The All-Star Game itself? Pretty boring, even by its own standards. The American League strung together three runs off Cristopher Sánchez in the first inning, and the only other run of the game was Miguel Vargas’ home run in the eighth.
The National League got just three hits, none from a Phillies player. But for the fans in the building, the pageantry of the day made it well worth the trip.
“It was super impressive,” said Stefanie Lollis, a Phillies fan who flew up from Lake Mary, Fla., with her husband for the game. “A lot of the stuff that was around it on the field: the fireworks, the different things, the kids riding out on their bikes.
“It’s very touching, some of the little moments they had out there in between innings and stuff,” said her husband Chris Lollis. “I figured Philly would do a great job with this. I’m very impressed.”
Demand was so high for the All-Star Game and the Home Run Derby that prices on secondary markets outpaced the World Cup semifinal between France and Spain on Tuesday. But fans found plenty of ways to get in the All-Star spirit outside of just the two marquee events, at the All-Star Village and the red carpet.
The All-Star red carpet at Independence Hall was open to the public without tickets. One father and son waiting on the bleachers hoping for a glimpse of Mike Trout flew in from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., for the weekend.
The trip was a Christmas gift for Oscar Borello, who attended the All-Star Game with his father in 1989 in Anaheim. While Tuesday’s game didn’t provide a moment quite as iconic as the leadoff 448-foot Bo Jackson home run in that game, he cherished the opportunity to share the experience with his own son.
“Philadelphia is the best city that we’ve traveled to as tourists,” Borello said. “It’s phenomenal to share this with my son.”
He was curious to hear the reception to Millville native Trout, returning to the All-Star festivities for the first time since 2023, and starting in the game for the first time since 2019. “I hope it’ll be good. I think Mike Trout being healthy is good for the game of baseball in general” Borello said.
Trout earned a huge ovation, and so did Delco native Kevin McGonigle, playing in his first career All-Star Game. Justin Verlander, retiring at the end of the year, also got big cheers.
Aside from the Phillies themselves, though, they were basically the only ones. After earning some scrutiny for heavy boos during the Home Run Derby, Philly fans came right back on Tuesday, booing every player on an NL East team, teams they’ve recently lost to in the playoffs (Houston, Arizona, the Dodgers), the Yankees, Home Run Derby champion Jordan Walker, and also the Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski. Not even the mascots were safe — Mr. and Mrs. Met might’ve been booed louder than any player.
A fireworks show goes off before the start of the fifth inning.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
But, despite Kyle Schwarber’s loss, that electric Home Run Derby crowd was the highlight of the weekend, even for those who came in neutral.
“The Home Run Derby was just awesome,” Adam Dashner, who drove in from Pittsburgh with his dad for the weekend. “I think Philadelphia is a good city for that. They played up the heckling for everybody who’s not a Phillie. It was a real hometown crowd. I loved it.”
Philly has a reputation for having some of the toughest fans in professional sports — and Monday night was a clear reminder why they’ve earned that reputation. During the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park, fans booed anyone without Philly affiliation.
“I thought it was a pretty impressive atmosphere last night,” said Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan. “Just seeing the Home Run Derby, [Philly fans are] always going to have a good time and they want to win. So, yeah. Respect it.”
As Boston Red Sox slugger Willson Contreras made his entrance, the crowd rained down boos at Citizens Bank Park. Contreras quickly embraced the villain role, putting his hand to his ear as fans let him have it.
“They’re great,” said Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski. “They’re really passionate. It’s cool to see fans that really, really care about it and want their guys to win. So yeah, they can get a little overboard from what normal people are, but think it’s really cool and it seems like a fun place to play. And I’ve talked to a couple of the guys about it and they say they love playing here. So, super cool.”
And nobody was safe — not even the kids in the outfield tasked with tracking balls short of being home runs. After a failed attempt, some took heat from the Philly crowd, while others were cheered for their successful catches.
“To be honest, I didn’t see [the Home Run Derby,]” said Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman. “But they’re passionate, man. I got to give them credit.”
“They’re passionate, man. I got to give them credit.” — Adley Rutschman on Philly fans pic.twitter.com/XGdWCO3phP
Overall, the visiting teams have enjoyed the energy behind some of the most passionate fans in sports.
“[Philly] is great,” said Cleveland Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana. “The fans are very intense and they love it. It’s been beautiful weather and an awesome environment.”
Although fans let opposing teams have it on Monday, they were a lot nicer on Tuesday on the red carpet at Independence Hall. While no players were booed, the same can’t be said for a certain mascot from Atlanta.
Walking across the red carpet, Blooper, the Braves’ mascot, was welcomed with boos from the Philly crowd.
This doesn’t come as a surprise due to Blooper’s history with Philly fans, dating back to when the Braves and Phillies met in the National League Division Series in 2023.
After trying to pick a fight with the Phanatic on social media, Philly fans came to their mascot’s defense. Now, three years later, it seems like they’ve still held on to the grudge.
As baseball fans tune in to the All-Star Game, they may notice the advertising campaign that suggests the public supports Major League Baseball’s recent proposal for a salary cap.
Nonsense, according to the MLB Players Association.
“The supposed stewards of the game have spent an inordinate amount of time trying to convince fans that they shouldn’t have hope, or that they don’t have hope, or that the product they’re paying to consume in record numbers is somehow broken,” MLBPA interim executive director Bryce Meyer said Tuesday in a meeting with the Baseball Writers Association of America. “I think it’s perverse.”
MLB is running the ads with the slogan “Level the Playing Field” on MLB.TV. The collective bargaining agreement is set to expire on Dec. 1, and the owners maintain that a cap-based system is necessary to achieve greater competitive balance.
