We can’t believe it’s over already.
From Sunday through Tuesday, Washington was the center of the baseball world, as the city hosted the MLB All-Star Game for the first time since 1969.
The game and all the extracurriculars surrounding it created plenty of memories no one will forget anytime soon, whether exciting, surprising or somber. Here is our top 10.
10. Greene clocks 102 miles per hour in Futures Game
Cincinnati Reds prospect Hunter Greene was the second overall pick in 2017 draft — and holy cow, can this kid throw. The 18-year-old threw 19 pitches over 100 miles per hour during Sunday’s Futures Game, reaching 102 multiple times.
Reds Prospect, Hunter Greene, gassing it at 102 MPH at the Futures All-Star Game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/g1FVCzWF5i
— The RedsZone (@RedLegsZone) July 15, 2018
9. Hader’s racist Twitter history interrupts All-Star Game
The All-Star Game will be unforgettable for Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Josh Hader — but not in the way he would like to remember. During the event, fans dug up Hader’s old tweets that contained racist and homophobic material. Hader, who was 17 for most of those tweets, apologized after the game.
8. Treinen tears up from his reception at Nationals Park
When Blake Treinen’s name was announced prior to Tuesday’s All-Star Game, his Oakland Athletics teammate Jed Lowrie turned to Treinen with a smile. The crowd had welcomed the former Washington Nationals reliever with a hearty cheer.
Treinen, who the Nationals traded to the Athletics last season, said he choked up a little from the fans’ reaction. He thought he would get more of a mixed reception. Instead, Treinen’s first All-Star Game appearance earned him a warm D.C. homecoming.
Blake Treinen said he choked up when Nationals fans gave him an ovation. He thought he’d get mixed cheers.
— Kyle Melnick (@kyle_melnick) July 18, 2018
7. Doolittle works the All-Star red carpet
Most sports have adopted a “red carpet show” for one of their events, whether it’s during Super Bowl Week or the NBA Awards Show. MLB rolled out its own red carpet in Washington, where Nationals closer Sean Doolittle was put to work:
All-Star closer Sean Doolittle and Eireann Dolan work the red carpet at the #AllStarGame.#LoveWins // #OnePursuit pic.twitter.com/0EqIOZ4XHQ
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 17, 2018
Doolittle was named an All-Star but couldn’t play in the game due to a foot injury that landed him on the disabled list, so it was nice to see a fan favorite still partake in the week’s activities. But his team got in a friendly Twitter dig at his big beard and glasses:
Live look at @Sethrogen arriving at the #Oscars. pic.twitter.com/hIHNvMvl94
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 17, 2018
6. Celebrity game shenanigans
MLB’s celebrity softball game provided all sorts of thrills. There was Jamie Foxx’s eccentric stretching routine. Shaquille O’Neal — sporting a Washington Redskins T-shirt — was the in-game DJ. Josh Norman and John Wall both balled out.
But the best moment — undeniably — was the incredible reaction Bill Nye received from the crowd:
Bill Nye out here hitting lasers pic.twitter.com/ZdbeV3nIX0
— Eric Hubbs (@BarstoolHubbs) July 17, 2018
5. Machado trade overshadows All-Star Week, details emerge during game
The Baltimore Orioles are bad, OK? Like, really bad. And their superstar, Manny Machado, is about to hit free agency, meaning he has been at the center of trade talks for weeks on end. He told reporters Monday that the uncertainty of what will happen was “the worst” and he hoped the rumors would end soon.
The rumors became reports. On Tuesday, several reporters said a trade sending Machado to the Dodgers was “happening,” likely to become official on Wednesday. As details of who would be included in the trade leaked out during the All-Star Game, Machado saw future Los Angeles teammate Matt Kemp at second base and decided to snap a quick, in-game selfie.
4. Harper finally acknowledges he could play somewhere else next season
Speaking of superstars who could be leaving the DMV soon…
Bryce Harper said in his first press conference of spring training that if anyone asked him about his expiring contract and plans for the 2019 season, he would leave the room. But when talking to reporters Monday, Harper said what we all knew.
“I think that everybody knew at the beginning of the year, this could be possibly my last year in D.C.,” Harper said. “Everybody knows that. There’s no elephant in the room.”
Oh, but there is. As the end of his Nationals contract approaches, at least it’s nice to hear him acknowledge reality. But Harper spoke lovingly about Washington and made several wardrobe choices throughout the week to honor the District, which felt like a comforting sign.
3. Tuesday’s Medal of Honor ceremony and national anthem
Before the All-Star Game, 29 Medal of Honor recipients were honored on the field, and one of them, James McLoughan — who served as a combat medic in Vietnam — threw out the ceremonial first pitch, which Harper signed, autographed and handed back to him.
If that weren’t patriotic enough, community choirs from the Washington area came together to perform a chillingly beautiful rendition of the national anthem, wearing red, white and blue church choir gowns to illustrate the American flag in the outfield.
2. All those home runs in the All-Star Game
How about the game itself? It was essentially an extension of the Home Run Derby.
The previous record for total home runs in an All-Star Game was six. The AL and NL combined to shatter that record with 10 homers Tuesday. Half of the game’s total hits were homers. The AL won 8-6 in 10 innings, and 13 of the 14 combined runs were scored via the long ball.
“A few guys just connected and I think that’s going to happen when you have a lot of power arms and power bats,” Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford said.
“A few guys” referred to Aaron Judge, Mike Trout, Willson Contreras, Trevor Story, Jean Segura, Christian Yelich, Scooter Gennett, Alex Bregman, George Springer and Joey Votto, in that order. Gennett may have been remembered as a hero for hitting the two-run home run that tied the game in the bottom of the ninth, but Bregman and Springer responded for the AL with consecutive solo shots in the top of the 10th.
1. Harper’s epic, come-from-behind Home Run Derby win
The D.C. flag headband. The American flag arm sleeve. The cherry blossom bat. Even if Harper didn’t win the derby, he dressed right for the occasion to appease fans’ fears, even for a night, that his days as a National were numbered.
But then he came out and bashed some baseballs to kingdom come. Playing as the No. 2 seed in the bracket format introduced in 2015, Harper swung second against each of his opponents. He left plenty of time on the clock when he eclipsed Freddie Freeman’s total, 13-12, in the first round. He beat semifinal opponent Max Muncy by the same score.
Then, down 18-9 to Kyle Schwarber with less than a minute left, all looked lost. “It was a good run, Bryce,” some fans undoubtedly thought.
Until Harper managed nine home runs in a row, the final one beating the buzzer to tie Schwarber at 18. Harper had earned himself a 30-second bonus round for hitting at least two balls 440 feet or farther, more than enough time to hit the game-winner.
Harper’s father, Ron Harper, pitched to him, just like he did in 2013 in his son’s first derby appearance. The father and son cherished the moment and held a joint press conference after the victory.
Andy Kostka contributed to this story.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.