Stars come out for ASG Red Carpet Show
SAN DIEGO -- There are two kinds of parades in Major League Baseball, and any player would want to experience both. The prime ride is obviously right after a World Series victory, but the All-Star Game Red Carpet Show presented by Chevrolet is another measure of greatness.
Just ask the Giants' Buster Posey, the National League's starting catcher on Tuesday night. He has seen plenty of both parades, and once again he was in the back of a truck with his wife and children, soaking in the feeling on his way to start the 87th All-Star Game presented by MasterCard.
"Fortunately, I can compare that one to the World Series parade," Posey said in the NL clubhouse after arriving from the 12th annual cavalcade of elites in the streets. "The difference, obviously, is you have fans of 29 other teams out there and you're always not sure what type of reception you'll receive from some of them. For the most part, they're great. There are a couple of them from the team down south of us that aren't so friendly, but it's all in good fun."
It remains to be seen whether Posey can earn a fourth World Series parade later this year, but for now, this was his fourth All-Star parade, with the first one in 2012 at Kansas City. The Red Carpet Show has become a midsummer institution, and this one began with All-Star spokespersons Trevor Hoffman and Dave Winfield, former Padres greats who were showered with love downtown.
#BossStatus �� pic.twitter.com/yti1tIpwpU
— MLB (@MLB) July 12, 2016
Then came the two All-Star managers, Ned Yost from the Royals and Terry Collins from the Mets, in a pair of Chevrolet Camaros, followed by the rollout of both rosters in Silverado and Colorado trucks. Then, finally, came the iconic Commissioner's Trophy from Tiffany, shining under the midday sun. The parade started at noon PT at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel and went to Petco Park.
"It's fun to just watch people and say hi, when we're just doing what we do," said starting American League third baseman Manny Machado from the Orioles. "You can't beat the weather."
Indeed, the weather was about as good as any All-Star parade before it. D-backs first baseman Paul Goldschmidt just rode in it for the fourth year in a row, and it does not get old -- although he concedes it can be just a tad uncomfortable for the humble at heart.
.@CarGo5 and co. are dressed to impress on the #ASGRedCarpet. pic.twitter.com/PZuCm7coj1
— All-Star Game (@AllStarGame) July 12, 2016
"The parade is actually really cool," he said. "Going into it you think it's going to be weird, I guess, because people are just like cheering for you and you just sit there. But to just see how excited people get when you drive by is fun. Now having my son and family there, to get him to do it with me and take pictures, it's really cool for people to experience it.
"Every time I get done I'm like ... you're a little hesitant because it's just weird to be in front of all those people and just sitting there. But they're excited to take pictures and see you, so it's something I've really looked forward to the last couple of years. It's fun for us, but for the fans, I think it's even more enjoyable."
Hang on to this autograph forever. #ASGRedCarpet pic.twitter.com/sr6dhA1d6f
— MLB (@MLB) July 12, 2016
Goldschmidt said he spotted D-backs fans along the route, and some suddenly friendly faces.
"Yeah, you look for the red from us, so there's a few in there," he said. "You know what surprised me, people are rooting for the league that their team is in, so all the Padres and Dodgers and Giants fans, they're usually talking trash to us, and now they're like, 'Come on, hit a home run for us,' or 'You're on my team today.'
#BigSEXY lookin' fly on the #ASGRedCarpet. pic.twitter.com/tpn8uAYLrI
— MLB (@MLB) July 12, 2016
The parade featured a 100 percent polypropylene carpet that will be recycled after its use. It was a free parade, and mascots marched up and down the route as well.
Mark Newman is enterprise editor of MLB.com. Read and join other baseball fans on his MLB.com community blog. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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