A Trip to the Mid-Summer Classic

By Mark Nagi

There was a time when the Major League Baseball All-Star Game was one of the biggest sporting events in the country. There was something special about watching the stars from the American and National Leagues square off.

But once interleague play came to the sport in the mid-1990s, seeing those players face off didn't mean as much. Also, today you can watch every game on cable, satellite, or a streaming service.

It's impossible for one exhibition game to matter in the modern age.

That all said, it's something that I've always wanted to see in person. My girlfriend Michelle planned a surprise trip to the Pacific Northwest to visit Seattle, Mt. Rainier, and Cannon Beach in Oregon, plus a day in Victoria. This is a beautiful part of North America and I'd recommend making that journey if you can.

On the last day of our week out west, we visited T-Mobile Park to watch the All-Star Game. Here are some of my observations.

First, that is a terrific place to watch a baseball game. It's an easy walk from downtown Seattle, and there isn't a bad view in the house. The Ken Griffey Jr. statue at the front door is a must-see. There's a team Hall of Fame that's worth a look. In terms of concessions, there are all sorts of typical ballgame food, but also Chinese, Hawaiian, and even sushi.

Their fan base is passionate, despite a two-decade streak of postseason futility that was finally snapped last season.  If you like baseball, seeing a game in Seattle should be on your bucket list.

So, what about the game itself?  Well, the Mariners brought out team royalty in Griffey Junior, Edgar Martinez, Jay Buhner, and Dan Wilson to throw out the first pitches to the delight of the crowd.

As a Yankees fan, I was bummed that slugger Aaron Judge was injured and not playing, but New York pitcher Gerrit Cole did start the game, throwing a scoreless inning (with two flyouts requiring leaping catches at the wall but still... scoreless!).

The two highlights of the game really had nothing to do with the actual action. When any Houston Astro was announced, be it a player, coach or even the trainers, they were greeted with very loud booing. Baseball fans have not forgotten about the Astros cheating scandal, nor Major League Baseball's non-existent punishment for Houston's players.

The irony here is that the hometown Mariners and Astros are both American League teams, so most of those fans should have been cheering for the "home" team, but the Stroh's were booed louder than any National League player.

The second moment of Zen happened when any Oakland Athletics player was announced. Fans immediately began to chant "Sell the Team," which was directed at A's ownership, who tanked the team to make a move to Vegas easier. They've played Major League Baseball in Oakland since 1968, but all that history will be moving to the desert in a couple of years.

Seattle fans feel their pain, after losing their beloved NBA Sonics to Oklahoma City in 2008.

The game itself was a fun one to watch, with the National League snapping a nine-year losing streak with a 3-2 win. The American League had the tying run on second base in the bottom of the ninth but couldn't get him home.

The trip back to Knoxville was a long one. Seattle is very far away! But I'm glad that I went.

Is it football season yet?

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