While the NFL Pro Bowl has become a game of glorified flag football and the NBA All-Star matchup is a defenseless barrage of dunks, the MLB All-Star game is still the one worth watching.
MORE MLB: Longest Home Runs Ever
While the novelty of AL vs. NL is long over thanks to interleague play, players still tend to put forth much, much more effort than the other major sports.
In fact, MLB’s Midsummer Classic is about as tightly contested as it can possibly be according to CBS Sports:
There’s no doubt that this week’s showdown will provide us with even more of the best MLB All-Star game moments in league history.
Mr. October Goes Very Deep in July
And that is how the first ever baseball was launched into space.
Rose Slams into Fosse
Although this won the contest back in 1970, can you imagine the outrage if the All-Star game was decided on a play like this today — especially with the rules in place to protect catchers.
Retweeted Baseball by BSmile (@BSmile):
Today In 1970: Pete Rose plows into Ray Fosse to score the winning run in the 12th inning of the #MLB All-Star Game at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati.#Baseball #Reds #AllStarGame pic.twitter.com/Ox9HlDCCJo
— En la Cancha Radio (@enlacanchapr) July 14, 2018
Bo Knows All-Star Games
And impresses the heck out of Vic Scully in the process.
Cal Ripken Homers in Final All-Star Game
You just can’t make this stuff up.
Carl Hubbell Strikes Out 5 Straight Hall of Famers
The pitcher fanned Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin all in a row in 1934.
Ichiro Suzuki With the First All-Star Inside-the-Park-Homer
The time Triple’s Alley at AT&T Park became Inside-the-Park Alley.
Randy Johnson and John Kruk
Easily one of the funniest moments in All-Star game history, Kruk wanted absolutely nothing to do with Johnson’s fastballs 25 years ago.
24 years ago, the @Phillies‘ John Kruk wanted nothing to do with Randy Johnson. pic.twitter.com/m6cZAPtgUZ
— Stadium (@WatchStadium) July 13, 2017