Before Kirk Gibson’s epic home run in the 1988 World Series; before Ron Cey, Steve Yeager and Pedro Guerrero were named tri-MVPs of the 1981 World Series; before any current Dodger not named Jamey Wright, Juan Uribe or Josh Beckett were even born, there was an All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium. The date was July 8, 1980 – exactly 34 years ago today.

Since that date twenty-four new stadiums have opened, the Dodgers have had three ownership changes, the Dodgers have been at or near the top in attendance every year, and the Dodgers have paid millions in revenue sharing to almost every team that has had an All-Star Game since.

In the two-plus years that Guggenheim Baseball Management (GBM) group has owned the Dodgers, they have invested more than $200 million in stadium renovations. And even though Dodger Stadium is the third oldest stadium in all of baseball, it is and always has been one of the most beautiful ballparks ever constructed. It is one of very few remaining symmetrical ballparks and has the largest seating capacity of any current ballpark in major league baseball which, of course, translates into more revenue for MLB if they were to allow Dodger Stadium to host another All-Star Game.

The Dodgers had six players in the 1980 All-Star Game: Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell, Reggie Smith, Jerry Reuss and the late Bob Welch. (Photo credit – Jerry Reuss)

As most baseball fans know, the All-Star Game alternates each year between a National League ballpark and an American League ballpark, although this tradition has been broken twice in baseball’s modern era. In 1951 the Detroit Tigers hosted the Summer Classic to celebrate the city’s 250th birthday. It was broken again in 2007 when the San Francisco Giants hosted the event so that the 2008 All-Star Game could be held at old Yankee Stadium in it’s final season (the Yankees moved into their new stadium in 2009). Since 2009 the American League has hosted the All-Star Games on even-numbered years and the National League on odd-numbered years.

The venue for each All-Star Game is chosen by a MLB selection committee. The selection may be made to commemorate a particular historical occasion, the opening of a new ballpark, or a significant year. For example, the Phillies are holding off to bid for the 2026 All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park to commemorate America’s 250th birthday. The New York Mets successfully bid for the 2013 All-Star Game at their new ballpark, Citi Field, which opened in 2009. The Mets had not hosted an All-Star Game since 1964 – the longest drought in MLB All-Star history at 49 years. The Minnesota Twins successfully bid for the 2014 All-Star Game to be held next week at Target Field, which opened in 2010. The Twins have not hosted an All-Star Game since 1985 (hmmm…).

The 2015 All-Star Game has already been awarded to the Cincinnati Reds, which means that the earliest that an All-Star Game could be held at Dodger Stadium would be 2017. This would make it 37 years since the last All-Star Game was held in Los Angeles – the new longest drought between All-Star Games. And while you will never get MLB Commissioner Bud Selig or anyone else to ever admit it, it’s probably safe to say that Dodger Stadium wasn’t going host another All-Star Game as long as Frank McCourt owned the team.

To date only two MLB franchises have never hosted an All-Star Game, the Miami Marlins (although they were initially scheduled to host the game in 2000 but MLB moved it to Atlanta) and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Washington Nationals have yet to host an All-Star Game in their new Nationals Ballpark in Washington D.C., however, they did host one when they were the Montreal Expos in 1982. But don’t feel too sorry for our nation’s capital, there have been two All-Star Games played in Washington D.C. (1962 and 1969) by both former Washington Senators teams – one which later became the Minnesota Twins and the other the Texas Rangers.

Although it hasn’t been finalized yet, Selig has gone on record as saying that Baltimore’s Camden Yard is a “very, very viable candidate” to host the 2016 All-Star Game. Selig, who has already announced that he will be stepping down at the end of this season, also said “I just got done with the ’15 All-Star Game and I know I have to do ’16 and ’17.”

Before Dodger fans get too excited about the prospect of the 2017 All-Star Game coming to Los Angeles, Selig also said that Washington D.C. was a “prime candidate” to host the 2017 Summer Classic (do you see a pattern here?). “They’re making a very determined pitch,” Selig said. “We never announce these things until it’s appropriate.” Many believe that MLB snubbed Washington D.C. for the 2015 All-Star Game because of the lack of development around Nationals Ballpark.

Realistically, the chances of the Dodgers being awarded the 2017 All-Star Game are pretty good, especially with all of the stadium renovations that GBM has done (with more to come). But if for some reason Selig decides decides not to award the 2017 All-Star Game to L.A., he might not want to show his face around Chavez Ravine anytime soon because he’ll definitely hear about it.

Stay tuned…