In addition, commissioner Rob Manfred has claimed that feedback from fans, obtained through public polling, is central to the league’s desire to implement a salary cap.
The players have historically opposed a cap. And with the sides at odds over the very structure of the sport’s economic system, a work stoppage seems likely, even at a time when MLB is experiencing increased attendance, strong television ratings, and an uptick in overall interest.
Manfred, who met with the BBWAA after Meyer, cited a $441 million disparity between the teams with the highest and lowest luxury-tax payrolls. Meyer countered by noting that the low-budget Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays are leading their respective divisions at the All-Star break.
“It gives Bruce talking points,” Manfred said. “But from our perspective, the more important issue is, what’s the aggregate data over time? Our view of the world is that over a very long period of time, there’s a very strong relationship between [payroll] and who gets into playoffs and who proceeds.”
Manfred was asked why the league would launch an advertising campaign if the fans didn’t need to be swayed.
“I think when you have a difficult public issue, particularly when the other side of the issue is being very public about what their views are on the negotiation, I think it’s incumbent on us to keep our fans informed of our view of the world,” Manfred said. “Particularly given sometimes the other side may not be completely accurate or fair in terms of their recitation of what’s going on.”
Negotiations on a new agreement began in May and will continue until the existing CBA lapses, at which time the widespread expectation is that the owners will lock out the players and effectively shut down the sport. In 2021-22, MLB experienced a 99-day lockout before an agreement was reached in mid-March, before regular-season games needed to be canceled.
With the talks still in their early stages, Manfred and Meyer each presented a united front. Manfred said the owners are “more united than any group in my entire time in baseball.” Meyer countered by saying MLB will try to break the union by appealing to rank-and-file players closer to the bottom of the pay scale.
It was against that ominous backdrop Tuesday night that MLB held the All-Star Game in Citizens Bank Park, with its “Level the Playing Field” ad campaign in full force.
“There’s something wrong with that,” Meyer said. “Look, we’re in a bargain year. Both sides engage in media efforts. We do it. Sadly, we don’t own our own TV network.”
You can take the baseball players off the field, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to stop sporting coordinated outfits.
The All-Star red carpet ran through Independence Mall on Tuesday before that night’s All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, and the stars were putting their stellar fashion skills on display, as fans saw a lot of coordinated outfits between families.
Here are some of the best looks from the All-Star red carpet:
Brandon Marsh
Sometimes the best outfits are less about the clothes and more about the overall look, and with a head of hair like Brandon Marsh’s, there’s little the clothes have to do.
Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh with dry hair? We didn’t know that was possible.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Marsh wore his signature locks notably dry and tied back with an all-black look from shirt to pants, jacket, and shoes.
But he wasn’t just bringing the fashion, he also was offering tips on haircare.
The Phillies outfielder shared his hair routine with MLB Network’s Kait Maniscalco, stating that he doesn’t do much beyond washing it once or twice a week, usually after day games, and then, of course, wetting it every inning.
“I just water it every inning just like you do the grass or the flowers,” Marsh said.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (left) greets Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber and family on the red carpet.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Kyle Schwarber
Kyle Schwarber might hit bombs, but his son apparently slings webs and is the real superhero in the family.
The Schwarbers wore similar shades of blue as they walked the carpet. Schwarber’s two sons, Kade and Asher, wore matching blue suits and white shirts, while Kade struck a Spiderman pose in the family’s picture. Schwarber’s wife, Paige, who was credited with coordinating the family’s look, wore the same shade in her blue-and-orange patterned dress as she carried their 6-month-old daughter, who wore a cream tulle dress with flowers, down the carpet.
Monday night’s Home Run Derby runner-up matched his daughter in a cream suit while coordinating with his wife and sons in a pinstriped button- up in a different shade of blue. The family completed the look with white shoes; the boys and their father in sneakers, and Paige in white heels.
The first family of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Freemans, brought their charm to Philadelphia, also wearing coordinated family outfits but with an earth-tone theme.
All three sons, Charlie, Brandon, and Max, wore linen button-ups and pants in neutrals matching their father’s beige suit with a white shirt underneath.
Freeman’s best accessory, however, was newborn daughter London, whom he carried on the red carpet. The almost 3-month-old also matched the family in a beige outfit of her own, complete with a pink headband and bow. His wife, Chelsea, wore a green satin mid-length dress to tie the looks together.
Freddie Freeman takes the MLB All-Star red carpet with his wife, Chelsea, and their 4 children and says baseball means everything to them:
“I would have never met her without baseball either. It sent me to Orlando, Florida and I got to meet my wife.” pic.twitter.com/KzLuJuaavO
Paul Skenes and his girlfriend, former LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, walked the carpet together in coordinated black-and-blue outfits.
The Pirates ace wore a blue suit with a subtle plaid pattern and black details at the collar. He tied it together with a blue tie, an American flag tie clasp, black sunglasses, and black patterned shoes which Skenes called his “alligator boots.”
Dunne said once Skenes said he was wearing blue and black, she found a dress to match. The gymnast turned actress and influencer wore a black halter-neck gown with blue waist detail and minimal jewelry to coordinate.
Detroit Tigers rookie Kevin McGonigle made his All-Star red carpet debut in his hometown and walked the carpet with his parents.
The 21-year-old shortstop wore a green patterned suit with a blue button-up underneath. He completed the look with a matching blue pocket square, brown shoes, and sunglasses.
McGonigle didn’t specify whether the green was an ode to his hometown football team or his high school, Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast, but he did have his high school’s logo on the inside of his jacket, along with the All-Star Game logo and a Delco patch. He also shared what it means to walk his first red carpet in the city he grew up in.
