3 Up, 3 Down: Three best things about going to the MLB All-Star Game

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Family experience

Like a lot of coaching staff and players, the best perk of the MLB All-Star Game for John Gibbons is the opportunity to experience it with family. Gibbons has been to the All-Star Game twice, first in 2006 (American League won 3-2) and then again in 2013 (AL won 3-0).

“I had my two young boys on the field with me for the home run hitting contest,” said Gibbons. “When you’re on the field with them, you got your kids with you, it’s like wow, this is pretty awesome.”

Stars of the game

An obvious perk of the All-Star Game is the sheer talent you have an opportunity to meet. There were six current Hall of Fame players on the American League team in 2006 when Gibbons first went to the All-Star Game, including names like Roy Halladay, David Ortiz and even current Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s father, Vlad Sr.

Ortiz was also on the AL team when Gibbons went to the All-Star Game in 2013. Other superstars on the 2013 team, besides Ortiz, included Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Mike Trout.

Gibbons says, just walking around the clubhouse and meeting some of the biggest names in baseball is a great experience.

“The manager always gives a talk before the game, it’s pretty awesome to sit there.”

Team picture

Another great opportunity the All-Star Game offers is one that Gibbons unfortunately missed out on in 2013.

“People probably don’t even believe I went in 2013. I missed the team picture.”

Maybe Gibby spent a little too much time walking around the clubhouse because he said he had a 30-minute warning for the picture and the next thing he knew, the picture was being snapped.

“Talk about embarrassing. I’m not in the picture, but I was there, I was there.”

Never change, Gibby.