Expert: Tom Schott - 12/31/2009

Question
Can you tell me who decides on the MLB all star players?  Also, why does this game have any significance (ie: World Series Home Field Advantage).  Who made this decision and do you think that there is any chance of this being changed?

Answer
Hi Erick,

Good questions. Here's a short little recap on how the players in the game are chosen:

All-Star teams were originally selected by the managers and the fans for the 1933 and 1934 games. From 1935 through 1946, managers selected the entire team for each league. From 1947 to 1957, fans chose the team's starters and the manager chose the pitchers and the remaining players. From 1958 through 1969, managers, players, and coaches made the All-Star Team selections. In 1970, the vote again returned to the fans for the selection of the starters for each team and remains there today. (http://www.baseball-almanac.com/asgmenu.shtml)

You are correct in assuming that this game, which is essentially a species of exhibition game, should not have any significance. But three or four years ago, Bud Selig, the commissioner of baseball and certified idiot, decided that the AS game would decide the World Series home field advantage. This is the same guy who gave us the abominations of inter-league play, NBA/NFL/NHL-type divisions, and the wild card team in the playoffs. And he's also the guy who allowed the All-Star game to end in a tie in 2002.

Unfortunately, since most current-day baseball fans have little knowledge or respect for the game's long tradition, I doubt seriously if this kind of thing will change from any pressure in that regard. It's all about money; tradition has nothing to do with it. If the owners perceive these things as more profitable for them, you can bet the farm it will not change.