As I wrote way back in July, the All Star Game was fun. I wouldn’t want
to do it every year, but it was fun to do it once before I die.
However, the experience was a bit of a bittersweet moment, because I
have to admit that I recognized less than half of the players on the
field. For the National Leaguers I had an excuse, as we don’t see them
all that often. But even with the American League more often than not I
found myself with a profound sense of “yeah, I vaguely remember seeing
that guy.”
In comparison, let’s climb into the Way Back Machine and journey to San
Diego in 1978. The AL’s All Star team that year included George Brett
(who of course was an All Star every year from 76 to 88), Freddie Patek,
Darrel Porter, Frank White, even Whitey Herzog as a coach. Reps from
other teams included Rod Carew, Carlton Fisk, Jim Rice and many other
players I recognize better than the Class of 2012. Jim Palmer was the
starting pitcher. Reggie Jackson was elected, but the Magnificence of
Him didn’t show up to play. The NL team featured Joe Morgan, Vida Blue,
Rollie Fingers and even Bob “The Booner” Boone.
Thus the “mid-summer classic” reminded me of my growing sense that Major
League Baseball and I are not as close as we used to be.
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