The
2002 All-Star Game, held in Milwaukee, ended in controversy in the 11th inning, when both teams ran out of
substitute players available to
pitch in relief. At that point, Commissioner
Bud Selig, coincidentally a Milwaukee native and former owner of the Brewers, declared the game to end in a tie. The crowd booed and the media were highly critical of this unsatisfying conclusion.
To provide additional incentive for victory, Major League Baseball reached an agreement with the players union to award home-field advantage for the
World Series to the league that won the All-Star Game, for 2003 to 2004. Since then, the agreement was extended twice, in 2005 and 2006.<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-12>
[13]</SUP> Previously, home field advantage in the World Series alternated between the two leagues each year.
Even under the new rules, there is no guarantee that a repeat of the 2002 situation might not occur. To avoid future ties due to lack of eligible players, managers have been instructed to hold back, and have voluntarily held back, a few select position players and pitchers. This has resulted in some disappointment and controversy when those players are never actually used in the game.<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-13>
[14]</SUP> Such a
catch-22 has resulted in calls to allow limited re-entry of players who have been replaced during the game (in addition to catchers, which is already allowed), thereby giving the freedom to use all the players on the roster without restricting teams into a situation where no players are available.<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-14>
[15]</SUP>
<SUP></SUP>
A tie game could also be deemed a "suspended game" in which case it would become a tie if no make-up date was scheduled. It would be extremely difficult to find such a make-up date: Major League Baseball would have to postpone one or more days of the regular season and/or schedule the make-up date on the travel day between the regular season and the
Division Series.
However, there is an offday for all teams the day after the All-Star Game. If necessary, the game could be finished in the morning or afternoon on Wednesday.A Little