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What made the All-Star Game so noteworthy in the 1960s and ’70s was the specific identities of the American League and National League.

Players like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente were identified as quintessential National League baseball players, and when they stepped onto the field in an All-Star game, they wanted to win for their league just as they wanted to win for the Giants, Braves and Pirates, respectively, during the regular season.

American League players like Al Kaline, Carl Yastrzemski and Reggie Jackson were clearly identified with their league as well, and they wanted to win just as much as the National Leaguers. However, they simply did not have anything close to the talent level of their National League counterparts.

The game has changed so much since those memorable days. Free agency and interleague play are two of the major factors that have taken away or dulled each league’s specific identity.

As Mike Trout and Josh Donaldson lead the American League into the All-Star Game and Bryce Harper and Buster Posey do the same for the National League, is there the same feeling of league pride on either side?

Former major league commissioner Bud Selig came to the conclusion that neither side had the inspiration to compete in the All-Star Game the way it once did. As a result, Major League Baseball attached home-field advantage to winning in the All-Star Game.

This innovation, which came about after the infamous 7-7 tie in the 2002 edition, has been widely ridiculed since then. Since managers are trying to get as many players in the game as possible, which often seems to be the top priority, the critics have a point.

However, home-field advantage merely alternated back and forth between the two leagues prior to the Selig decision. Home-field advantage in playoff games in the NFL and postseason series in the NBA and NHL go to teams that earned the best regular-season records.

Baseball never went that way, so Major League Baseball never lost anything.

Some of the juice has returned to the All-Star game, and while it may not be at the same level as it was when Mays was running circles around the American League and Johnny Bench was blasting long home runs, fans will get a chance to see the best players in each league attempt to put their imprints on the sport and win for their leagues on Tuesday night.

It may not be perfect, but it is quite a bit better than what the NBA and NHL offer and miles better than the NFL’s weak link of a Pro Bowl.

When: Tuesday, July 14

Where: Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati

TV: Fox

Ticket Info: Score Big

Broadcast Start Time: 7 p.m. ET

Game Time: 8 p.m. ET 

History

There have been three major chapters written as the 86th All-Star Game gets ready to take center stage.

The American League dominated in the early years of the game, winning 12 of the first 16. However, that changed in 1950, when the National League began to turn things around. From that year through 1982, the National League was nearly unbeatable, rolling off a 30-5-1 streak.

The American League rebounded with a memorable 13-3 triumph in Chicago’s Comiskey Park in 1983, and the Junior Circuit has pulled off an impressive 22-9-1 run heading into the 2015 game. The AL has often had the more talented starting lineups and greater depth since the 1983 game, which may be the case again this year.

The National League lineup features slumping rookie Joc Pederson (.230, 20 HR, 40 RBI) of the Los Angeles Dodgers and second baseman DJ LeMahieu (.311, 4, 35) of the Colorado Rockies in the eighth and ninth spots. Those two could be weak spots for National League manager Bruce Bochy, even though Pederson was impressive in the Home Run Derby.

The American League has Kansas City shortstop Alcides Escobar (.290, 2, 33) in the ninth spot; he does not measure up with the other Junior Circuit starters.

The bigger advantage could come off the bench. The American League is going to be able to bring in difference-makers like Manny Machado (.298, 19, 48), Stephen Vogt (.287, 14, 56), Jason Kipnis (.323, 6, 37), Prince Fielder (.339, 14, 54) and J.D. Martinez (.289, 25, 59).

The National League will try to counter with Yadier Molina (.284, 2, 32), Adrian Gonzalez (.283, 18, 55), Nolan Arenado (.293, 24, 70) and Justin Upton (.253, 14, 48). 

The pitching appears to be relatively even on both sides, with Chris Sale (157 K, 2.72 ERA, 0.947 WHIP) of the Chicago White Sox having had the most impressive first half thanks to his consistent ability to strike out top-level hitters.

Prediction: American League 7, National League 5

MVP: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI). Trout will become the first player to win back-to-back All-Star MVP awards.

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If you want to rail about Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game and criticize it as a meaningless exhibition between the two leagues, you can probably find plenty of company.

If you are in that group, you could probably give us a treatise on how stupid baseball is for attaching victory in the All-Star Game to home-field advantage in the World Series.

That may serve as great fodder for the brilliant gurus who man the sports talk-radio shows, but here’s the bottom line: Before baseball gave the winning league home-field advantage in the Fall Classic, that advantage merely alternated between the leagues on an every-year basis.

It did not go to the team that had the best record. Perhaps that would make more sense, but Major League Baseball never went that route. So all the sport did was give some meaning to winning the All-Star Game.

Perhaps the All-Star Game will never have the meaning it did in 1955, when Stan Musial of the St. Louis Cardinals homered off Frank Sullivan of the Boston Red Sox in the bottom of the 12th to give the National League a 6-5 victory. The American League will not be as desperate to win as it was in 1983, when the junior circuit rolled to a 13-3 victory after losing 11 consecutive All-Star Games to the National League.

