It may not have the same drama that took place before the days of interleague play, but baseball’s All-Star Game — on tap Tuesday night in Phoenix — still tops the list of exhibition events showcasing stars in sports.
The Pro Bowl remains a joke. The All-Star contests in basketball and hockey can be entertaining, but neither sparks the interest that still can accompany a baseball All-Star Game — particularly with the change made several years ago that gives the winning league home-field advantage in the World Series.
I’m not sure Arch Ward would agree with that change, though.
Who is Arch Ward? He is the sportswriter who created the baseball All-Star Game.
In today’s baseball clubhouse, sportswriters are considered a necessary evil at best and pretty much just evil on most days. But those players being honored Tuesday night at Chase Field owe it in large part to the brilliance of a sportswriter. And if there was ever any day to honor sports journalism, it is the day of the baseball All-Star Game.
Consider this a history lesson, a glimpse at the profession long before ESPN existed.
Ward was the sports editor and a columnist at the Chicago Tribune. The World’s Fair was in Chicago in 1933, and Ward came up with the idea of an exhibition contest featuring the game’s greatest players as part of the event.
It was supposed to be just a one-time game. The Tribune put up the money for it, with profits to go to the Professional Ball Players of America, a charitable organization that helped retired players. But it was such a big hit that it became an annual event — there actually were two All-Star Games a season from 1959 to 1962 — and has now evolved into a weeklong celebration with the Futures Game, Home Run Derby and other activities.
As if being the father of baseball’s All-Star Game wasn’t enough of a resume, Ward organized the first Golden Gloves boxing tournament in 1923. He also started the Chicago College All-Star Game, in which the best graduating college football players would play the NFL champions from the season before, an entertaining game that started in 1934 and ran until 1976.
Ward was reportedly twice offered a chance to become NFL commissioner but turned it down. Then, in a dispute with the NFL, he helped start the All-American Football Conference in 1946, a rival league that lasted only three years but gave birth to the Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers.
When they announce the MVP of Tuesday night’s game, it will be called the Ted Williams MVP award. But the winner will be presented the Arch Ward Trophy.
It will likely be the only time his name is mentioned Tuesday night. At least now you will know why.
Examiner columnist Thom Loverro is the co-host of “The Sports Fix” from noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on ESPN980 and espn980.com. Contact him at [email protected].
