Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Pizzazz at the ballpark
2017 MLB All-Star Game logo makes debut at Marlins Park
Marlins unveil logo for next year’s All Star Game in South Florida.
“I think Miami is a town that has a reputation for enjoying a good celebration.” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred
MIAMI — The countdown to July 11, 2017, is officially underway with the unveiling Wednesday of the logo for the long-awaited staging of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game at Marlins Park.
As to be expected, it’s a flash of color and pizzazz in keeping with the distinctive flavor of the ballpark, featuring the stylized marlin atop a star that forms the shield of the logo.
“I think the logo is absolutely fantastic,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said. “I think it has great originality, I think it fits not only with the city of Miami but the design of the ballpark, and I really could not be more pleased about the logo.
“Two of the people who worked on the logo are here today, and I actually stopped to speak to them both … because I think it’s so outstanding.”
The All-Star logo was revealed before the matinee series finale between the Marlins and Phillies, and moments thereafter merchandise featuring the logo went on sale in the team store and at MLB.com.
Marlins President David Samson said the logo will be prominently displayed around South Florida in the lead-up to the game. A large version of it will remain to the right of the main scoreboard above right field in the ballpark.
“I think the logo says Miami,” Samson said. “When you look at logos from years past, they tend to incorporate what the community is, and Miami is all about flair, it’s all about color, it’s all about the great entertainment, and hedonism as well.
“This logo certainly is an interesting logo. It incorporates the Marlins, Miami and colors. We are very excited about it.”
The wait for the All-Star Game has been lengthy, as the Marlins were originally selected to host it in 2000 at then-Joe Robbie Stadium. Two years before that, it was yanked and given to Atlanta amid controversy over the Marlins’ selloff of their 1997 championship team.
Ultimately, it took the building of Marlins Park in Little Havana, also a controversial topic locally, to get South Florida back in the running to host the game, which will occur in the Marlins’ 25th season.
Manfred joined with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and 1995 All-Star Game MVP Jeff Conine in unveiling the logo. Government officials looking on included Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who has been an outspoken critic of the ballpark funding deal.
“I think that there is a tremendous demand for All-Star Games now, probably unprecedented in terms of the history of the game,” Manfred said. “It was just a question of so many deserving cities being in line in front of Miami. No slight to the city of Miami; I think a number of people inside the game knew we were coming, it was just a question of which year.
“I think Miami is a town that has a reputation for enjoying a good celebration. We’re going to have a great celebration of the game of baseball.”
Miami will have a tough act to follow after a memorable event in San Diego earlier this month, which included Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton’s recordbreaking performance in the Home Run Derby.
Manfred said the format for the 2017 Derby has not been finalized. Although the trend has been to expand and add activities to the week, it sounds unlikely that a home run contest featuring pitchers would be part of the plan.
“The pitchers’ home run derby is sort of a difficult issue,” he said. “On the one hand there does seem to be some interest. On the other hand, I think there’s some reluctance among both pitchers and clubs because of the risk of injuries.”
Provided he is healthy, Stanton can be expected to compete in defense of his title, though he will be challenged to approach the 61 homers he hit during the contest at Petco Park.
“The Home Run Derby is one of those events where you look for one of our great players to step out and do something special for the fans,” Manfred said. “Todd Frazier did it in Cincinnati as a home-town guy the year before, and Stanton did it in San Diego. It was a truly awesome performance.
“I was actually there during BP. Those who didn’t get there early missed a good part of the show, because it was not just during he Derby. He put on quite a show during batting practice.”