What Would Have Been: MLB All-Star Game and British Open

Instead of MLB All-Stars gathering this week for the Midsummer Classic at Dodger Stadium, players who haven't opted out of the season are at their home ballparks. They are going through summer camp before they finally get to open the pandemic-delayed season July 23-24. There also will be no final ride in Paris. While NBA and NHL players are also getting back to practice to resume their seasons, The Associated Press looks at some of the sporting events that had been scheduled the week of July 13-19:

MLB: Dodger Stadium will have to wait another two years to host the All-Star Game for the first time since 1980. Major League Baseball has already said that Los Angeles will now host the Midsummer Classic in 2022, which was the next available slot. Next year's game was already scheduled for the Atlanta Braves' Truist Park that opened in 2017. Earl Weaver and Chuck Tanner were the managers in the 1980 game at Dodger Stadium that the National League won 4-2, when Ken Griffey Sr. homered and was the game's MVP.

The American League has won the last seven All-Star Games, and 19 of the last 23. There was a tie in 2002, and the NL won three in a row from 2010-12. At least the All-Star Game no longer determines home field advantage for the World Series, like it did from 2003-16, so the absence of the game won't be problematic in that sense.

TRIVIA BREAK: When was the last time MLB didn't hold an All-Star Game, and where was that game supposed to be played? (Answers below).

BRITISH OPEN: Golf's oldest championship isn't being played for the first time since 1945. The British Open was scheduled for this week before getting canceled in April. After a pause for the pandemic, the R&A plans to still hold the 149th Open at Royal St. George’s next July. By effectively pushing its schedule back one year, the 150th Open will be...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/What-Would-Have-Been-MLB-All-Star-Game-and-15403554.php