New York Yankees fans will be deprived of the summer classic All-Star Game and Homerun derby as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The cancellation was assumed, but yesterday, MLB made it official in a statement they released. The festivities were scheduled for July 14th, but with the season starting on the 23rd and while wanting to get in as many games as possible in the short-season, MLB made the decision.
Major League Baseball announced today that the 2020 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, which was scheduled to be hosted by the Los Angeles Dodgers and the City of Los Angeles, is being cancelled. With the Atlanta Braves already named as host of the 2021 All-Star Game in Atlanta, the Dodgers will host the next available Midsummer Classic in 2022.
Based on the health circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic that are beyond MLB’s control along with governmental directives prohibiting large gatherings, the league determined it is unable to conduct the All-Star Game and its week of surrounding fan activities this year.
MLB and the New York Yankees last hosted the All-Star game in 2008 the last year of the old Yankee Stadium. They also hosted the game in 1939, 1960, and 1977. In the 2008 Homerun Derby, the Minnesota Twins Justin Morneau won two of the three rounds for the award. However, that was overshadowed by Josh Hamilton’s incredible 28 dingers in the first round.
The All-Star game itself was historic as it went 15 innings with the American League finally wining it 4-3. By the length of time, this was the longest MLB All-Star Game in history at four hours and 50 minutes. The game finally came to a conclusion at 1:38 the next morning.
The game was an exciting one for many reasons. One was it was the last time the crowd got to see the ailing “Boss” George M. Steinbrenner that entered the Stadium to the surprise of Yankees fans in a golf cart with his family to bring out the game balls. Greeting him near the pitcher’s mound was Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Reggie Jackson and Goose Gossage, the Yankees’ four Hall of Famers who were on the field. Ford and Berra kissed Steinbrenner, and Jackson and Gossage hugged him. The elder Steinbrenner died in 2010.