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First Pro Bowl
"1939 Pro Bowl" ArticleThe 1939 Pro Bowl took place at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, California. The game was between the New York Giants and the Pro All-Stars. The Giants were victorious, 13-10. This game started a short lived tradition where that season's NFL Champions faced off against a team of hand-picked all-stars. There were only four other games under this format in which the NFL Champions won every year except in 1942 when the Washington Redskins fell to the NFL All-Stars 17-14. -
Fans allowed to vote in the 8 starting positions
Fans vote in starting positionsThis event seemed to be extremely vital in the success of not only the All-Star games but also just the expansion of the MLB continuing to be a very successful brand because it got the fans involved. When the fans knew that they had effected the game and they had a say in who played for that team then they were more likely to get more involved in that game and continue to watch it. -
First Official All Star game
On October 13, 1947, the first official NHL All-star game was held. The format was that the defending Stanley Cup champions would play against players from the other five teams. The team was comprised of at least three players from each team. The game was hosted by the defending Stanley Cup team. This year it was the Maple Leafs. -
American Conference vs. National Conference
American vs. National The LA Coliseum played host to the first Pro Bowl in eight years. This was the first time the two teams that squared off were both all-star teams from the two conferences. The American Conference squeeked out a 28-27 win. The Coliseum would play host of the annual game for the next 21 years. Otto Graham won the MVP award. 53,676 people were in attendance for this game. No points were scored in the 4th Qtr. -
1st NBA All Star game
The First NBA All Star Game was played in the Boston Garden in 1951 before 10,000 fans. The East won the game 111 to 94. The First All Star Game MVP, given to the player who had the best game, was awarded during the first All Star Game. The award was given to Easy Ed Maculey of the Celtics who led all scorers with 20 points. -
First Helmet worn in All Star game
Toronto Maple Leafs wing Brian Conacher becomes the first All-Star player to wear a helmet in a game after Minnesota North Stars center Bill Masterson had died the day before due to a brain injury from a game earlier in the week. -
Game Format Change and Players Paid
The format of the all star game is changed from an all star game verses the defending champions to an East Division vs. West Division format. Along with this change, the players were also rewarded for playing. The winners reveived $500 each and the losers received $250 -
Birth of the Slam Dunk Contest
First NBA All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest takes place in the “Dunk’s” birthplace in Denver. Julius Erving lands the famous free-throw line dunk in the final round but still loses to Larry Nance of the Phoenix Suns. From then on the Dunk Contest is featured every All Star weekend the night before the All Star Game. Famous participants over the years include: Julius Erving, Dominique Wilkins, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryan ESPN televised the first ever NBA slam dunk contest in 1984. -
First Home Run Derby
Home Run DerbyThe first ever Home Run Derby was held in 1985 at the All-Star game in the Metrodome. The winner was Dave Parker (Pictured to left) with 6 home runs. The Home Run Derby has evolved into being one of the most grossing events on ESPN. -
Inception of the "Riley Rule"
"Riley Rule" so named because Coach Pat Riley's Lakers teams of the 1980s won so often that he coached the Western Conference team eight times in nine seasons from 1982 to 1990. In the event that a coach's team repeats as the best record holder the coach from the team with the second best record will serve as All-Star coach for that conference. Coaches of the teams that have the best record in their conference through the Sunday two weeks before the game coach their respective conference teams. -
Game ended in a tie
2002 MLB All-Star game tie The 2002 MLB All-Star game was held in Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and saw the American league tie the National league 7-7. Both teams were running out of pitchers and Bud Selig decided to call the game after the 11th inning. The crowd began to chant "let them play" and had the entire fan base in an uproar about stopping the all-star game in only the 11th inning. -
Today's Pro Bowl
2010 Pro BowlFor the first time since the 1979 Pro Bowl took place in the LA Coliseum, the game took place in a stadium other than Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. This Pro Bowl was in Miami Florida, and it also took place a week before the Super Bowl. That was the first time the game was played before the season was over. Since this was the case, all of the players from the 2 teams participating in the Super Bowl couldn't play in the Pro Bowl to avoid any injuries. The AFC won the game 41-34. -
Reformatting the NHL playoff game
In November of 2010, the National Hockey League proposed changes to the annual all-star game at the general manager’s meeting in Toronto. There will no longer be an Eastern Conference versus Western Conference game. Now there will be an all-star player draft conducted by the nominated captains .
