The All-Star Game 2007 played out at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California, home of the San Francisco Giants. With his home-team advantage, Barry Bonds should have reigned as the star of the 2007 All-Star Game. He did receive two standing ovations from the adoring crowd, who also stood to honor Giants legend and Hall of Famer Willie Mays during a pregame ceremony. But the real hero at the 2007 Midsummer Classic was Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, whose unique hitting style has established himself as one of the most singular performers in the Major Leagues. Suzuki recorded the first inside-the park homer in All-Star history and was selected as the game's Ted Williams Most Valuable Player. National Baseball Hall of Fame Vice President Jeff Idelson acquired the ball and one of Ichiro's hats as new additions to the museum's collection in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Since 2003, the league that takes home the All-Star Game pennant has been awarded home field advantage for the upcoming World Series. In 2007, the American League secured home field advantage for the sixth straight season.

All-Star Game 2007 was a blockbuster success in every respect: TV ratings, All-Star FanFest, and All-Star Game Red Carpet Show. According to Major League Baseball, 31.4 million viewers watched the 2007 game, and the 2007 DHL All-Star FanFest drew more than 125,000 people to the Moscone West Convention Center—the largest crowd in the show's 17-year history. On Tuesday, July 10, the third annual "MLB All-Star Game Red Carpet Show presented by Chevrolet" attracted more than 50,000 people.

The 79th All-Star game will take place on Tuesday, July 15, 2008, making Yankee Stadium—the "House that Ruth Built"—the first facility to host a Midsummer Classic in its final year of existence. The new Yankees Stadium, located just a few blocks to the north, will open in 2009. The Yankees, the Yankees organization, and even the Big Apple itself will be in the middle of transition. The All-Star Futures game will take place on Sunday, July 13, at Yankee Stadium, featuring the game's top Minor League prospects, and the Home Run Derby will be on Monday, July 14. The Chevrolet Red Carpet Show will precede the 79th All-Star Game, and the popular FanFest event will be held at the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan.

"Hopefully, I can go," said Derek Jeter, a Yankees captain and All-Star shortstop. "It goes without saying how excited we are as an organization to host the 2008 All-Star Game. I think it's only fitting that this is the first organization to host an All-Star Game in the farewell year [of its stadium]. We're excited, and I think everybody in baseball is excited. It's going to be a great event, and hopefully, there will be a few Yankees here."