“Growing up in Philly, being able to have this experience in my home city, it’s really special, and I’m sure I’m going to see some more people down the red carpet,” McGonigle told MLB Network’s Lauren Shehadi.
As details emerge on the personalized video that Bryce Harper says he unknowingly recorded on behalf of FanDuel for a sports-gambling addict, Major League Baseball is confident that the Phillies star didn’t violate any league policies.
“I think the important thing is that Bryce’s activity was not a violation of the basic agreement,” commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday in a meeting with the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. “We made sure about that, and we’ll continue to try to figure out exactly how we ended up, where we ended up on that.”
MLB’s collective bargaining agreement, which will expire Dec. 1, allows players to appear in advertisements or make personal appearances for casinos, racetracks, or sportsbook companies, as long as they do not encourage betting on baseball.
The Inquirer obtained a copy of a 21-second video from November 2024 in which Harper offered a greeting to a bettor, Terry Thompson, who wagered $18.5 million with FanDuel and lost $1.5 million, according to a lawsuit that the Public Health Advocacy Institute filed in March in Common Pleas Court in Philadelphia.
Harper posted to Instagram on Monday that he thought he was just doing a message on the site Cameo — where celebrities are paid to record videos for fans — but “what happened here went beyond anything I knew about or approved.”
“I did not know this video would be used for commercial purposes,” Harper wrote, adding that he read a script “in good faith” before FanDuel put its own logo on the video and used it as a gambling promotion. “I did not know FanDuel would do this, I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it.”
Harper declined to comment beyond his initial statement on the advice of counsel.
Manfred said he’s “aware of the situation” and Harper’s statement about it, but said “I’m not really certain that I know all of the underlying facts well enough to evaluate the behavior.”
Harper will be in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Citizens Bank Park. He was selected as the commissioner’s “Legends Pick,” one spot on each league’s roster that is filled by Manfred.
I understand some folks on social media are very upset with Phillies fans for booing every baseball player but their own during the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on Monday night.
To those whom we’ve offended, may I humbly say: BOOOOO!!! There’s no crying in baseball, you whiny babies.
I wasn’t there in person so sadly I can’t claim to have been a part of the cacophonous crowd that joyfully jeered player after player as they walked onto the field (except, of course, for Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, who received thunderous applause), but I did laugh like hell while watching the incessant booing on TV.
Philly literally booed these guys just for daring to show up and be introduced at our ballpark. We are so unserious.
Our humor is just as brutal as our honesty and while it may not seem like it on the surface, both come from a place of respect. Sure, we could be fake and feign applause for players from other teams, or we could be “polite” and not say anything at all, but we’d rather be engaged and enjoy a good time and a good ribbing.
Heck, Monday night Phillies fans booed one of the kids picking up baseballs in the outfield because he didn’t catch a fly ball, so yeah, puppies and sunshine should be on high alert.
Over on Threads, users posted: “How totally classless!” and “The Philly crowd booing every single player is really gross” and those people were rightfully and immediately ratioed. Philadelphians responded with brilliant retorts like: “If you don’t get booed in Philly, you’re not an All-Star” and “If those players didn’t want to be booed, they should play for the Phillies.”
You know who didn’t seem to have a problem with the boos? The players who actually got booed! They appeared to get it and have fun with it. Every story that’s really a home run needs a good antagonist and a dramatic arc. For that night, they were our Moriartys and we were theirs.
Phillies Bryce Harper climbs the ropes of the boxing ring during his introduction at the MLB Home Run Derby in Philadelphia on Monday.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
If you can’t stomach some theatrics when the Home Run Derby is broadcast on Netflix — there was a boxing ring on the field and Will Ferrell was providing unhinged commentary — then you probably should’ve watched the Little House on the Prairie remake instead, Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Listen, I understand being surprised by the boos if you’re not familiar with Philadelphia’s dark and dystopian joie de vivre. Before I moved here, I don’t think I’d ever booed anything in my life or had ever been booed, and I couldn’t imagine a scenario in which either would happen (outside of my nightmares and Renaissance fairs, that is).
But after 19 years in Philly, I can now proudly say I’ve been booed in person, over the phone, via email, and on social media by Philadelphians, and I have participated in many communal and individual booing sessions. I didn’t realize how cathartic it could be or how much I’d been suppressing my medieval side, but I know now and have vowed to boo better.
Philadelphia Phillies fans boo the Houston Astros after batting practice ahead of baseball’s World Series Game 5 in 2022. We boo people at batting practice and you’re surprised we booed players at the Home Run Derby? Charles Fox / Staff Photographer
Most recently, I booed a tourist I was interviewing on July 2 when she told me she was visiting Philly through the 3rd and then heading to Boston to celebrate Independence Day on July 4. I did give her a pass when she later said her son and grandson lived in Boston, but I did not apologize. We can’t be getting soft around here.
I mean this is a city where our mascots throw popcorn at babies, harass opposing coaches, and eat people while at work — and they’re the ultimate Philly fans, so expecting us to treat baseball like the ballet is totally bananas (and I’m not talking about the Savannahs).
For those who remain offended, I suggest looking in a mirror and asking: When is the last time I booed something? If the answer is “never” or “not in a while,” give it a go — you may not realize how much you’ve been holding back.
And if you don’t want to boo yourself, turn on a Phillies game and boo us. We’ll take the compliment, because we can take a joke.
Tom Burgoyne was selling computer supplies for six months after graduating from Drexel when he saw a listing in the newspaper that said “mascots wanted.” It didn’t say who was looking for mascots or where the job would be located. Burgoyne, who was the mascot in high school at St. Joe’s Prep, didn’t need to know.
