MLB All Star events are ramping up in Cleveland ahead of tonight's Home Run Derby and tomorrow's Midsummer Classic. Fans "representing basically every" MLB club packed the Play Ball Park fan festival yesterday afternoon, taking in "hands-on activities and cool displays throughout Huntington Convention Center" (CLEVELAND.com, 6/8). Day 3 of the festival saw Baseball HOFers Gaylord Perry and Rollie Fingers, former MLBer Sandy Alomar Sr. and more "visiting with fans" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 7/8).
In yesterday's Celebrity Softball Game, The World Team bested Team Cleveland 21-16. Among the highlights, Lila Thome, daughter of Baseball HOFer Jim Thome, "belted out the National Anthem to perfection" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 7/8). Rock supergroup The Baseball Project played a Sunday afternoon concert at the Rock & Roll HOF, where they will perform "two more times" this week: today at 1:00pm ET and tomorrow at 3:00 (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 7/8).
ESPN.com looks at how the Home Run Derby "became America's national pastime." The Cleveland PLAIN DEALER looks at the logistics behind the massive American flag that will be seen at Progressive Field during the All-Star Game.
