by W.H.

It took 43 years, 7 World Series appearances, 3 championships, and a new stadium for the best baseball city in America to be chosen to host MLB All-Star game again.  Not that anyone was counting.  

When the stars finally returned to St. Louis they bestowed a celebration of America's pastime that recognized some of the greatest living players in the game's history.  Hall of Famers and World Champions, baseballers who made their name in a mid-market, mid-American town.

There were announcements about celebrity appearances before the festivities.  Some music fans were thrilled to hear about scheduled performances from local artists Sheryl Crow and Sarah Evans.  People who like real music were ecstatic about the arrival of Elvis Costello.  

There was, most likely, thousands of people in the city of St. Louis who were looking forward to seeing the president throw out the first pitch.  However, very few of them made it into the stadium.  Based on an unscientific audience poll taken during a video featuring the living current and ex-presidents, there were a lot of McCain votes in the seats.  Whether that was due to the socioeconomic structure that favors the upper-crust getting tickets to premium events like the Mid-Summer Classic, or merely just a reaction by cranky fans who waited at the entry gates for excessive amounts of time due to the increased security detail, was unclear.

Although security was tight... (note the spotters on the roof)

They still let in the guy with the retro blue Cardinals Delino Deshields jersey

However, when the pomp and pageantry had come to and end it was time to dispense the bread and begin the circus.  The tens of thousands of Cardinal fans in attendance greeted the AL starter, Roy Halladay, with an obvious plea for his services.  And Halladay answered by out-dueling the erratic NL hurler, Tim Lincecum, in their alloted 2 innings.  

The gracious hosts of All-Star Weekend used home-field to their advantage.  Yadier Molina supplied the hit that plated the first 2 runs for the National League, and proceeded to score the go ahead run.  Ryan Franklin followed the next inning by setting the American League down in 3 batters.  Only Albert Pujols  who went 0 for 3 and made a costly first inning error struggled in the national spotlight. Although after a doubleheader Sunday, two rounds of Home Run Derby Monday, and carrying his team on his back for 3 and a half months, can you blame him for being tired?  Albert did probably secure himself some annual consideration for a gold glove by bailing out the NL, and Franklin, with a few stellar plays on his side of the infield.

Pitching and defense dominated the nine innings.  Charlie Manuel displayed his superior knowledge of the National League game by using his plethora of 1st baseman to pinch hit for the pitcher.  Hopefully the critical sporting press who chastised his decision to carry those players were educated fully and properly on baseball strategy during the contest.  Regardless, the extra power hitters provided only 1 more run for the NL.  

In a close game the American Leagues combination of Papelpon, Nathan, and Rivera proved too much for the senior circuit.  The offense on both sides was so minimal that Carl Crawford was able to snag the MVP trophy based on one astounding defensive play.  The NL wasn't short on fielding prowess either thanks to Chase Utley and Jayson Werth.  But Pujols's early defensive lapse and Justin Upton's late inning misread of a fly ball, eventually led to the National League's demise.  Blame it on the curse of Chris Duncan, but something about outfielders playing out of position in Busch Stadium seems to cost the home team dearly.  

By the eighth inning Sporty had secured some seats in the field boxes, plus a few more souvenir cups.  And at the end of nine innings the American League had secured home field advantage for the World Series.  It was a great weekend for St. Louis, for the Cardinals, for baseball, and especially for "standing room only" seat poachers.