2013 MWBL CHRISTMAS CLASSIC HOME RUN DERBY
Honolulu Hawaii – The weather was a perfect 72 degrees and the winds were warm, but not more than 10 miles an hour.  Twelve Mid-West Baseball League players (Six (6) from the American League & Six (6) from the National League) were participants in the eleventh (11) Annual Christmas Classic Home Run Derby.
2013 ALL-STAR GAME
It was a rival & heated All-Star game with some bad blood along with three hit batters and two ejections. In the bottom of the 4th inning with the National League & holding a 2-0 lead & Justin Verlander (Sacramento) on the mound the American League Miguel Cabrera (Severn) laced a double to left center.  Prince Fielder (Representing Tijuana – since traded to Jersey) was clapping and laughing as Miggy slide into 2nd base was not the most graceful of attempts.  Verlander didn’t like Fielders antics and pointed at Fielder. 
Fielder mouthed something back and the two exchanged words. On the very first pitch Verlander nailed fielder in the ribs & dropped him to the ground.  A pop out to center and a infield fly gave Verlander a chance to get out of the 4th inning with the lead still intact.  Adam Jones (Detroit) strode to the plate & pointed his bat (Babe Ruth like) to Center field. Again Verlander yelled in, Jones yelled back, and both benches started to enter the field. The Umpires, Jim Joyce, Adrian Johnson, Marvin Hudson, Mark Carlson, Teddy Barrett & Dan Iassogna did a great job settling things down no punches were thrown. But Verlander took things into his own hands. After a strike one on the inside corner with a curve, Verlander came back with a inside fastball that hit Adam Jones just above the knee – and that was all, home plate umpire Dan Iassogna tossed Verlander from the All-Star Game. Iassogna also stepped in between Verlander & Jones, and again the other umpires did a great job stepping in between any players before things got out of Control.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE 2013 MID-WEST BASEBALL LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME
2013 CHRISTMAS CLASSIC PARTICIPANTS
The 2013 Christmas Classic will be held on December 24th, in Honolulu Hawaii at Hohokam Park.
How is the MWBL going to handle the Christmas Classic Home Run Derby? This is an idea that came from a league (BUNT), that I check out from time to time, and think has a great web site. Dave Snyderman one of the members came up with the idea a few years ago and which has been refined somewhat as they went along. The MWBL refined the idea a little more, and adopted the concept for the Christmas Classic Home Run Derby.
Continue reading