June 28, 1957, Commissioner Ford Frick replaces three Cincinnati Reds on the National League’s All-Star team. Frick names Stan Musial, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron to replace Cincinnati's Gus Bell, George Crowe and Wally Post in the starting lineup. Cincinnati fans had stuffed the ballot box, electing eight Reds to the All-Star Game starting lineup. In the final vote tally, Musial is the only non-Red who would have started.

All-Star Democracy: A Fan-Fueled Tradition of Triumphs, Tinkering, and Tomfoolery

When it comes to fan participation, Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game may be the most democratic event in sports — for better or worse. Since the first “Midsummer Classic” in 1933, when fans mailed in newspaper clippings to select players, All-Star voting has mirrored America’s own messy, evolving love affair with elections.

The inaugural game, dreamed up by Chicago Tribune writer Arch Ward, featured a third-inning home run by Babe Ruth and gave Depression-era fans a rare chance to rally behind the sport. Early on, the selection process was a hybrid — fans and managers each had a say — but that changed in 1935 when the league turned the roster decisions over entirely to the managers. It wasn’t until 1947 that fans were again trusted to vote for the eight starting position players.

That trust, however, was short-lived. In 1957, Reds fans went ballot-stuffing wild, electing seven Cincinnati players to start. Commissioner Ford Frick intervened, removing two Reds and inserting Hank Aaron and Willie Mays instead. He also revoked fan voting rights, instituting team-issued ballots distributed evenly across clubs.

Fans didn’t get another shot until 1970, when waning All-Star interest led commissioner Bowie Kuhn to reintroduce fan voting. The timing was perfect — that year’s game ended in dramatic fashion when Pete Rose barreled over catcher Ray Fosse to score the winning run in the 12th.

Modern All-Star voting, especially since the internet era began, has kept up the tradition of absurdity. In 1999, a tech-savvy Red Sox fan wrote a program that submitted over 25,000 votes for Boston players before MLB caught on and tossed the results. Today, fans can vote up to 25 times online, a system that boosts MLB’s digital engagement while encouraging voter enthusiasm — or obsession.

Currently, fans vote for the starting lineup (nine in the AL due to the DH), while players, coaches, and managers help fill out the rest. A “Final Vote” adds one more fan-elected player, and every team must be represented on the 34-man roster — leading to inevitable selections of players who may not quite deserve the honor.

Through it all, the All-Star Game remains a quirky but enduring reminder of baseball’s deep roots in fan culture. Whether it’s a rising star riding a hot streak, a fading legend getting one last curtain call, or a baffling selection that defies all logic — every ballot cast is a vote for tradition, entertainment, and the enduring belief that every fan deserves a voice.

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TRIVIA:

Which gifted center fielder won the American League Most Valuable Player Award at age twenty-three?

Hint: #1 His father taught him to switch-hit.

Hint: #2 He is the only player to win the ALCS MVP award while playing for the losing team.

June 28, 1915 At Comiskey Park I, Recent University of Michigan graduate George Sisler makes his major league debut as a pinch hitter. Sisler stays on to pitch the last three innings, giving up no runs, in the Browns' 4 - 2 loss to the White Sox. At the plate, he goes 1-2 vs Jim Scott.

June 28, 1933 2B Billy Herman sets National League fielding records with 11 putouts in the first game and 16 for the twin bill, as the Cubs take a pair from the Phillies, 9 - 5 and 8 - 3.

June 28, 1940 Johnny Vander Meer, plagued with control problems, is optioned by the Reds to Indianapolis. Vandy was ineffective in the Reds' pennant drive last year and was knocked out in his only two starts this year.

June 28, 1951 At the Polo Grounds Monte Irvin clubs two homers off Ralph Branca as the New York Giants edge the Brooklyn Dodgers, 5 - 4. The second homer, a three-run shot in the 8th, gives the win to reliever Sheldon Jones. The Dodgers now lead the Giants by five games.

June 26, 1963 Chicago Cubs vs New York Mets Full Radio Broadcast

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June 28, 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Full Radio Broadcast

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June 28, 1960 New York Yankees vs Kansas City Athletics Full Radio Broadcast

June 28, 1959 Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Wally Post becomes the first major leaguer to throw out two runners from the outfield in one inning as his team loses to the Giants, 6 - 0. In the bottom of the first, the Phillies' outfielder nails Orlando Cepeda at second base and then starts a 9-6-3 double play on Daryl Spencer's fly ball to right field.

June 28 , 1966 --  Joe Morgan becomes the first Astro named to start in an All-Star Game. Unfortunately, Morgan had broken his kneecap three days earlier and is unable to play. He was hitting .319 at the time of his injury. On the field, Houston loses at Pittsburgh, 4-3, but remain a surprising fourth in the National League race.

June 28, 1974 At Cleveland, Indians outfield Leron Lee crashes into Boston Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk, knocking him out of the game. Fisk's left knee injury is so serious he will not return to action this year, and, with a broken arm sustained in next year's spring training, will not play until June 1975.

June 28, 1979, the Pittsburgh Pirates make a trade that will help them win the World Series. Pittsburgh acquires third baseman Bill Madlock, infielder Lenny Randle, and pitcher Dave Roberts from the San Francisco Giants for pitchers Fred Breining, Al Holland, and Ed Whitson. Madlock will hit .328 in 85 games for the Pirates and will contribute a .375 clip in the World Series.

Listen to great games from the June 28 in the 1970’s:

Yankees vs Orioles, Yankees vs Tigers, Tigers vs Red Soc, Toronto, Cleveland and more

June 28, 1984 -- At Fenway Park Dwight Evans capped hitting tor the cycle by blasting a three-run homer on reliever Edwin Nunez’s first pitch with two outs In the 11th inning, lifting Boston over Seattle. Evans is only the 4th player to accomplish the feat.

June 28, 1986, Phil Niekro of the Cleveland Indians and Don Sutton of the California Angels become the first 300-game winners to face each other during the 20th century. The Angels win the game, 9-3, but neither Sutton nor Niekro is involved in the decision.

June 28, 1987, rookie slugger Mark McGwire of the Oakland A’s hits two home runs, giving him a record-tying five longballs over his last two games. McGwire’s latest home run barrage helps lift the A’s to a 10-0 win over the Cleveland Indians.

June 28, 1987, At Yankee Stadium the talk of the day was all about Yankee starter Rich Rhoden and scuffing baseballs. Baseballs were constantly checked throughout the contest, a 6-2 Red Sox victory. In the 6th inning, Don Baylor of the Boston Red Sox moves past Ron Hunt when he is plunked by a Rick Rhoden pitch, after Rhoden gave up back to back hits by Wade Boggs and Jim Rice. Baylor is victimized for the 244th time, surpassing Ron Hunt. He'll end with 267, putting him 3rd on the list behind turn-of-the-century star Hughie Jennings.

June 28, 2001 Tony Gwynn battling injuries throughout the 2001 season, announces his retirement after 20 seasons in San Diego. The game after his announcement, Qualcomm Stadium fit 60,830 people to watch Gwynn. For the season, Gwynn only appeared in 71 games in his final season, hitting .324 in 102 at-bats. He was held to pinch-hit duty much of the year. The future Hall of Famer has the highest lifetime batting average (.338) among all active players. He became eligible for the Hall 0f Fame in 2007 and was a first-ballot Hall of Famer by a vote of 97.6%.

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