Orioles hosting All-Star Game pushed back another year: Miami to be awarded 2017 edition

As recently as a few months ago, the Orioles were seen as the favorites to host the 2016 All-Star Game. There were two things working in their favor: It was the American League's year to host based on the recent pattern, and they had seniority among all cities with non-carpeted-or-sewage-overflowing stadiums. Then-outgoing Commissioner Bud Selig conveniently ignored all of that to award the '16 midseason contest to San Diego, a stadium where they built a shrine to him.

MLB will be continuing to avoid the American League, as the Miami Herald reported on Tuesday evening that the 2017 All-Star Game was all set to be hosted in Miami. That will make three straight years in National League parks with Cincinnati lined up for the 2015 game. If there's any consolation for Orioles fans in this news, at least that game isn't going to the Nationals. Then again, there's always 2018, which would make four straight NL parks hosting All-Star Games.

It's true that the NL has more new stadiums than does the AL. This year's host, Cincinnati, has not had the Game since their stadium opened in 2003. San Diego has been waiting since it opened its new stadium in 2004. Marlins Park opened in 2012, technically jumping ahead of the mall where the Washington pharmacy hosts its games. The Washington Post reported last month that previously scheduled conventions in July 2017 made it unlikely the city would try for that year's Game.

Are you really a major league city if you can't squeeze in a couple of conventions alongside of the All-Star Game? Come on. Get it together. You're supposed to be the mighty bigger market that deserves a hundred million dollars in television rights fees, Washington. This isn't making a very good case for yourself.

With Cincinnati, San Diego, and Miami getting scratched off the list in the next three years, the only stadiums left that have yet to host All-Star Games are in Tampa Bay, Washington, New York (Yankees), and Philadelphia. The post noted that the Phillies are keeping their powder dry for a 2026 All-Star Game to coincide with America's 250th birthday.

A July 4, 2026 All-Star Game in Philadelphia would pretty much be the most American event that ever America'd. We might be able to see the fireworks from Baltimore, which, I just want to point out, did not get any special consideration for last year's All-Star Game when it was the 200th anniversary of the penning of the Star-Spangled Banner.

The old Yankee Stadium got the 2008 All-Star Game as part of its sendoff, so turning around and giving the newer, moated incarnation of the Stadium so soon after that is not so likely. The Trop... well, you know.

Hey, maybe it'll happen for us in 2019.