But both sides will want to win the best All-Star Game in professional sports. The NFL may rule the sports world in nearly every area, but not when it comes to All-Star or All-Pro competitions.

Both sides have game-changing players in their starting lineups. In this piece, we’ll look at four key impact players from both the American League and the National League who will have a chance to put their signatures on the 86th All-Star Game from the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

American League

2B Jose Altuve, Houston Astros

Altuve was a nice story for the Astros last year when they were a last-place team in the American League West. He led the league in batting with a .341 average, and he became the best second baseman in the American League.

This year, the Astros are a first-place team, and Altuve is their spark plug with 96 hits, 44 runs scored, 36 RBI and a .755 OPS. There is every reason to think he can play that same role for the American League All-Stars. He has the ability to start rallies and keep them going, and he is also a demon in the field.

Jose Altuve hitting .375 during 14-game hit streak with 1.007 OPS. He has raised his batting average from .287 to .309. @Astros

— Richard Justice (@richardjustice) July 7, 2015

3B Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays have looked to Donaldson for the big hit all season long, and he has delivered quite well. Donaldson has belted 21 homers and knocked in 60 runs, and he also has a .301 batting average and a .901 OPS. Donaldson has fielded his position well, too, and he has been on a tear over the last month with 10 homers in his last 30 games. Donaldson could find Cincinnati’s cozy confines to his liking.

OF Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

Trout won the MVP in last year’s All-Star Game, and he has all the tools to do it again. Trout is no longer the emerging superstar in the sport; he is fully established at this point because of his power, speed and outstanding defensive play. Trout has already hammered 24 home runs, and he has an eye-catching .998 OPS. National League pitchers will think twice before challenging Trout with men on base.

.@MikeTrout‘s second HR tonight will make you forget about the first: http://t.co/Gz5tmrI7aX #CRUSHED pic.twitter.com/eSbZrk8Fs9

— MLB (@MLB) July 9, 2015

C Sal Perez, Kansas City Royals

Perez is the leader of the defending American League champions, and Kansas City has the best record in the AL through July 10. Perez is a big part of the reason the Royals have been so successful the last two years. While his offensive numbers are good—14 homers and 37 RBI—it’s the way he handles the defensive responsibilities that make him so special. He is a game-changing player who could have a huge impact Tuesday night.

National League

SS Jhonny Peralta, St. Louis Cardinals

The former Detroit Tiger has been one of the best hitting shortstops in the major leagues for years, and he is having a sensational season for the NL Central-leading Cardinals. Peralta has belted 12 homers and knocked in 44 runs, and he has a .289 batting average and an .805 OPS. 

IT AIN’T OVER ‘TIL IT’S OVER! Jhonny Peralta with the 2-run blast to take a 6-5 lead in the top of the 9th! #STLCards

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 9, 2015

3B Todd Frazier, Cincinnati Reds

Frazier has been having a huge year, and National League fans took note of his 25 homers, 55 RBI and .923 OPS and put him in the starting lineup. If Frazier can put on a power show in the All-Star Game and lead the National League to a victory, he will have a chance to win the MVP Award for the game. No player competing in his home ballpark has won the MVP since Pedro Martinez did it for the Red Sox while playing in the Fenway Park All-Star Game in 1999.

OF Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals

While few are going to make an argument that Trout is not the best young player in baseball, Harper has a chance to give the Angels superstar a run for his money. Harper is having his best year with the Nationals, and he has put on a brilliant power display through the first half of the season. Harper has 25 homers, 60 RBI and an off-the-charts OPS of 1.181. He has a chance to dominate this year’s All-Star Game.

Bryce Harper is now hitting .528 with 10 HR in 36 AB this season when Max Scherzer is pitching for Nationals.

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 8, 2015

2B Dee Gordon, Miami Marlins

When the National League was dominating the All-Star Game in the 1960s and ’70s, the Senior Circuit had a huge advantage in a number of areas. One of their biggest edges was in the speed department with players like Willie Mays, Lou Brock, Maury Wills and Cesar Cedeno. While the American League long ago caught up and passed the National League in talent, Gordon has the kind of speed that could cause big problems for the American League. Gordon has 119 hits, a .333 batting average and 33 stolen bases. If Gordon gets on base, he will test Perez with his base-stealing ability.

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The All-Star Game seems to be in the hands of the players who were elected as starters.

The fans have spoken, and they have made several sharp choices this year, particularly in the National League.

However, reserves have made a huge impact on the All-Star Game since its inception in 1933, and it is quite likely that the talented group that will start the game on the bench will produce one or two heroes, and perhaps more.

