Cincinnati hasn’t hosted a show like this in 27 years, and the 1988 All-Star Game didn’t have near as much pomp and circumstance as the 86th All-Star Game will Tuesday. In fact, the Home Run Derby in 1988, which would have been the fourth ever held, was canceled because of rain.
The early forecast calls for a chance of rain Monday and Tuesday. In a wet summer, Cincinnati will just have to cross its fingers.
“It’s a great time for this city to be hosting this event,” said Phil Castellini, the Reds’ chief operating officer. “With everything going on downtown — Riverfront Park, Over the Rhine, Fountain Square, Washington Park — we, as a community, should be very proud to host this event.”
The fun started Friday with the opening of FanFest at the Duke Energy Convention Center. That continues until Tuesday.
There will be two wildly-different exhibitions today at Great American Ball Park: the Futures Game featuring a team of international prospects against a team of American talent and the All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball game featuring the rapper Snoop Dogg, the Ohio State coach Meyer and a long list of actors, singers and retired athletes.
Although the All-Star Game itself is the main attraction this week, the Home Run Derby has been long awaited. Great American Ball Park is often called Great American Small Park because home runs tend to sail out of the stadium at a high frequency. Some of the game’s top sluggers will compete to see who can hit the most home runs — and the longest.
Baseball action will be only part of the show Tuesday. Prior to the game, the Franchise Four, the four greatest living players of each team, as voted on by the fans, will be introduced on the field.
Other pregame highlights include:
• Grammy Award winner Ciara will sing the U.S. National Anthem. Leo Welsh will perform the Canadian Anthem.
• Four FA-18 Super Hornets from Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Va., will perform a flyover after the national anthem.
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