Bring the All-Star Game back to Cincinnati

Since 1991, 22 of the 30 current MLB franchises have opened new, baseball-specific parks.


The only exceptions (either older, non-specific to baseball, or both):
Toronto
Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Dodgers
Boston
Chicago Cubs
Oakland
Kansas City
Tampa Bay


Note that Toronto, Boston, Kansas City, the Angels and the Cubs have all hosted since 1990 anyway.


And because the A's and Rays both play in such abysmal stadiums, the Dodgers are the only team listed above whose long wait (since 1980) needs to be rectified.


But to get back on topic...


Of the 22 new parks, 15 have already hosted or been chosen as host of the Midsummer Classic, and the average wait was only 4.5 years from the the park's opening.




So 7 teams haven't been reciprocated, but the following four haven't been waiting very long:
Marlins (Marlins Park) - just opened in 2012
Twins (Target Field) -  just opened in 2010
Yankees (new Yankee Stadium) - opened in 2009, and they hosted the game in old Yankee in 2008
Nationals (Nationals Park) - opened in 2008




That leaves only 3 teams which have been "screwed" to any appreciable extent:
1) Cincinnati (GABP) - opened in 2003 (9 year wait) and haven't hosted since 1988 (24 year wait)
2) San Diego (PETCO) - opened in 2004 (8 year wait) and haven't hosted since 1992 (20 year wait)
3) Philadelphia (Citizens Bank) - opened in 2004 (8 year wait) and haven't hosted since 1996 (16 year wait)


2013 is already decided (Citi Field)
2014 will be in an AL park, likely Target Field
2015 is rumored to be a battle between Nationals Park and Marlins Park
2016 will be another AL year


As you can see, it will be a ridiculous injustice if GABP isn't chosen for 2017.  Even if the Reds get 2017, the 14-year wait would be a record for new MLB parks.

Cincinnati Reds All-Star Game History

The Reds were abysmal last night in the All-Star Game, going 0 for 6 with 4 strikeouts, plus an error by Jay Bruce. Here are the highlights and lowlights in Reds' ASG history.


Best combined hitting:


1) 1976. 7 for 14, 3 runs, 4 RBI, 1 HR. Bench, Concepcion, Foster, Griffey, Perez, Morgan and Rose. Foster's 3-run HR was the highlight.


2) 1956. 6 for 15, 3 runs, 2 RBI. Bailey, Kluszewski, Bell, Robinson, McMillan, Temple. Big Klu was 2 for 2.


3) 1954. 3 for 5, 3 runs, 5 RBI, 2 HR from only two players - Bell and Kluszewski.


4) 1980. 3 for 6, 3 runs, 1 RBI, 1 HR. Bench, Concepcion, Knight, and Griffey - who had the HR.


5) 1975. 5 for 15, 2 RBI. Bench, Morgan, Rose, Concepcion, Perez.


Honorable mention to 1967...only 1 for 4, but the hit was a game-winning HR by Perez in the 15th inning.




Best pitching:


1) 1940. 4 IP, 0 runs allowed. Derringer (got the win) and Walters.


2) 1990. 4 IP, 0 runs allowed. Armstrong, Dibble and Myers.


3) 1942. 4 IP, 0 runs allowed. Vander Meer and Walters.


4) 1938. 3 IP, 0 runs allowed by Vander Meer, who also got the win.


5) 1982. 2.1 IP, 0 runs allowed. Soto and Hume, who recorded a save.








Worst all-around:


1) 1995. 0 for 6 with 2 strikeouts at the plate. 2 runs allowed in 2 innings pitched.


2) 1965. 0 for 3 at the plate. 5 ER in 1.2 IP by Jim Maloney.


3) 2011. 0 for 6 with 4 strikeouts.


4) 1977. 2 for 12 with 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 HR. Five all-world guys should've done better with all those at-bats. And Seaver gave up 3 runs in 2 IP.


5) 1981. 0 for 5. Solo HR allowed in 1 IP.


Honorable mention to 1970 at Riverfront...if it weren't for Rose scoring the winning run, the Reds going 1 for 9 in the game would've been an embarrassment.




Best individual hitters, min. 10 AB:


1) Johnny Bench. 10 for 28


2) Ted Kluszewski. 7 for 14


3) Frank Robinson. 5 for 12






Worst individual hitters, min. 10 AB:


1) Barry Larkin. 2 for 18


2) Pete Rose. 6 for 27.


3) Joe Morgan. 6 for 24.