The First All-Star Game was played in 1933 at Comiskey Park, in Chicago. Never intended to be an annual event, its whole purpose was to lift attendance at the struggling Chicago Worlds Fair.
While the “Century of Progress” World’s Fair was in full swing, anevent occurred on this day that changed baseball history: the first All-Star game. A few months earlier, Chicago Mayor Edward J. Kelly had gone to Col. Robert R. McCormick, publisher of the Tribune, with an idea. He wanted to arrange a sports event as an adjunct to the fair. “`We’ve got the man right here,’ McCormick said.
Ten minutes later, sports editor Arch Ward was in McCormick’s office,” as Ward’s biographer, Tom Littlewood, recounted the meeting.
Ward knew what he wanted: a matchup of the best players in the American and National Leagues.
Chicago Tribune
The Giants legendary skipper, John McGraw, came out of retirement to manage the National League. Connie Mack was at the helm for the American League. The National League lineup included Hall of Famers Frankie Frisch, Gabby Hartnett, Carl Hubbell, Chuck Klein, Bill Terry, Pie Traynor, and Paul Waner.
If you think that lineup wasn’t too shabby, compare it to the American League’s which featured Joe Cronin, Bill Dickey, Jimmy Foxx, Lou Gehrig, Charlie Gehringer, Lefty Gomez, Lefty Grove, Tony Lazzari, Al Simmmons, and oh yeah, a 38-year-old veteran outfielder by the name of Babe Ruth. The old boy hit a second inning two run homer that put the American League ahead 3-0. The game ended with the AL on top, 4-2.
Babe Ruth Major League Debut – July 11, 1914
Babe Ruth Sold for $100K in 1920. His Shirt sold for $4MM in 2012