MLB All-Star Game: The Game of the Century

The MLB All-Star Game is on July 11 at Marlins Park in Miami, marking the 88th celebration of the Midsummer Classic. It’s a great time of year to be a baseball fan, especially if you’re looking to up your hat game with the New Era MLB All-Star Game 59FIFTY collection.

Not to mention there’s so much to look forward to in the second half of the season. But before we look ahead, let’s take a look back to see how the game got started.

“THE GAME OF THE CENTURY”

The date is July 6, 1933. It’s been four months since Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn in for the first of his four terms as president. The Golden Gate Bridge is still just a collection of red steel bars since construction began in January. And by year’s end, the long national dry spell of Prohibition will be repealed.

The stage is set for a momentous year in America, but nowhere is there more excitement for sports fans than Comiskey Park on the southwest side of Chicago. The Chicago World’s Fair is in full swing, and the mayor had called for a major sporting event to celebrate his city’s Century of Progress on their centennial anniversary.

The first of its kind, the All-Star Game came as a much-needed relief during the Great Depression. It was a chance for Americans from all backgrounds, from all cities and from all team affiliations to come together to celebrate the sport as an integral facet of American society. 49,200 fans in attendance netted $45,000 worth of ticket sales, every penny of which benefitted disabled players.

On with the game. The benches are packed with Hall of Famers from both the American and National Leagues: players like Lou Gehrig, Al Simmons, Jimmie Foxx and even umpires Bill Klem and Bill McGowan would eventually be inducted into the hall. But despite all the big hitters the first inning goes by scoreless, followed by a single run for the American League in the second.

Then, it’s time for history to be made. It’s the bottom of the third, with the American League at bat. Detroit Tiger Charlie Gehringer’s on first, hoping to extend the AL’s 1-0 lead. Up to the plate steps none other than Babe Ruth to drive the All-Star series’ first ever home run into the right-field stands. The crowd erupts, and the momentum carries the AL to a 4-2 victory over the National League.

——

No matter who the victor of this year’s All-Star Game, we’re proud to be part of a sport that has been so integral to the fabric of American society for so many years.

Check out how our buyer describes the design details in New Era’s 2017 All-Star collection:

“The collection includes 59FIFTY fitted caps in official team colors with Shadow Tech heather crown and visor. The official on-field team logo and MLB batterman features metallic gold with matching All-Star Game Liquid Chrome side patch. The metallic gold is also carried into the star-shaped eyelets, center-seam taping, and interior details.”