The 2002 MLB All-Star Game ended in a tie after 11 innings, which led Commissioner Bud Selig to overhaul the format. Starting in 2003, the outcome of the All-Star Game determined home-field advantage in the World Series. The league wanted players to take the game seriously, so fans and players adjusted their attitudes. One notable moment included Rafael Furcal getting called back after an interference play in the outfield. Despite being halfway to third, he was ruled to return to second because the ball was touched. Mike Scioscia argued the call, which felt strange in an exhibition setting, but the format now forced managers to treat the game like it counted.
Later in the game, the National League had a solid lead, but the American League came back. Hank Blalock hit a late home run to tilt the game, and the AL ended up winning. They earned home-field advantage in the World Series, but it didn’t impact the actual outcome of that year’s championship, making the whole thing feel pointless in hindsight. Despite the effort to add meaning, the new system didn’t change much in the end.