1. No More Inter-League Play
We finally come to the most obvious, yet controversial aspect to the MLB All-Star Game: Inter-League Play.
The reason the Midsummer Classic used to be so romanced about was because of its uniqueness. Only twice during the season did both AL and NL players find themselves on the same field at once: the World Series and All-Star Game.
The idea of two league making up a greater whole that was Major League Baseball did, indeed, work. It was a novel and beautiful thing to watch play out.
Even seeing umpires now be universally known as “MLB Umpires,” instead of each representing one league or the other turns my stomach.
We might as well change the name Major League Baseball to National Baseball League.
Now that the Houston Astros are in the American League and 15 teams reside in each league (conference), Inter-League play is officially here to stay.
This was something baseball had going for them, not a detriment.
