Remember when the All-Star game used to be a game?

When many of the starters played all nine innings? Because they wanted to win? Because they had pride?

Then they made it into an event. A TV show. Network programming.

Players used to wear their team uniforms, and it was great to see the pride each player took in showing off their team. 

Then they threw all that away and created American League uniforms and National League uniforms. Because, after all, there is merchandise to be sold.

Then, instead of each player wearing the hat from his team, they created special edition hats. 

More merchandise to sell.

Then, someone from the School of the Blind, or at least the School of the Blindly Bad Design Taste, created this years’ All-Star hat.

There could not be an uglier hat. 

Maybe that’s the hidden genius here. Maybe someone in the hat design department thought, This year I will make a hat so hideously ugly, they will have to go back to each player wearing his own hat because no self-respecting player would wear this one.

As totally illogical as that line of thinking is, it’s the only logical thing that makes sense for how they came up with this.

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TODAY’S GAME: