The Mets, and the rest of the baseball world, have watched Matt Harvey blossom into a potential All-Star Game starter (photo by twi-ny/mdr)
Jacob Javits Center, Citi Field, Central Park, Prospect Park, and other locations
July 12-16, free – $35
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The Mets and their fans have taken a whole lot of battering during the last few years, but they’ll be seeing different kinds of stars this weekend as the annual All-Star festivities come to New York City. From July 12 to 16, All-Star Fan Fest ($30-$35) takes place at the Javits Center, with autograph sessions, a collector’s showcase, games, auctions, batting and fielding practice, a pin trading center, base stealing, historical displays, the world’s largest baseball, and more, with appearances by such Hall of Famers as Lou Brock, Orlando Cepeda, Ferguson Jenkins, Juan Marichal, Phil Niekro, Gaylord Perry, and Ozzie Smith and such former Mets as Sid Fernandez, Bud Harrelson, Howard Johnson, Jesse Orosco, and Darryl Strawberry. Each day has a different theme: July 12 is Kids Day with John Franco and a Mr. Met Mini Bobblehead Giveaway, July 13 is Heritage Day with Edgardo Alfonzo and a Mookie Wilson Mini Bobblehead Giveaway, July 14 is Family Day with a Lil’ Teammate Figurine Giveaway, July 15 is Military Appreciation Day with a Military Patch Giveaway, and July 16 is Tribute Tuesday with the real Mookie Wilson and a David Wright Mini Bobblehead Giveaway. (Among the special promotions are Buy One Get One Free Friday and 2 for Tuesday, when tickets will essentially be half price.) On Saturday, the All-Star 5K & Fun Run makes its way through Prospect Park, raising funds for the Hurricane Sandy relief effort, with appearances by Frank Robinson, Tony La Russa, and members of the 1969 and 1986 world champion Mets.
The New York Giants are one of two former teams that get their own apple during all-star festivities across the city (twi-ny/mdr)
That night in Central Park, the New York Philharmonic and Mariah Carey will perform in the All-Star Charity Concert on the Great Lawn (advance free tickets required). On Sunday at 2:00, the All-Star Futures Game will be played at Citi Field, offering fans a chance to see such up-and-comers as Brandon Nimmo, Noah Syndergaard, Rafael Montero, Carlos Correa, Billy Hamilton, Taijuan Walker, and others. That will be followed by the All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game, featuring an all-star roster of athletes and entertainers suiting up, including Chris Rock, Kevin James, George Lopez, Ashanti, Boomer Esiason, Bernie Williams, Mike Piazza, Rickey Henderson, Chord Overstreet, James Denton, and Jennie Finch. On Monday night at Citi Field, as part of All-Star Workout Day, the Home Run Derby pits NL captain David Wright and his picks, Bryce Harper, Carlos Gonzalez (since replaced by Pedro Alvarez), and Michael Cuddyer, against AL captain Robinson Cano and his choices, Chris Davis, Prince Fielder, and one player to be named, most likely Miguel Cabrera (the last spot ultimately went to Yoenis Cespedes). After all the fanfare — don’t forget about the thirty-five team apples that together form Apples on Parade throughout the city — the day of the actual All-Star Game arrives, as Tuesday begins with the All-Star Red Carpet Show at 1:00, a car parade of current and former players and managers being driven down Forty-Second St. from Bryant Park to Second Ave. Finally, that night, the game itself will be played, with the biggest mystery being who will be named the National League starter, with all of New York hoping — no, insisting — that Bruce Bochy pick Matt Harvey. There will be no controversy over who will be throwing out the first pitch, as that honor has been given to the best right-handed pitcher in the history of baseball, the Franchise himself, George Thomas “Tom Terrific” Seaver. Unfortunately, the Mets and MLB do not make it easy for fans to buy individual tickets for the All-Star Game, instead packaging them as strips with other events, although you can try your luck on StubHub, where standing-room-only starts at $227.