As has become abundantly clear each year, the All-Star voting and selection process truly is a popularity contest in many ways. It’s intuitive that those teams with larger fanbases (Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies) will be able to outnumber the teams with smaller ones (Mariners, Orioles, D-Backs). Despite this numerical advantage, the league has done a reasonably good job in instituting certain changes that dilutes the popularity factor including posting each player’s counting stats during each voting phase. As a result, the All-Star rosters have become substantially more representative of the actual stars rather than just the players with the most jersey sales.
Thursday Tidbits: All Star Retrospective
