All-Star Tuesday: The Most Wonderful Day of the Year

This is gonna be one of those gorgeous evenings that Seattleites suffer through the fall, winter and "spring" for, but we won't be enjoying it. Roast a marshmallow at Golden Gardens for us, because we'll be in our basement watching the All-Star Game.

Seattle fans--at least the ones that we know--get especially revved up for the All-Star Game, and we think it's because, growing up, it was the one time that Mariners got any national coverage at all. Sometimes, not even that--in 1986, Jim Presley was the M's one representative, and he didn't get into the game. On the local news that night, the TV sports anchor tried to spin it, mentioning that Presley "was featured in TV shots of the dugout."

That wasn't even the low point. In 1989, Jeffrey "Hac-Man" Leonard was the M's representative--he got an at bat in the 7th, looked at three straight strikes, and sat back down. Didn't even swing.

But--glory to God--Griffey was a starter the next year. And in 15 of the 18 All-Star games since, the M's have had at least one starter. Mind-boggling. The joy of seeing a Mariner start an All-Star game hasn't worn off for us, not one bit.

Tonight, Ichiro--who's kept the All-Star starter thing alive with six starts in his seven ML seasons--will be the first batter of the game as the leadoff hitter for the visiting American Leaguers. Go Ichiro! Go M's! Go AL! First pitch is 5:25.

You can buy that 1990 Leaf Jeffrey Leonard card for 15 cents at CheckOutMyCards.com