“I sent my resume to the P.O. Box,” Burgoyne said. “I thought I’d be like the Hamburglar or the Statue of Liberty at tax time. And then the Phillies called.”
Burgoyne aced his audition and spent five years as the backup Phillie Phanatic before becoming the main man inside the flightless bird from the Galápagos Islands.
But Burgoyne has long protected the mascot like a professional wrestler protecting the business.
He’s not the Phanatic. He’s the Phanatic’s best friend. He talks about the mascot in third person — “The Phanatic will be busy on Tuesday,” Burgoyne said of the All-Star Game — and does his best to separate the man from the bird. He knows another big-league mascot who is a teacher during the day but keeps his other job so secretive that people in his school don’t know he’s a mascot.
“I respect the hell out of that,” Burgoyne said.
So Burgoyne, who is participating in his 30th All-Star Game, needed some convincing to peel back the curtain for a documentary expected to premiere later this year about the character he brings to life every summer. But then Burgoyne remembered watching a documentary about the Muppets that showed Jim Henson pulling the strings for Kermit The Frog. If Henson could do that, then Burgoyne could talk about what he does.
Tom Burgoyne, the man inside the Phanatic, posed for a portrait with some of the children’s books he’s written at Citizens Bank Park in 2024.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
The documentary — which is titled Big Phan — is directed by Flourtown native Hoag Kepner, the brother of longtime baseball writer Tyler Kepner. It tells the history of the mascot, Burgoyne said, and “has a lot of heart.” And it allowed Burgoyne a chance to admit that he’s more than just a friend of the Phanatic.
“You never want to think that there’s someone in the costume,” Burgoyne said. “I can look at an old clip of the Phanatic and I’m not thinking, ‘Oh, that’s me in there.’ I’m just thinking ‘That’s the Phanatic.’ You want that magic to stay alive.”
Burgoyne’s first All-Star Game was in 1996 at Veterans Stadium when Major League Baseball invited every mascot for the first time. The mascots were told to dress across Pattison Avenue at the Spectrum before the Home Run Derby, but the locker rooms were under construction when they arrived. So they took over the Vet’s umpire dressing room, which equipment manager Joey Dunn had already set up for the next day’s All-Star Game.
“Here come the mascots trashing the place on Monday,” Burgoyne said. “MLB has learned a lot over the years.”
The game has become the annual gathering of the mascots as they didn’t have a reason to come together before MLB started to invite them each July.
Burgoyne was in Boston in 1999 when Ted Williams returned to Fenway Park. He was in Pittsburgh when Ryan Howard won the 2006 Derby, and he was in New York in 2008 when they played 15 innings. But his favorite memory is the one that leaves him wondering what could have been.
The mascots were taking turns sliding down Bernie Brewer’s slide in Milwaukee during the 2002 Home Run Derby when the Phanatic took his turn.
“I think someone had to give him a shove with their foot,” Burgoyne said.
The big, feathery green thing neared the bottom of the slide just as Sammy Sosa homered off it. The Phanatic could have made a play.
“I’m telling you, the Phanatic was coming down the slide and it just missed,” Burgoyne said. “If the Phanatic slid two seconds earlier, he could’ve caught it on the fly in the slide. It’s such a regret. It would’ve been the ESPN Play of the Day.”
The mascot arrived in Philadelphia in 1978 and was brought to life by Dave Raymond, who retired after the 1993 season. The schtick has been fine-tuned in nearly 50 years, but the main elements have remained unchanged. Burgoyne makes fans allow themselves to believe that what they’re seeing is real. Because he’s not in the costume. He’s just a friend. And he has no plans of stopping.
“I’m still having fun,” Burgoyne said when asked how much longer he has in the gig. “I’ve been thinking of David Montgomery a lot and when they announced the All-Star Game so long ago for him, I was like ‘2026? Someone else can do that.’ But here we are. When you’re having so much fun, why not?”
The American League won the 2026 MLB All-Star Game 4-0, shutting out the National League in front of a sellout crowd at Citizens Bank Park in South Philly.
Phillies batters struggle as American League wins All-Star Game
Phillies Bryce Harper waves to the fans during the sixth inningElizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Well that was rough.
The American League blanked the National League 4-0 in the MLB All-Star Game in South Philly Tuesday night, where the only real fireworks were during a recreation of “The Sandlot.”
Phillies’ batters didn’t help much. Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Brandon Marsh went a combined 0-5 with three strikeouts.
Starting his first All-Star Game, Cristopher Sánchez struggled, giving up three runs on three hits. Teammates Jesús Luzardo and Jhoan Duran pitched well during their limited time on the mound.
Overall, the National League managed just three hits against dominant American League pitching, which recorded 15 strikeouts.
The AL has won 11 of the last 13 All-Star Games, for those keeping score.
Phillies fan nabs a souvenir that will ‘go into a case for life’
Phillies fan David MacDonald and his dad, Jim, after catching a Brandon Marsh foul ball. Abraham Gutman / staff
David MacDonald will leave the MLB All-Star game tonight with a souvenir.
The 23-year-old from Cape May caught a ball Brandon Marsh fouled in the second inning.
“My dad and I have been talking about going to the All-Star game even before it was announced it was here,” MacDonald said. “I shed tears during the national anthem and everything.”
Adding to the lore of what is guaranteed to be a story told and retold in the MacDonald household, father Jim MacDonald was in the bathroom for Marsh’s at bat.
The ball instantly became the young MacDonald’s most prized possession, he said, and it will immediately “go into a case for life” after the game.
The father-son due are Phillies diehards, and like so many children and their parents, they’ve bonded over their love of baseball.
“It means everything to us,” the young MacDonald said. “This is one of the coolest days of my life.”
