A little confession: I've always been more of an American League guy. The designated hitter doesn't bother me. I grew up in Seattle, watching too many sub-.500 Mariners teams. I moved to Red Sox/Yankees territory during the height of the rivalry in the 2000s and saw the passion up close. I liked George Brett and Kirby Puckett and emulated Cecil Cooper's batting stance while playing whiffle ball (the Brewers were in the AL back then, kids). I was not happy when the National League won the 1979 All-Star Game at the Kingdome, damn you, Lee Mazzilli.
The antipathy between the leagues that existed back in 1979 is no longer near the level that Pete Rose and friends carried it to back in the day.