The History of The All Star Game: Venues

Tomorrow night Major League Baseball will host the 85th edition of the All Star Game at Target Field, the home of the Minnesota Twins. This will be the fifth time the Twins have hosted the All Star Game in their history and this is the first time Target Field will be the hosting venue for the game. The Twins are tied with three other teams for the most All Star Games hosted and will be joined by the Cincinnati Reds next season as they host their fifth All Star Game.

The New York Yankees have hosted four All Star Games, which seems a little low to me, including the goodbye to the old Yankee Stadium in 2008. Before 2008 the Yankees had not hosted an All Star Game since the 1977 season, ouch.

The first ever All Star Game was played on July 6, 1933 as the Chicago White Sox and Comiskey Park hosted the game. The All Star Game was not held in 1945 due to World War II. The biggest attendance for an All Star Game was 1981 with the Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Stadium hosted a staggering 72,086 fans on August 9th.

There are four active stadiums that have hosted All Star Games including Wrigley Field (1947, 1962, and 1990), Fenway Park (1946, 1961, and 1999), Angel Stadium (1967, 1989, and 2010), and Kauffman Stadium (1973 and 2012). Tropicana Field (Rays), Great American Ballpark (Reds), Citizens Bank Park (Phillies), PETCO Park (Padres), Nationals Park (Nationals), Yankee Stadium III (Yankees), Target Field (Twins), and Marlins Park (Marlins) have never hosted All Star Games. Target Field obviously will host their first tomorrow and Citizens Bank Park will host the game in 2015.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have not hosted an All Star Game since the 1980 season, Washington Nationals have not since they were the Montreal Expos in 1982, The Twins haven't since 1985 before tomorrow, The Athletics have not hosted one since 1987, the Reds have not hosted one since 1988, and the Chicago Cubs have not hosted a game since 1990.