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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Lauren Theisen

Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays is hit by a pitch

The All-Star Game Was Funereal

Sarah Borus

Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches

Is There Any Limit To Zack Wheeler’s Spite?

Pitcher Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch

Hell Hath No Fury Like A Pitcher Scorned

Ray Ratto

Ernie Clement #22 of the Toronto Blue Jays smiles ahead of playing against the Philadelphia Phillies in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on June 9, 2026 in Toronto, Canada.

The People Have Spoken: Ernie Clement Is The Best Player In The American League Now

of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates after hitting three home runs in three swings to win the Inaugural All-Star Game Swingoff. The Bills Week logo is at lower left.

Bills Week

The All-Star Game’s Confusing Ending Fit The Bill For A Confused League

Tom Ley

Bill Skarsgard In His Nude ‘Nosferatu’ Getup Would’ve Been A Better MLB All-Star Week Host Than Pat McAfee

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<p class="sc-77igqf-0 bOfvBY">Vince Guerrieri is an award-winning journalist and author in the Cleveland area. He likes Lake Erie perch sandwiches, Jim Traficant and long walks on the field at League Park. His website is <a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="http://vinceguerrieri.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;http://vinceguerrieri.com/&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]">vinceguerrieri.com</a>, and you can follow him on Twitter <a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="https://twitter.com/vinceguerrieri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;https://twitter.com/vinceguerrieri&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]">@vinceguerrieri</a>.</p>
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Vince Guerrieri

An American soldier stands in the Zeppelin stadium and looks towards a Nazi swastika, Nuremberg, Germany, 1945. The stadium, along with two others, was used by Adolf Hitler to hold many Nazi rallies. (Photo by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

They Almost Played An All-Star Game At Nuremberg

This All-Star Game Belonged To The Bullpen Hellions


<p><a href="https://twitter.com/robertfoconnell" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert O’Connell</a> is a writer from Kansas living in New York. His work has appeared in <em>Sports Illustrated</em>, <em>The Atlantic</em>, <em>The New York Times</em>, and elsewhere.</p>


Robert O’Connell

Dan Uggla in the 2008 MLB All-Star Game, striking out.

No One Will Ever Have A Worse All-Star Game Than Dan Uggla

Dave McKenna

Rays Week

The Night Ray Fosse Got Hit By A Train

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JULY 05: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels waves after advancing to second base against the Boston Red Sox in the fifth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 05, 2021 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

I Have Done It, I Have Fixed The All-Star Game

David Roth

Pablo Sandoval circles the bases after homering, blithely unaware of the controversy to come.

MLB All-Star Game