The Midsummer Classic

The Midsummer Classic has always been my favorite "All-Star" showcase to look forward to in any sport. There is something about baseball in the middle of summer that is just right. I don't know how to describe it, but it just feels right. I've always pulled for the National League since my two favorite teams reside there. A little background information:

My Dad is a Cubs fan and I have therefore inherited the same team and the same "curse" that some people consider being a Cubs fan to be. However, I also grew up in the Southeastern United States. In the Southeast there was only one baseball team; the Atlanta Braves. Therefore, the Braves quickly became my #1B team to the Cubs #1A. It seemed like each year the Cubs would be eliminated from playoff contention and I would become a 100% Braves fan. Some people may call this unfair, but I call it a necessary coping mechanism to being a Cubs fan. It allowed me to continue watching baseball with a vested interest even after the Cubs were eliminated. To this day, I still follow the Braves and cheer for them anytime they aren't playing the Cubs.

Back to the Midsummer Classic. The first All-Star game memory that sticks out in my mind is the 1994 game that took place at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. The National League trailed 7-5 entering the bottom of the ninth inning and things were looking pretty bleak. Someone got on base and that brought the tying run to the plate in the form of Fred McGriff. I loved "The Crime Dog" from the moment he set the press box on fire at Fulton County Stadium in the Summer of 1993 and then carried the Braves through one of the great hot streaks in baseball history. I even loved his swing and often tried (unsuccessfully) to emulate his helicopter like finish in the back yard.

Check out this clip from the game to see the Crime Dog in action:





McGriff's home run tied the game at 7-7 and the NL went on to win the game 8-7 in 10 innings. McGriff was named MVP.

Now, lets skip forward 16 years to this years All Star game. As you may have already guessed, this one was particularly sweet for me. It was pointed out about 102 times during the broadcast that the National League had not won an All Star Game since 1996. Each loss seemed to feed the misconception that the AL is the "superior league."

I loved seeing an Atlanta Brave, Brian McCann, deliver the clutch hit in the 7th inning that scored all three NL runs and earned himself the MVP. It was icing on the cake that a Chicago Cub scored one of the runs on the play (Marlon Byrd) and then sprinkles on the icing of the cake when Byrd made a great defensive play to force out David Ortiz from RF in the 9th inning. I was thrilled.

When you are a Cubs fan, you learn to count even these small feats as victories. But hey, those Braves sure are looking good this year aren't they?