Happy All-Star Day!

Today baseball fans everywhere celebrate our favorite players, teams, and leagues, as the American and National League's playr and fans gather for the annual All-Star Game, at Citi Field, in New York.

This is the first time the big league players have gathered in Flushing, NY, the Home of the New York Mets, since the 1964 game at brand new Shea Stadium.

                                               
                                                     Ticket from Sports Collectors Daily

I've spoken many times about my All-Star remembrances, starting with the first game I ever saw on TV, the 1970 game from brand new Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati.

I watched the game with my Dad, who wasn't a baseball fan at all, from our cabin in the Michigan woods during family vacation.

Pete Rose ran over Ray Fosse of the Indians, the American League lost, and I was sad.

I've been a A.L. fan since the start, you have to be when your team, the Tigers, are in that league.

I've been a Detroit Tigers fan since the late 1960's, however, I don't remember watching any of the All-Star games until the '70 game.

My favorite memory is of the 1971 game, played at Tiger Stadium in Detroit, better known as the Reggie game.

His prodigious blast off the Pirates Doc Ellis hit the light tower in RCF, and is still the hardest ball I've ever seen hit.

For the 44th consecutive year I'll plop myself down in from of the TV, cheer on Mike Trout of the Angels as he steps in against the home town guy, Matt Harvey, of the Mets.

I hope he gets on base, and scores ahead of a Miguel Cabrera home run.

I hope Cabrera, or Prince Fielder, or Torii Hunter hit a HR tonight.

No Detroit Tigers player has hit a home run since 1986, when Lou Whitaker hit a 2-run shot in the Houston Astrodome against...the Mets Dwight Gooden.


The Tiger Max Scherzer is the A.L. starter, the second Tigers pitcher in a row to start for the A.L.

I hope he does significantly better that Justin Verlander did last year, when the Tigers ace RH gave up five runs in the first inning.

I'm an old school baseball fan, and I believe that a young baseball fan should be able to watch his heroes play in the game, so I'm in favor of the rule that every team must be represented at the game.

As a boy I looked forward to the player introductions, to be able to see Bill Freehan, Al Kaline, Mickey Stanley, Willie Horton, Mickey Lolich, or Mark Fidrych.

I know the game has changed, players earn way to much money, every game is broadcast on TV, making the All-Star Game less relevant to the average sports fan.

 For me, the game put on by Major League Baseball is the best there is, far surpassing the other major pro sports.

I hope you enjoy the game, your favorite players do well, we have a good contest, and that the American League beats the National League.

Tweet me up during the game here... @freehan11

Play Ball!