DENVER (AP) – Major League Baseball plans to relocate the All-Star Game to Coors Field in Denver after withdrawing this year’s Midsummer Classic from Atlanta because of objections to radical changes in Georgia’s voting laws, according to one person familiar with the decision.
The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Monday night because the MLB had not yet announced the change. The commissioner’s office is due to declare on Tuesday that the Colorado Rockies will host the game.
ESPN was the first to report the decision.
The MLB withdrew the July 13 game from Truist Park in Atlanta in response to Georgia’s voting rules that Republican Governor Brian Kemp quickly signed on March 25. Critics, including the CEOs of Delta Air Lines and Coca-Cola of Atlanta, condemned the changes as being too restrictive.
Georgia’s law includes new limits on postal voting and greater legislative control over how elections are held, amid pressure in Republican-led states to narrow voting options after former President Donald Trump made baseless allegations of widespread fraud in last year’s election.
Colorado has a Democratic governor in Jared Polis and a Democratic-controlled legislature.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred made the decision to transfer the All-Star events and Atlanta amateur draft after discussions with individual players and the Players Alliance, a black players organization formed after George Floyd’s death last year, said the commissioner in a demonstration.
Kemp promised to defend the measure, and other Republicans criticized the MLB’s action. Texas Governor Greg Abbott gave up making the first pitch at the Texas Rangers home debut on Monday and said the state would not attempt to host the All-Star Game or any other special MLB event.
Coors Field last hosted the All-Star Game in 1998, the fourth season for the stadium and the sixth for the Rockies franchise.
It is uncertain what kind of seating capacity there may be due to the restrictions of the COVID-19. The Rockies were able to sit during their first field home against World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers of 21,363 fans, which was 42.6% of normal capacity. The seats were in capsules and the standing areas were not available for fans to gather.
Players were also unable to sign autographs or throw baseballs in the stands, according to MLB coronavirus protocols.
Nolan Arenado may be back with the “home” team – the NL, not the Rockies.
Arenado was negotiated with the St. Louis Cardinals in the off-season, after being disenchanted with the front office because of the team’s vision. Arenado is a five-time All-Star winner and eight times a Gold Glove winner.
Arenado remains popular at Coors Field, with fans showing up over the weekend wearing his Rockies uniform and his version of the Cardinals. There will be a preview of Arenado back at Coors Field when the Cardinals play in Mile High City, July 1-4.
One thing is for sure: the Home Run Derby must be epic at altitude. Ken Griffey Jr. won at Coors Field in 1998 by defeating Jim Thome.
The last time the All-Star Game was in Denver, AL won NL 13-8, with Bartolo Colon winning and Ugueth Urbina losing. There were 31 hits, but only three for homers. Barry Bonds went out into the yard with Alex Rodriguez and Roberto Alomar, Baltimore’s second baseman who was selected as an MVP.
Colorado was represented in this All-Star Game by Dante Bichette, Vinny Castilla, Larry Walker and coach Don Baylor.
And who knows? Perhaps Bichette’s son Bo will make this year’s All-Star Game. Bo Bichette is a shortstop for Toronto.
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