Baseball fans are notoriously dedicated, some spending months managing a hypothetical roster of Major League Baseball (MLB) players or, in other words, participating in “fantasy baseball.” Participants must tackle a 162 game season and wildly inconsistent MLB statistics, so it is said to be the most complex of all fantasy sports. Whether you cannot get enough baseball and manage your own team of mock players, or you simply catch the games on TV, more and more fans are tuning in to watch the MLB All Star Game. Why?

Simple and Direct Fan Participation

Every year, the MLB All Star Game pits high ranking American League Baseball players and National League players up against each other. Fans, players, and managers pick 33 “all stars” per league, with fans getting the vote on the final, 33rd player. Fans choose between the top MLB all star voting leaders, casting their votes online. The first all star game took place on July 6, 1933, and the tradition of allowing fans to have a direct hand in who gets to play has continued ever since.

It Is A Two Way Street

Players, coaches, and officials making up the league appreciate fans selecting and narrowing down MLB all star voting leaders, too. It may seem solely for the benefits of fans, but that is simply not true. Baseball fans and aficionados are responsible for keeping National League Baseball and American League Baseball at large.

Managers monitor MLB baseball standings, but what many people do not realize is that managers monitor fans and fan reactions just as closely. In fact, they created a system to gauge fan dedication called the Sports Fan Loyalty Index. The index helps them determine loyalty to home and national teams, and pick out areas for improvement.

The next time you watch the All Star Game, remember that the League wants you to select whoever you want, and they appreciate it, too.