the end. I can still picture in my head Daryl Strawberry running in the outfield with these baggies on his shoes so they didn't get soaked. Strawberry of course fell and misplayed a ball in the outfield, which I thought was symbolic of his mediocre career.
1991: Again, being a big Ripken fan, this was a great one to remember. Ripken hit that home run off of former teammate Dennis Martinez in the SkyDome. (Remember when the SkyDome was actually a new stadium?) Not the most memorable game, but for me it was.
1995: Only cool because of the local factor. Jeff Conine comes in to pitch hit and hits a home run, eventually winning MVP honors. All three runs in the game were scored on home runs.
1997: Larry Walker vs. Randy Johnson. Nobody even remembers the score or who won, but this is what an exhibition game is all about. Not this "This game counts" crap that MLB does now. Walker didn't want to face Johnson because he was afraid he was going to get beaned in the head, well set up or not, Johnson whipped one over his head. Walker took his helmet off, put it on backwards and batted righty. That lasted one pitch. He turned back around to bat lefty and was already walking to the dugout while swinging the bat. Classic, hilarious moment.
1999: Ted Williams out there before the game and all the players getting around him. Great moment for baseball. The past, present and future of the game meeting out there on the mound in Fenway.
2001: This will always be known as Cal Ripken's last All-Star Game. As he trotted out to play 3B, Alex Rodriguez moved over to third and forced Ripken to play shortstop one final time. Great moment from a guy who probably had Ripken posters on his wall as a kid (I know I did). Then when Ripken hit that home run in the third, it was a great way to go out.
2002: Tie Game. What a joke. I can only remember two things about this game No. 1 -- Bonds jacked one that looked like it was going to be gone and Torii Hunter leaping up to snag it. I was pissed because I was a big Bonds supporter back then, so I didn't want to hear from the Bonds' haters. No. 2 -- Bud Selig sitting in the stands with this "Oh crap" look as the game is in extra innings, hoping he didn't have to make a decision. Well he did and the game ended in a 7-7 tie. I was hoping somebody from the AL would make errors to allow the NL to win, but to no avail. A tie in an All-Star Game. Idiotic.
Maybe I'll have a new memory after tonight. Or maybe I'll be watching something else by the third inning.