A recreation of ‘The Sandlot’ at the All-Star Game
A recreation of The Sandlot scene was shown, and then those kids rode bikes onto the field to meet the players, all while “America the Beautiful” from Ray Charles plays.
Sánchez gives up three runs in All-Star Game start
Cristopher Sanchez walks off of the mound after pitching the first inning.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Upon being introduced Tuesday night, Cristopher Sánchez stood in the bullpen, hands on his hips, tapped his chest and saluted the crowd.
It was all downhill after that.
Sánchez, the first Phillies pitcher to start an All-Star Game since Roy Halladay in 2011, labored through a 34-pitch first inning in which he faced eight batters and gave up three runs on three hits.
The trouble for Sánchez began with a one-out single from the Astros’ Yordan Alvarez. Sánchez walked Shea Langeliers of the Athletics, and two batters later, walked the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. to load the bases.
With action in the National League bullpen, Sánchez allowed back-to-back RBI singles to the Yankees’ Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice to drop the NL in a 3-0 hole before Kyle Schwarber led off the bottom of the first.
Sánchez came into the All-Star Game with a 2.62 ERA, ninth among all pitchers. But he quietly struggled before the break. He gave up nine runs in 3 1/3 innings in his worst career start July 6 in Kansas City, then dodged 10 hits in allowing only two runs in seven innings last Saturday in Detroit.
The full Philadelphia sports fan range of emotion in seconds, in equal passion applauding Kyle Schwarber and booing Juan Soto. pic.twitter.com/k8C7Y5iBSK
Jennifer Hudson performs before the start of the All-Star Game.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerActor Miles Teller introduces the All-Star Game to fans and viewers on Fox. Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerJhoan Duran, Jesús Luzardo and Bryce Harper during player introductions.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
// Timestamp 07/14/26 7:59pm
Big cheers for Phillies All-Stars during player introductions
Kyle Schwarber passes Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy during batting practice.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerLos Angeles Angles centerfielder Mike Trout prepares for batting practice.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer(From left) Phillies’ Jesús Luzardo, Pirates’ Braxton Ashcraft, Phillies’ Jhoan Duran, and Dodgers’ Justin Wrobleski talk during batting practice.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff PhotographerPhillies interim manager Don Mattingly watches batting practice.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
// Timestamp 07/14/26 5:47pm
Brandon Marsh’s dry hair among best looks from the MLB All-Star Game red carpet
Brandon Marsh waves during the All-Star red carpet event.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
You can take the baseball players off the field, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to stop sporting coordinated outfits.
The All-Star red carpet ran through Independence Mall on Tuesday before that night’s All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, and the stars were putting their stellar fashion skills on display, as fans saw a lot of coordinated outfits between families.
Sometimes the best outfits are less about the clothes and more about the overall look, and with a head of hair like Brandon Marsh’s, there’s little the clothes have to do.
Marsh wore his signature locks notably dry and tied back with an all-black look, from shirt to pants, jacket, and shoes.
But he wasn’t just bringing the fashion, he also was offering tips on haircare.
The Phillies outfielder shared his hair routine with MLB Network’s Kait Maniscalco, stating that he doesn’t do much beyond washing it once or twice a week, usually after day games, and then, of course, wetting it every inning.
“I just water it every inning just like you do the grass or the flowers,” Marsh said.
Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton to throw ceremonial first pitches
Tonight’s ceremonial first pitches will be thrown by a pair of Phillies legends, Hall of Famers Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton.
Receiving the pitches will be two other Phillies greats, Hall of Famer Scott Rolen and 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels. #AllStarGamepic.twitter.com/PFRYN89wra
All-Stars talk Philly fans and ‘impressive’ Derby atmosphere
A fan celebrates after catching a home run from St. Louis Cardinals All-Star Jordan Walker during the Home Run Derby.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philly has a reputation for having some of the toughest fans in professional sports — and Monday night was a clear reminder why they’ve earned that reputation. During the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park, fans booed anyone without Philly affiliation.
“I thought it was in a pretty impressive atmosphere last night,” said Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan. “Just seeing the Home Run Derby, [Philly fans are] always going to have a good time and they want to win. So, yeah, [I] respect it.”
And nobody was safe — not even the kids in the outfield tasked with tracking down the non-home runs. After a failed attempt, some took heat from the Philly crowd, while others were cheered for their successful catches.
“To be honest, I didn’t see [the Home Run Derby,]” said Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman. “But they’re passionate, man. I got to give them credit.”
“They’re passionate, man. I got to give them credit.” — Adley Rutschman on Philly fans pic.twitter.com/XGdWCO3phP
Phillies fans cheered loudly for Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper on Monday night. The other Home Run Derby contestants? They got a different reception.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
The boos at Monday’s Home Run Derby may have surprised some but it’s nothing new in Philly.
Fifty years ago, the fans at Veterans Stadium provided the soundtrack at the All-Star Game just like they did on Monday at Citizens Bank Park. The fans booed the rival Reds players during pregame introductions and roared for the Phillies. The Reds, who would beat the Phillies that October in the playoffs, had no issue with the South Philly serenade.
“They’ve got people in this town who boo the crack in the Liberty Bell,” said Pete Rose, who was one of five Reds in the starting lineup. “So I knew I’d get a few raspberries playing third base instead of Mike Schmidt. If the game was in Cincinnati and there were that many Phillies voted into the lineup, they would be getting boos. These people are going to hate us a lot more come October.”
The All-Star Game has grown substantially since 1976 as the midsummer classic is now a week-long event. But it’s a safe bet that it will sound like 1976 during pre-game introductions on Tuesday night. Mets, Braves, Dodgers, and even some others: cover your ears.
