Still midsummer, less classic

Nonetheless, recent All-Star Games have offered their share of drama. In 2006, the AL won 3-2 after a two-run, ninth-inning triple by the Texas Rangers’ Michael Young. And the 2003 All-Star Game was considered one of the most exciting in history, as the Rangers’ Hank Blalock sparked the AL to a 7-6 win with a three-run homer in the eighth inning off Dodgers closer Eric Gagne.

But there also have been less than stellar moments, none worse than the 2002 contest in Milwaukee that ended in a 7-7 tie in 11 innings because both teams ran out of players. The AL’s dominance - its last loss came in 1996 - also has lessened interest.

But Tuesday’s game just might offer fans a new reason to tune in.

“This is just a great, great celebration of baseball, for baseball, for all sports fans,” Fox Sports president Ed Goren said. “Twenty years from now, kids are going to be saying I saw Hank Aaron, I saw Yogi Berra, I saw [Derek] Jeter. And on and on. And baseball is about that.”