Players like Bobby Bonds (1973 MVP), Julio Franco (1990 MVP), Sandy Alomar (1997 game-winning homer and MVP) and Michael Young (2006 game-winning hit and MVP) have come off the bench and made huge plays to lead their league to victory. 

In this piece, we highlight four reserves on each team.

San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy can breathe easy when he looks at his bench and sees Yadier Molina ready to jump in at the catching position.

While Bochy will undoubtedly give starter Buster Posey of his Giants plenty of run, he knows when he turns to Molina, he will be putting in the best defensive catcher in the game, and one of the best in the sport’s history.

In addition to his powerful arm, his ability to keep tough pitches from getting past him and his ability to call a strong game puts Molina in a class by himself. He has become an excellent offensive force in the St. Louis Cardinals lineup. Molina has a .292/.333/.706 slash line, and while he has just two homers and 27 RBI, he is more than capable of getting the big hit.

Yadier Molina has a CANNON https://t.co/oaDfPprYVQ

— MLB Vines™ (@MLBTop10) July 6, 2015

Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates is technically a bench player. He was not voted into the National League starting outfield, but Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton will not play in the game because of a broken bone in his hand, and McCutchen will start in his place.

After an ordinary start, McCutchen has got it going once again. He has a .297/.391/.884 slash line with 10 home runs and 51 RBI. After his indifferent early play, McCutchen has the Pirates playing sharp baseball once again.

Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs has made his first All-Star team as a rookie. It appears to be a fairly safe bet that he will make many more during the run of his career, assuming he can stay healthy.

The 23-year-old Bryant has already launched 12 home runs and 49 RBI since getting called up from Iowa early in the season, and he has a .279/.383/.867 slash line. He could cause a lot of damage coming off the bench for the National League against American League pitchers who don’t know him.

All star. @KrisBryant_23 @Cubs @WBBMNewsradio pic.twitter.com/Vgho23F2iO

— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) July 6, 2015

Bryant figures to have more of an impact than Dodgers rookie outfielder Joc Pederson, who has cooled down after a hot start. Pederson has a .170/.333/.309 slash line over his last 30 games.

Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies has a chance to give the NL All-Stars some late lightning off the bench. Arenado has been raking all season in the Mile High City, and he has blasted 24 homers and knocked in 68 runs. He is also one of the best fielding third basemen in the game, and he is capable of stopping any rally with the leather.

The American League appears to have reversed the National League’s brief rally that saw the Senior Circuit win three games in a row from 2010 through 2012. The American League has won the last two games, and Kansas City manager Ned Yost appears to have a plethora of stars he can choose off the bench.

Jason Kipnis is one of the top reserves on the American League squad after a brilliant first half of the year with the Cleveland Indians. Many believe that Kipnis would have been a more deserving starter than Jose Altuve (.303 batting average, 94 hits, 24 stolen bases) of the Houston Astros.

It’s actually a great debate, since both players have been so productive. The case for Kipnis is a strong one. He has an eye-catching .340/.416/.919 slash line, and he also has 36 RBI and 10 stolen bases. Kipnis has been getting the barrel of his bat on the ball when he gets a strike, and he is one of the best fastball hitters in the American League.

Jason Kipnis extends home-hitting streak to 29 games with single in fifth. Longest in Progressive Field history.

— paul hoynes (@hoynsie) July 7, 2015

Jose Iglesias of the Detroit Tigers may be the best fielding American League shortstop since Omar Vizquel was in his prime with the Cleveland Indians. Fans will get a treat if Yost turns to him in the middle or late innings and he gets a chance to show off his range, quick release and athleticism. 

Iglesias is not an all-field, no-hit shortstop. He has 75 hits and has a .323 batting average. He is not a power hitter, but he makes contact and can be a tough out.

Manny Machado of the Baltimore Orioles is playing for the right team. When older fans think of the best third baseman they ever saw field the position, they think of Orioles Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson. Machado belongs in the conversation with the great Robinson when it comes to spectacular third base play.

Manny Machado celebrated his birthday with an All-Star Game selection and a home run http://t.co/ypuhY5EKKi pic.twitter.com/6qQjhrztP5

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 7, 2015

Machado has belted 18 home runs and has 47 RBI this season, and his slash line of .301/.360/.891 makes him one of the most intimidating players in the American League. Machado could be dangerous if Yost sends him up to the plate in a late-inning, clutch situation.

While Sal Perez is clearly an outstanding defensive catcher and one of the Royals’ leaders, many thought Stephen Vogt of the Oakland A’s should have been the AL starter at catcher. Vogt has been hitting the ball consistently all season, and his numbers are impressive. Vogt has a .290/.380/.882 slash line, and he has hammered 13 homers and knocked in 53 RBI.

Yost may lean on Perez throughout the majority of the game, but Vogt should get a chance to show off his offensive skills late in the game and possibly give the AL a chance to win it’s third All-Star Game in a row and build on its 14-3-1 record in the last 18 All-Star Games.

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