The Cleveland Indians Should Host the Next All-Star Game

Petco Park, host of the 2016 All-Star game.  Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

But MLB Has Already Announced the Next All-Star Host

Logic would suggest that an American League team should host the 2016 All-Star game since the 2015 game was hosted by the National League Cincinnati Reds.  This alternating by leagues has been a staple of the game since its inception. Only in 2006 and 2007 did teams from the same league host back-to-back All-Stars games (Pittsburgh in 2006, San Francisco in 2007).  So 2016 should be in an American League park, correct?  Wrong.

Ok, I get giving it to San Diego. They have a new park that hasn’t hosted a game yet and the last time they had the game was back in 1992.  And while I think it’s wrong to give the game to the same league two years in a row it’s not a grievous decision.  The American League certainly will get the game in 2017 then as there’s no way MLB will give the All-Star game to the National League three years in a row. I mean, not when the game “matters” and decides home-field advantage in the World Series they wouldn’t…right?  You can’t give one league last at-bats and an added advantage three years in row when something is on the line…right?  Wrong!

OK…so the Marlins are getting the 2017 All-Star game.  Now I’m a bit upset. Not just that the city of Cleveland didn’t get, but no American League team?  Not even Baltimore or New York?!  I get that Miami has a shining new ballpark, but giving the game to the National League three times in a row seems pretty unfair.  I mean, I get that that the American League has won 15 of the last 19 All-Star games (plus one tie), so one could argue that home field in the game really doesn’t mean much. But again, if this game is what decides home-field in the World Series, shouldn’t each league be getting home-field in the All-Star game an equal amount?  In any case, perhaps 2018 will finally be the year that Cleveland can host the game as there would be no way that Major League Baseball would give the All-Star game to the National League four times in a row…

Well I guess I shouldn’t be surprised here.  Washington getting the game in 2018.  I’m not even sure who should be most offended here, the people of Baltimore, the Indians organization or simply just the entire American League.  Yes, like San Diego and Miami, Washington has a new ballpark to show off.  The city of Washington also has not hosted an All-Star game as the Nationals (they have as the Senators multiple times).  But I can’t help but feel like this is more political.  If the Orioles and Major League Baseball weren’t at odds over the Orioles-Nationals TV deals would Washington really have gotten the game over Baltimore (or any American League team)?  Seems a bit like a power play move by baseball to me, especially given that this will mark the fourth year in a row of a National League team hosting the game…

Next: Changes to All-Star Game Host Selection Coming