PHILADELPHIA — The MLB All-Star Game had not been as close to Boston as this season since Washington D.C. hosted in 2018, which was also known as a year to remember for Red Sox Nation.
Given the uncertainty of when Fenway Park will next host and the America 250 historical angle of this year’s Midsummer Classic, I decided to make the trip down I-95 to take in the festivities for the first time. Not at the game, but at FanFest and a watch party across from Citizens Bank Park.
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Here are the Red Sox-related takeaways from the Philadelphia visit:n
1. JERSEY WATCH
There were plenty of Red Sox fans strolling around the South Philadelphia Sports Complex before Tuesday’s contest, which is understandable given the relatively close proximity between the two cities.
The best Red Sox spotted jerseys in the wild?
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Red Nomar Garciaparra Jersey
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2008 All-Star Game (Old Yankee Stadium), believe it was David Ortiz?
2. ANDREW MILLER IS STILL REALLY TALL
Boston’s former reliever, most notably traded for Eduardo Rodriguez at the 2014 trade deadline, made the trip with the MLBPA, strolling around the block four hours before first pitch. You’ll always remember his extension in his delivery, but he certainly stuck out at six-foot-seven.
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3. THE RED SOX RETURN TO HOME RUN DERBY
Willson Contreras knows how to work a crowd and perform while doing it. The Red Sox have seen it all year long in his first season with the team. A whole new audience got that during the Home Run Derby when he slugged 21 total homers, including a 490-foot titantic blast, that left him just short of a trip to the finals.
Given that the Red Sox hadn’t produced any derby participants since David Ortiz and Adrian Gonzalez in 2011, Boston’s return to the event came in refreshing fashion thanks to the team’s undisputed first-half MVP.
Oh, and he did all of that with a suspension to finish serving Friday.
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4. LET CHAPMAN CLOSE!
Aroldis Chapman got the ball for the ninth inning to lock down the American League’s shutout win, though he did not get the final out. AL and Blue Jays manager John Schneider came to get Chapman with two outs in the ninth to get Rays reliever Bryan Baker into the game to give another pitcher a chance to participate as an All-Star.
I get the gesture and respect it, but just let Chapman finish it.
