Baseball Guru
07-09-2001, 04:26 PM
Chicago Tribune sports editor Arch Ward proposed that a major-league all-star game be held in 1933 in connection with the city's Century of Progress Exposition. Team owners were reluctant, but the persuasive Ward talked them into doing it. The game drew 49,595 fans to Comiskey Park and attracted so much welcome publicity that it became an annual event.
Connie Mack of the Philadelphia Athletics and John McGraw, who had resigned as manager of the New York Giants in mid-season of 1932, were selected as the managers for the first game. Since then, managers of the previous year's pennant winners have been given the honor.
From 1933 through 1946, each manager picked the entire team. In 1947, selection of the starting lineups was turned over to fans, through ballots passed out at major league parks.
Cincinnati fans, urged on by team management and local media, stuffed the ballot boxes in 1957; as a result, seven Reds were named to the National League's starting lineup. (First baseman Stan Musial of the St. Louis Cardinals was the only non-Cincinnati player elected.)
Commissioner Ford Frick stepped in to replace two of the Cincinnati starters and, in 1958, balloting was taken away from the fans and given to major league players, coaches, and managers.
Voting was restored to the fans in 1970 and has been entrusted to them ever since. Fans select only the eight starting position players. Pitchers and reserve players are named by the managers.
The game was cancelled in 1945 because of World War II travel restrictions. From 1959 through 1962, a second All- Star game was held each year to raise money for the newly- established players' pension fund.
Connie Mack of the Philadelphia Athletics and John McGraw, who had resigned as manager of the New York Giants in mid-season of 1932, were selected as the managers for the first game. Since then, managers of the previous year's pennant winners have been given the honor.
From 1933 through 1946, each manager picked the entire team. In 1947, selection of the starting lineups was turned over to fans, through ballots passed out at major league parks.
Cincinnati fans, urged on by team management and local media, stuffed the ballot boxes in 1957; as a result, seven Reds were named to the National League's starting lineup. (First baseman Stan Musial of the St. Louis Cardinals was the only non-Cincinnati player elected.)
Commissioner Ford Frick stepped in to replace two of the Cincinnati starters and, in 1958, balloting was taken away from the fans and given to major league players, coaches, and managers.
Voting was restored to the fans in 1970 and has been entrusted to them ever since. Fans select only the eight starting position players. Pitchers and reserve players are named by the managers.
The game was cancelled in 1945 because of World War II travel restrictions. From 1959 through 1962, a second All- Star game was held each year to raise money for the newly- established players' pension fund.