ANAHEIM—**The three Chicago representatives for Tuesday night’s 81st All Star Game here at Angels Stadium are all set to try to help their League get Home Field Advantage for the World Series. Since Bud Selig(with prompting by Fox-TV)implemented the “Home Field for the Fall Classic” rule in 2003, the American League has won all seven All Star Games. Most were close and a few were blowouts,but even with Home Field for seven straight World Series, the A.L. has won just four of those series while the N.L. took three. Pretty close!
**For Konerko, an All Star veteran,who helped keep the A.L. alive in the 2006 contest at Pittsburgh with a two out single(The A.L. then rallied past Trevor Hoffman and the N.L.)it’s more fun,but a chance to help the A.L. start game one of the Fall Classic at home again,and with the White Sox now in first place by a half game over Detroit at the break, it means even more for Konerko and first year All Star Matt Thornton.
**Marlon Byrd,an All Star for the first time,says he’s enjoying the experience so far and looking forward to Tuesday night. He also feels that even though the Cubs dropped three of four down the road at Dodger`Stadium over the weekend,the fact that the Cubs went 4-3 on this just finished road trip is a good sign. The Cubs obviously have a long uphill climb if they hope to get back in the N.L.Central race the way the Sox did in the A.L.Central.
**This will be the third ever All Star Game here in Anaheim. Back in 1967,the NL won a 15 inning marathon 2-1 on a homer by Cincinnati’s Tony Perez. The Cubs Fergie Jenkins fanned 6 in his two innings of work. In 1989, future White Sox slugger Bo Jackson(then still with Kansas City)hit a long lead off homer for the victorious A.L.off former Cub Rick Rueschel(then with the Giants)to dead center field.
**The will be the 11th All Star Game in the State of California-the most of any State. Illinois and Missouri have hosted 7 Mid Summer Classics.Wrigley Field and Old Comiskey Park each have had three A.S.Games while in 2003, U.S.Cellular Field hosted.
**Despite the A.L. having the current seven game winning streak and thirteen in a row unbeaten(including the infamous tie in 2002 at Miller Park),the NL still leads the all time series 40-38 with two ties(in 1961 at Boston and of course 2002).
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