“I think the important thing is that Bryce’s activity was not a violation of the basic agreement,” commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday in a meeting with the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. “We made sure about that, and we’ll continue to try to figure out exactly how we ended up, where we ended up on that.”
MLB’s collective bargaining agreement, which will expire on Dec. 1, allows players to appear in advertisements or make personal appearances for casinos, racetracks, or sportsbook companies, as long as they do not encourage betting on baseball.
The Inquirer obtained a copy of a 21-second video from November 2024 in which Harper offered a greeting to a bettor, Terry Thompson, who wagered $18.5 million with FanDuel and lost $1.5 million, according to a lawsuit that the Public Health Advocacy Institute filed in March in Common Pleas Court in Philadelphia.
Harper posted to Instagram on Monday that he thought he was just doing a message on the site Cameo — in which celebrities are paid to record videos for fans — but “what happened here went beyond anything I knew about or approved.”
“I did not know this video would be used for commercial purposes,” Harper wrote, adding that he read a script “in good faith” before FanDuel put its own logo on the video and used it as a gambling promotion. “I did not know FanDuel would do this, I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it.”
Harper declined to comment beyond his initial statement on the advice of counsel.
Manfred said he’s “aware of the situation” and Harper’s statement about it, but said, “I’m not really certain that I know all of the underlying facts well enough to evaluate the behavior.”
Harper will be in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Citizens Bank Park. He was selected as the commissioner’s “Legends Pick,” one spot on each league’s roster that is filled by Manfred.
Photos: Check out the Phillies All-Stars on the red carpet
All six of the Phillies All-Stars took to the red carpet Tuesday on Independence Mall, sporting their freshest outfits with their families joining in on several of the looks. Here’s how they looked …
Phillies pitcher Jesús Luzardo and his wife, Francesca Sue Luzardo.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhillies closer Jhoan Duran and his family.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhillies outfielder Brandon Marsh.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerGov. Josh Shapiro (left) greets Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and his family.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez and his family.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhillies first baseman Bryce Harper and his wife Kayla Harper.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
// Timestamp 07/14/26 2:45pm
Bryce Harper talks Home Run Derby and red-carpet fit
Greg Amsinger loves his red carpet outfit, but Bryce Harper isn't the biggest fan.😂
Harper spoke about what it means to represent the @Phillies in their home ballpark at the #AllStarGame!
Gameday Central: Previewing the All-Star Game — and the trade deadline
The All-Star Game is back in Philly for the first time in 30 years, and The Inquirer has you covered. Join Phillies reporter Scott Lauber and Phillies beat writer Lochlahn March for a special All-Star episode of Gameday Central at 2 p.m.
They’ll be on site at Citizens Bank Park to discuss All-Star week, recap the Phillies’ first half, and look ahead to the trade deadline and beyond.
// Timestamp 07/14/26 1:57pm
The stars are here: Watch the MLB Network Red Carpet show
// Timestamp 07/14/26 1:18pm
Fans arrive on Independence Mall ahead off red carpet
Farr: Stop whining about the boos at the Home Run Derby
A fan reacts after catching a home run from Tampa Bay Rays Junior Caminero during the MLB Home Run Derby on Monday.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
I understand some folks on social media are very upset with Phillies fans today for booing every baseball player but their own two during the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park Monday night.
To those whom we’ve offended, may I humbly say: BOOOOO!!! There’s no crying in baseball, you whiny babies.
I wasn’t there in person so sadly I can’t claim to have been a part of the cacophonous crowd that joyfully jeered player after player as they walked onto the field (except, of course, for Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, who received thunderous applause), but I did laugh like hell while watching the incessant booing on TV.
Philly literally booed these guys just for daring to show up and be introduced at our ballpark. We are so unserious.
Our humor is just as brutal as our honesty and while it may not seem like it on the surface, both come from a place of respect. Sure we could be fake and feign applause for players from other teams, or we could be “polite” and not say anything at all, but we’d rather be engaged and enjoy a good time and a good ribbing.
Heck, last night Phillies fans booed one of the kids picking up baseballs in the outfield because he didn’t catch a fly ball, so yeah, puppies and sunshine should be on high alert.
All-Star Game in Philly: Here’s how to watch and stream
Joe Davis (left) and Hall of Famer John Smoltz will call tonight’s All-Star Game on Fox.Fox Sports
The Phillies will be well-represented in tonight’s MLB All-Star Game (8 p.m., Fox), which is back on Fox for the 26th straight year.
Cristopher Sánchez will start for the National League, and two Phillies players will be in the starting lineup — Kyle Schwarber and Brandon Marsh. Bryce Harper, Jesús Luzardo, and closer Jhoan Duran are also on the National League squad.
Calling the game is Fox’s World Series crew — play-by-play announcer Joe Davis and Hall of Famer John Smoltz. Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci will report from Citizens Bank Park.
How to stream the All-Star Game
The game will stream live on the Fox Sports app, although it’s only available there for cable subscribers. It will also stream live on MLB.TV, although the subscription service is hardly worth it for Phillies fans in the Philadelphia market due to its blackout rules.
The game can also be streamed on a host of services that carry Fox, including FuboTV, Hulu With Live TV, DirecTV Stream, Sling TV, or YouTube TV. If you live near Philadelphia, you can also watch it for free using a digital antenna, since Fox 29 is a broadcast channel.
Other All-Star Game coverage
Fox Sports will begin its live coverage at 7 p.m. with a pregame show hosted by Kevin Burkhardt alongside analysts Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and David Ortiz.
The MLB All-Star Red Carpet Show will begin at 2 p.m. on MLB Network.
