DENVER (AP) – Major League Baseball plans to move the All-Star Game to Coors Field in Denver after pulling this year’s Midsummer Classic out of Atlanta over objections to sweeping changes to Georgia voting laws, according to one person who is familiar with the decision.
The person spoke to The Associated Press Monday night on condition of anonymity as MLB had not yet announced the move. The commissioner’s office was expected to declare on Tuesday that the Colorado Rockies will host the game.
ESPN was the first to report the decision.
MLB pulled the July 13 game from Truist Park in Atlanta in response to the Georgia voting rules that Republican government Brian Kemp quickly signed on March 25. Critics, including the CEOs of Delta Air Lines and Coca-Cola in Atlanta, have described the changes as too restrictive.
Georgian law sets new postal voting limits and more legislative control over how elections are held amid push in Republican-led states to reduce voting options after former President Donald Trump made unfounded claims about widespread fraud in last year’s elections.
Colorado has a Democratic Governor in Jared Polis and a democratically controlled legislature.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred made the decision to move the All-Star events and amateur draft out of Atlanta after discussions with individual players and the Players Alliance, an organization of black players formed after George Floyd’s death last year, said the commissioner in a judgment.
Kemp has vowed to defend the measure, and other Republicans have criticized MLB’s move. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott withdrew from throwing the first pitch at the Texas Rangers’ home opener on Monday, saying the state would not attempt to host the All-Star Game or other MLB special events.
Coors Field last hosted the All-Star Game in 1998, the fourth season for the stadium and the sixth for the Rockies franchise.
It is uncertain what type of seating is possible due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Rockies had a capacity during their first home stand against the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers of 21,363 fans, which was 42.6% of the usual capacity. The seats were in pods and there were no standing areas for fans to congregate.
Players were also not allowed to sign autographs or throw baseballs in the stands, in accordance with MLB coronavirus protocols.
Nolan Arenado may be back with the “home team” – the NL, not the Rockies.
Arenado was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals during the off-season after becoming dissatisfied with the front office about the team’s vision. Arenado is a five-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove winner.
Arenado continues to be popular at Coors Field, with fans appearing over the weekend in his Rockies uniform and his Cardinals version. There will be a sneak peek of Arenado at Coors Field when the Cardinals play in the Mile High City from July 1-4.
One thing is for sure, the Home Run Derby should be epic at height. Ken Griffey Jr. won it at Coors Field in 1998 by beating Jim Thome.
The last time the All-Star Game was in Denver, the AL defeated the NL 13-8, with Bartolo Colon taking the win and Ugueth Urbina defeating. There were 31 hits but only three for homers. Barry Bonds teamed up with Alex Rodriguez and Roberto Alomar, the second baseman from Baltimore to be selected for the MVP.
Colorado was represented in that All-Star Game by Dante Bichette, Vinny Castilla, Larry Walker and coach Don Baylor.
And who knows? Maybe Bichette’s son, Bo, will make this year’s All-Star Game. Bo Bichette is a short stop for Toronto.
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