| The MLB to also hold the first role of league, | | | | again in 2007, when the San Francisco Giants will |
| popularly known under the name of the "traditional | | | | be the host for the 2007 All-Star Game). The |
| one of middle of the summer" is an annual play of | | | | "home team" is the league in which the host |
| baseball between the players of the national | | | | franchise plays its games. The criteria for |
| league and the American league, currently chosen | | | | choosing the venue are subjective; for the most |
| by voice of ventilator for the players of starting | | | | part, cities with new parks and cities who have |
| position and by the director (directors of the | | | | not hosted the game in a long time--or ever--tend |
| series of the world of previous year) for jugs and | | | | to get the nod. The last All-Star Game to be |
| players of reservation. The play All-to hold the | | | | played in a stadium that was not hosting its first |
| first role occurs usually inside early with mid-July | | | | All-Star Game was the 1999 game in Boston's |
| and mark the point halfway symbolic system in | | | | Fenway Park. |
| the principal season of the baseball of league | | | | To date, only three franchises have never hosted |
| (MLB) (however not the point halfway | | | | a game: the Florida Marlins, the Arizona |
| mathematical; in the majority of the seasons, the | | | | Diamondbacks, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays |
| play really takes place after approximately 55% | | | | (the Washington Nationals hosted the game when |
| of the season were accomplished), and since | | | | they were the Montreal Expos). In the last thirty |
| 2003 it was employed to determine the | | | | years the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, |
| advantage at the house of field for the nearest | | | | San Diego Padres, and Philadelphia Phillies have all |
| series of the world. The most recent game all-to | | | | hosted the All-Star Game twice, during which time |
| hold the first role was played July 11, 2006, with | | | | the New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, and |
| the park of PNC, house of the pirates of | | | | Kansas City Royals have not hosted it. |
| Pittsburgh with Pittsburgh. | | | | The designated hitter rule is applied based on the |
| The first All-Star Game was held as part of the | | | | league in which the host team plays. In an |
| 1933 World's Fair in Chicago, Illinois, and was the | | | | American League ballpark, both teams use a |
| brainchild of Arch Ward, then sports editor for | | | | designated hitter to hit for the pitcher. In a |
| The Chicago Tribune. Initially intended to be a | | | | National League ballpark, lineups schedule the |
| one-time event, its great success resulted in | | | | pitcher to hit, though pinch hitters are almost |
| making the game an annual one. | | | | always used. The last instance in which a pitcher |
| The venue is chosen by Major League Baseball | | | | took his scheduled at-bat was in 2004, as the |
| and traditionally alternates between the two | | | | American League lineup batted around in the first |
| leagues every year (this tradition was first broken | | | | inning, enabling AL starter Mark Mulder to bat. He |
| in 1951, when the Detroit Tigers were chosen to | | | | was not eligible to be replaced by a pinch hitter, |
| host the annual game as part of the city's 250th | | | | as the starting pitcher in any game must pitch to |
| birthday at Briggs Stadium, and will be broken | | | | the first spot in the batting order. |