I have always loved the game in its purist form but today's new rules have tainted it for me. Pitch clocks, bigger bases, limited pick off attempts, ability to challenge calls, electronic communication between pitcher and catcher, etc. etc. etc. It's just not the same game anymore. The 1970s was the peak decade in baseball in my opinion. That's the price of being old I guess.

When COVID hit and the season was delayed, my local FOX sports channel aired a lot of different things to fill the time slots. They showed the 1971 All-Star Game and I recorded it. To this day it is one of my most prized possessions. Twenty-two Hall-of-Famers would play in that game! The crowning jewel was Reggie hitting the light tower on the right field roof. I used to visit Tiger Stadium growing up and always wondered how somebody could possibly hit a ball that hard. It mesmerizes me to this day.

On cold winter days I'll watch that game and it always makes me smile.