![]() I used to also love the fact that players wore the uniform tops and hats of their own team, a unique tradition that provided a splash of color to the proceedings while also giving a nod to all the disparate fans watching from home. The All-Star Game never fails to provide such moments. I won’t apologize for being moved by the thunderous ovation the Denver fans gave their departed favorite son, Nolan Arenado. ![]() I’ve always loved this part of the All-Star Game as much or more than the game itself – the player introductions, the former stars of the home team returning to throw out the ceremonial first pitch (in this case, Larry Walker and Todd Helton) and all the other attendant hoopla. On Tuesday at Coors Field, only the hardest of hearts weren’t moved to tears by the magnificent pregame tribute to the late Henry Aaron, which included an appearance by his widow, Billye. Now the All-Star Game, returning after a year’s COVID-19 absence, is back to doing what it does best – pomp and ceremony, honoring the connection between stars of the past and present, and, for those willing to absorb it, providing a fun interlude in the long slog of a season. But the concept never really took hold and was quietly dropped a few years ago, lamented by no one. Humiliated by the All-Star tie in 2002, MLB tried to manufacture some midsummer gravitas by awarding home-field advantage in the World Series to the winning league. Oh, in the good old days, when there was no interleague play to intermingle the players, the results clearly meant more, exemplified by Pete Rose infamously bowling over Cleveland catcher Ray Fosse in 1970. DENVER – The All-Star Game is designed, above all, to be a showcase of the sport.
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