All-Star Game lineups: Kyle Schwarber will lead off for National League
Kyle Schwarber finished second in Monday night’s Home Run Derby.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The starting lineups for Tuesday night’s MLB All-Star Game were revealed by the teams’ respective managers Monday at Citizens Bank Park.
The lineup behind Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez, who gets the start on the mound for the National League, will begin with his Phillies teammate, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber. Outfielder Brandon Marsh will bat seventh for Dave Roberts’ NL squad.
Here’s a look at the full order:
Kyle Schwarber, DH, Phillies
Juan Soto, LF, Mets
Freddie Freeman, 1B, Dodgers
CJ Abrams, SS, Nationals
Max Muncy, 3B, Dodgers
Ozzie Albies, 2B, Braves
Brandon Marsh, RF, Phillies
Andy Pages, CF, Dodgers
Drake Baldwin, C, Braves
Meanwhile, here’s a look at the starting lineup for John Schneider’s American League side, behind starting pitcher Dylan Cease of the Blue Jays:
Some of MLB’s biggest stars are missing from this year’s All-Star Game
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani isn’t at the All-Star Game.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
The best player in Major League Baseball — a player who can make a claim to being the greatest baseball player ever — will not play in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park.
The best player on the most popular team in Major League Baseball — a player who hit at least 53 home runs in three of the previous four seasons and is among the most recognizable figures in the sport — will not play either.
And the best pitcher for the franchise that is hosting the game — a pitcher who can make a claim to being the best starter in the majors for the last several years — wasn’t initially selected to be an All-Star, then was, then rejected the invitation.
If the stars everyone wants to see don’t play, does the All-Star Game still make a sound? It was a question worth contemplating Monday. It wasn’t the only one. The players who will make up the American and National League rosters Tuesday night plopped down on chairs along Ashburn Alley for the game’s media availability, and the juice wasn’t quite what it might have been.
The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani has irritation in his left knee. The Yankees’ Aaron Judge has a stress fracture in his right rib. The Phillies’ Zack Wheeler has a bruise to his ego.
Kyle Schwarber falls in Home Run Derby heartbreaker
Kyle Schwarber looked set to take his first Home Run Derby title before Jordan Walker went on a late frenzy.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Kyle Schwarber needed to take a breath.
Schwarber went deep seven times in a nine-swing span in the semifinals of Monday night’s Home Run Derby. With three swings left, he needed to regroup.
And so, Schwarber did what any slugger in a hometown Derby would. He took a beat and waved to the Phillies fans in sold-out Citizens Bank Park to make more noise.
Schwarber won the round and nearly the Derby. But the Cardinals’ Jordan Walker, who drew cheers from the 43,863 paying customers after each swing that didn’t result in a homer, smashed four homers in a row in bonus time to eke out a 12-11 victory in the finals.
It marked Schwarber’s third career Derby and second runner-up finish. He came in second to Harper in 2018 in Washington, then Harper’s home ballpark. Four years later, they became teammates with the Phillies.
There would be no rematch this time. Harper hit eight homers in the first round and didn’t advance despite crushing a 482-footer that disappeared beyond the second deck in right field before touching down in Ashburn Alley.
Philly road closures due to tonight’s All-Star Game
All-Star Game banners are in place around town.Conor Smith / Staff
Independence Mall will see road closures in place from 5 a.m. to midnight Tuesday due to the MLB Red Carper show, which begins at 2 p.m.
Those closures will affect:
Fifth and Sixth Streets from Arch to Walnut Streets
Market and Chestnut Streets from Fourth to Seventh Streets
Ranstead and Sansom Streets from Sixth Street to Seventh Streets
Philadelphia police, the city said, may institute additional closures in the interest of public safety.
All roads affected by closures will also be temporary no-parking zones, the city said. If vehicles are parked in those locations during the times they are closed, the vehicles will be moved.
Drivers who may have had their cars moved should contact the police district of the area where their vehicle was parked, the city said.
To accommodate fans heading to Citizens Bank Park, SEPTA will run six additional express trains on the Broad Street Line, also known as the B Line, to NRG Station before and after the All-Star Game.
Free rides on the line from NRG Station will also be available at select times during those events. Free rides begin after the sixth inning of the All-Star Game Tuesday, the city said.
When Rafael Peña throws to Kyle Schwarber in the batting cage, he likes to challenge him. The Phillies designated hitter will get a steady stream of curveballs, changeups, and sliders.
He’ll also get some trash talk. Peña jokingly dares the slugger to scrape out a hit. These sessions are meant to prepare; not to please. “We really don’t do a lot of feel-good BP,” Schwarber said.
But when the DH was deciding whether to participate in the Home Run Derby, it was Peña who came to mind. The assistant hitting coach has thrown more batting practice to Schwarber than anyone in the organization (with the exception of Kevin Long, who coached him before he arrived in Philadelphia).
So, Schwarber asked him if he’d be his pitcher about 10 days ago while the Phillies were on the road. But Schwarber hadn’t announced that he was participating in the Home Run Derby. The coach assumed he was talking about cage work.
“He asked me what I was doing,” Peña said. “And I was like, ‘I’m going to be in Philly.’ And he was like, ‘Do you want to throw to me? Do you want to throw BP to me?’
“And I was kind of like, ‘What do you mean?’ And he was like, ‘Well, in the Derby.’ I throw BP to him all the time. I didn’t know if maybe he was going to stay late one of the days or something like that.”
Kyle Schwarber electrified the Citizens Bank Park crowd in the Home Run Derby but came up just short of a title. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Peña agreed, and the two men got to work. On Saturday, when the Phillies were in Detroit, Peña, Schwarber, Long, and bullpen catcher Brad Flanders took a car service to Comerica Park.
