I think the reason that it has lost it's luster is the over-exposure of professional sports on tv today.
When I was a kid in the 1970s, I looked forward to the All-Star game because you never had a chance to see National League players until the playoffs/World series each year. Not every Red Sox game was on television when I was young and you obviously didn't have ESPN, cable tv, satellite tv, etc. which shows you highlights of every game on a loop for each morning.
Also, with interleague play and free agency, players move from team to team and league to league on a regular basis. Back before free agency, or in it's infancy, there was more league pride. It was National League players vs. American League players. Now players change teams and leagues too frequently, so that "Us vs. Them" mentality has been lost.
|