The 2010 MLB All Star Game is upon us and the nation will be watching as the 81^st Midsummer Classic sets off tonight at 8pm at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.  When the best players in Major League Baseball take the field for the American and National Leagues, great moments are bound to happen.  Here is a look at some top performances in All Star History.

When looking back on this year’s event three, five or 12 months from now…what great name(s) will join the likes of Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, Fred Lynn, Stan Musial and Cal Ripken, Jr. as accomplishing one of the greatest MLB All Star Performances?  Will it be Iminez?  Braun?  Ramirez?  Will the NL squad break the 13-year losing streak (We kinda hope so)? 

We want to hear what you think, so let us know! 

The Miami Arena hosted the 40th NBA All Star Game on February 11, 1990. There were just a few players you might be familiar with that participated in this game... here are the rosters:

East-Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, Isaih Thomas, Kevin McHale, Joe Dumars, Robert Parish, Reggie Miller, Dominique Wilkins, Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen.

West- A.C. Green, James Worthy, Hakeem Olajuwon, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, John Stockton, Tom Chambers, Clyde Drexler, David Robinson, Chris Mullin, Kevin Johnson, Rolando Blackman, Lafayette Lever and Karl Malone.

The East defeated the West 130-113, with seven players scoring double digits, led by Michael Jordan and Charles Barkely, each dropping 17. Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers, collected 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists for the West and received his first NBA All-Star Game MVP trophy in his ninth appearance at the event.

Check out some great highlights from the game!

If you're a regular reader of the Mitchell & Ness blog & facebook page then you already know that today is the 25th Anniversary of the 1985 NBA All Star Game.  Since we've already given you the info on this being MJ's All Star debut, let's focus on what else happened on this day at the Hoosier Dome.

• 43,146 people attended, making it the most attended NBA All Star Game to that date. That record was broken in 1990 when the game was played at the Houston Astrodome and will be crushed this year in Dallas at Cowboys Stadium.
• The West won the game, 140 - 129,  behind Houston's Ralph Sampson and his MVP performance of 24 points and 10 rebounds.  Magic Johnson was the second leading scorer for the West with 21 points and an amazing 15 assists.  For the East, Isiah Thomas tossed in 22 points and Larry Bird had 21.
  
• The East squad was coached by KC Jones while Pat Riley led the West to the victory.
  
• Michael Jordan contributed the games first basket and rebound.
• The game was tied at halftime and the West led by five at the end of the 3rd quarter.
• Most minutes played - Moses Malone (33).  Fewest minutes played - Robert Parish (10).

Check out this video which includes introductions of both squads.  Check out the warm-ups!  Our votes for favorites go to the Bucks and Jazz.  Your thoughts?

On January 20, 1970 the 20th Annual NBA All Star Game was played in our beloved, soon to be a pile of dirt, Philadelphia Spectrum. The Red Holzman led East came out on top with a 142 - 135 victory.  New York Knick Willis Reed took home the All Star MVP Award with 21 points and 11 rebounds.  The western squad, with Richie Guerin drawing up the plays, was led by Elvin Hayes and his 24 points and 15 boards (definitely would have been MVP if the west won.)  Jerry West, the NBA logo man himself, tossed in 22 points for the westerners.

Here are your 1970 All Star Starters:

East

• Willis Reed - 21 points / 11 rebounds
  
• Oscar Robertson - 21 points / 6 rebounds / 4 assists
  
• John Havlicek - 17 points / 7 assists
  
• Billy Cunningham - 19 points
  
• Walt Frazier - 7 points / 4 assists

West

• Elvin Hayes - 24 points /15 rebounds
  
• Jerry West - 22 points / 5 rebounds / 5 assists
• Elgin Baylor - 9 points / 7 rebounds
• Connie Hawkins - 10 points
• Lou Hudson - 15 points

Check out this great clip of some of the introductions and first quarter.

So did you notice those awesome warm-ups?  We love making those but have not made them in quite some time.  They just don't sell that well.  What are your thoughts, should we bring them back?

Also, on another All Star related note, stay tuned for a very exciting All Star announcement coming soon from your friends here at Mitchell & Ness.