They arrived hours before game time, and long before the rest of the team got there. Peña measured the exact distance from the plate that he’d be positioned in the Derby and set up behind an L screen.
Flanders, wearing the same bright red glove he’d later use on Monday night, bent into a crouch. Schwarber stepped up to the plate. Peña began firing pitches middle, middle-in.
The assistant hitting coach called it a “practice round.”
“We did 20 [pitches] and he hit 13 out of 20,” Peña recalled. “And then we did a 15 round and he hit nine out of 15.”
Long, who was watching from a few feet away, gave his stamp of approval.
“K-Long was just like, ‘Just feed it in there,’” Peña said. “‘You don’t need to go too crazy. Just feed it in there. Flandy has a big target, big red target.’”
It ended up being a harbinger of Schwarbombs to come. Two days later, with Peña behind the L-screen, the Phillies DH put on an epic performance in Citizens Bank Park, falling one home run short of winning the Home Run Derby.
Schwarber started slow — falling short in his first five tries — but gained momentum as the night went on. He finished his first round with 10 home runs, his semifinal round with nine, and his final round with 11.
He seemed like he was guaranteed a win, until Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker crushed 12 home runs a few minutes later (an especially impressive feat, given that the crowd was actively rooting for his demise).
Even though this wasn’t the result the Phillies wanted, for Peña, it was still a meaningful moment. The assistant hitting coach was born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where his father, Rafael Sr., took him to his first baseball game at the age of 7.
Rafael Sr. was in the stands on Monday night. He had family and friends following along from the Dominican Republic. His daughters, Sophia and Isabella, were cheering him on from home in Oklahoma City.
Phillies assistant hitting coach Rafael Pena has a strong rapport with Schwarber, which was evident on Monday night. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
“They called me [today]. They’re like, ‘Hey Daddy, are you ready? Have you practiced?’” Peña said. “It’s fun.”
Peña said on Monday afternoon that if Schwarber hit like he did on Saturday, he’d have a good chance of winning it all. And his words proved prescient. Schwarber came incredibly close; Walker was down to his last swing.
But the baseball gods had other ideas, and Schwarber will have to wait another year, at least, for his next chance at the trophy. And if he calls, Peña will be ready.
“It’s special,” Peña said. “I’ve watched this since I was a little kid; every single Home Run Derby. So being a part of it is amazing.”
In the center of Ashburn Alley at Citizens Bank Park, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was surrounded by dozens of media members standing shoulder-to-shoulder, pushing their way through the crowd with mics in hand to ask the Dodgers pitcher a question.
And standing shoulder height to the other media members, getting pushed around in the middle of it all, was 12-year-old Philadelphia native Isabella Gonzalez.
12-year-old Philadelphia native Isabella Gonzalez getting right in the middle of the action for media day pic.twitter.com/LMw0iCHiSc
“So, I’m actually claustrophobic, I hate tight spaces,” Gonzalez said. “But when I was over there, because of how wild it was, I started to get smushed in. Everyone slowly started closing in.
“So, I felt someone’s shoulder go on my cheek. I didn’t want to be rude and fully shove them. Because like everyone was ahead of me, so I’m like rushing over. It was so chaotic. But I think it was easy to deal with because I can just be like, ‘Oh, excuse me.’ Or give them a light [shove].”
Despite her fear of tight spaces, she found her way to the front of the crowd, took a deep breath, and let her voice be heard.
My name is Bella. Congratulations on making it to All-Stars. I’m from Philly, but my family background is from Costa Rica and Puerto Rico. I have a question for you.
After getting out of the crowd, she let out a sigh of relief and was onto her next assignment: an interview with Phillies pitcher Jesús Luzardo — and this interaction would hold a special place in Gonzalez’s heart.
Earlier this year, Luzardo filmed a video for Gonzalez informing her that she was selected to serve as a Players Exchange Student Correspondent, where she would be interviewing MLB players during All-Star media day. Since then, he’s been a favorite for the Phillies fan.
Philadelphia student Isabella Gonzalez, 12, served as a Players Exchange Student Correspondent, interviewing MLB players during All-Star media day on Monday.Ariel Simpson
“My favorite [interview] was Jesús Luzardo,” Gonzalez said. “Obviously, he made a video for me. So, knowing that he was the player who made me a video and that the whole class had to watch me see that video, it made me happy because I feel like I could make a few connections toward him. My dad always told me about him … He was just telling me that he’s a really good guy and be proud that’s the man who made you a video.”
Gonzalez, a seventh-grader at Decatur Elementary School in Northeast Philly, has been part of the MLB’s Players Exchange program for a year. The program, designed for 11- to 14-year-old students, teaches collaboration, communication, and global connection through insight from MLB players.
Ahead of media day, Gonzalez was able to prep with her own media tour — making an appearance on PHL17.
Now, after conducting a number of her own interviews, pushing through crowds of reporters, and overcoming a fear of tight spaces, the 12-year-old is already thinking about a career in reporting.
“Everyone’s like, ‘You speak so fluently, you sound so good,’” Gonzalez said. “I’m like, maybe that’s going to be my future. One of my aunts messaged my mom and was like, ‘We’re going to have a reporter in our family.’ I was on the news on Friday and my mom was like, ‘I’m surprised how comfortable she was.’ How I got comfortable was I was just pacing around the green room.”
And after a day full of interviews in the heat, Gonzalez tied her hair up, tossed on her Phillies hat, grabbed her claw clip and was ready to enjoy the rest of the All-Star Weekend experience — attending the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game.
“What I found the most best about the whole thing was being able to learn more about the players and being able to ask any questions,” Gonzalez said. “I also like how they didn’t just give a tiny answer. They told you the reason behind the answer.”
