Top 5 Moments from the 2013 MLB All-Star Game

Top 5 Moments from the 2013 MLB All-Star Game

The 2013 MLB All-Star Game was not the most exciting event in league history, but it certainly did feature some touching and awe-inspiring moments.

From soldiers making a huge American flag wave during the National Anthem to the swinging strikeouts and long doubles in the gap, the All-Star game was not a disappointing evening for baseball fans.

Before I get into the list, I will mention some of the highlights of the evening starting with an interesting statistic. Before the game, announcer Joe Buck said that there were 39 All-Stars who were playing in the game for the very first time. The promising youth in today’s generation of baseball players makes for a bright future and I will talk more about one of those young stars later.

With the American League team dominating on the mound, the National League squad was only able to muster three hits. Ten different AL pitchers managed to play in the game with seven of them combining for seven hitless innings as the AL team won 3-0.

No single batter had more than one hit as is often the case with limited at bats in the All-Star Game, but there were several balls that these stars simply crushed. Fans watched in admiration as Mike Trout, Miguel Cabrera, Adam Jones, Jason Kipnis and Paul Goldschmidt all scorched doubles to the gaps or off the walls. Prince Fielder even got on his horse and legged out a triple after an outfielder missed a diving catch.

The final standout moment before I get to the list came from the top of the seventh inning in which NL manager Bruce Bochy brought on the Cincinnati Reds’ reliever Aroldis Chapman to pitch. Being known for boasting the fastest ever recorded fastball (104 MPH), I was looking forward to seeing an AL batter swing and miss at one of Chapman’s pitches. I would not be disappointed as Adam Jones was fanned by a 101 MPH fastball to end the inning.

With all of these good moments mentioned and remembered, it is time to look at the top five moments from this year’s MLB All-Star Game.

Isaac Comelli is a Los Angeles Dodgers writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @IsaacComelli, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+. You can see all of his articles here.

No. 5 Mike Trout Dives Headfirst Into Second

Mike Trout was the first batter of the game and on the very first pitch he sent a ball screaming down the first base line and into the corner. With speed for days, Trout rounded first and took off for second. He looked like he would get in safely without a problem, but Trout dove right on in to punctuate the hit. The future of baseball is bright with superstars like Trout who will be making awesome plays like this for years to come.

No. 4 Troy Tulowitzki to Brandon Phillips Double Play

After a failed double play scored the second run of the night for the AL squad, Troy Tulowitzki and Brandon Phillips got a second chance and converted a sweet double play. Tulowitzki flipped the ball over to Phillips who went for an ill-advised barehanded catch before throwing over to first. A flashy play from a pair of flashy middle infielders.

No. 3 Felix Hernandez Shuts Down Hometown Hero in Clutch Moment

With Andrew McCutchen standing 90 feet away from home with two outs, hometown hero David Wright came up with the chance to knot the game at 1-1. Felix Hernandez was pitching for the AL squad at the time and faced a dramatic situation. If the New York Mets crowd could watch their own player get a hit and bring in the tying run, the stadium would have likely erupted. Alas, Hernandez shut down Wright, inducing a ground out in a clutch performance.

No. 2 Players Hand Flags to Wounded Veterans

Just after the pregame player introductions, MLB honored several military veterans who have earned some of the highest honors possible, including the Purple Heart. Those veterans came out on to the field and were handed national flags by representatives from their favorite teams. It was a very touching moment as baseball paid respect to our country’s real heroes.

No. 1 Enter Sandman

“Enter Sandman” is the Metallica song that has been played for years whenever the greatest closer of all time, Mariano Rivera, comes in to close a game. As Rivera came out of the bullpen in the bottom of the eighth inning, the New York crowd exploded in cheers and there was a long, standing ovation without a single other All-Star standing on the field.

A simple tip off his cap and a wave to the crowd was all Rivera could muster as he soaked up his last All-Star Game ever before retirement. This was one of the most respectful and beautiful moments of baseball I have ever witnessed. Oh yeah, then Rivera fittingly threw a perfect inning. No big deal.