For years, major sports leagues have tried to make their "All Star" game seem as relevant as MLB's All Star Game and Home Run Derby. Perhaps its the significance of baseball in our culture that keeps the viewers watching year over year but if there is one thing we can all grasp is that baseball brings us all together and dammit I feel American when I watch baseball's greats taking the field.

Tonight's Derby will be no different as 5 more MLB players will join the likes of Ripkin, Griffey, and Thomas in hopes of taking home the Home Run Derby trophy and share the spotlight as the greats once did.

Unlike the dunk contest, MLB players are proud to participate in annual slug fest. Families and children are invited onto the field to catch the balls that don't quite make it out and even some of the player's children are able to sit on the field to watch their daddy play in the national past time. Some managers are hesitant to let their players participate , there is no real correlation to the superstition that  the derby "screws up the swing" of players. Over the past 6 years, only the Yankee's former player Bobby Abreu had a significant drop off, which could explain the Yankee's worry last year about Robinson Cano participating in the event, ultimately making Cano rescind his offer to play in the derby by a convenient "back injury". Cano will however participate in this year's Derby.

But like the Home Run Derby or not, the annual slugfest will be airing on ESPN Monday July 11th at 8pm. The rest participants will be Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, Matt Holliday, Matt Kemp, David Ortiz, Jose Bautista, Adrian Gonzalez and Robinson Cano.

Hit the title/read more to see the rules and little known facts about the Home Run Derby...

Do you ever notice at a baseball game the people who sit down and seem to take notes of what happens during a game? Those people are actually tracking the baseball stats for every single play that happens on a field.

There is literally a stat for every single thing in baseball. Stats are what separate the sport from every other professional league, everything is trackable and comparable.

Stats like "pinch runner who has hit more than 2 homeruns during a game wearing the number 6" seem like information overload but many stats are crucial to the game to track.

Let's take a look at the important ones.....

Sports are steeped in traditions but no sport is more focused on numbers and traditions than in Baseball.Read below some of my favorite traditions in baseball that will simply astoud you and remind us all of why Baseball is America's Pasttime.

Singing Take Me Out To The Ball Game

The signature song sung during the 7th inning stretch is learned by all Americans at a very young age. I can't remember ever being taught the song, but I have always known it.

Of course you cannot mention this famous song with out mentioning Hall of Fame Sports Caster Harry Caray. For those who do not know, Caray was responsible for making the singing of the song a 7th inning tradition with fans.

Apparently Caray was so enthusiastic about singing the song, his radio producer at the time  turned on Caray's mic without his knowledge and thus the fan favorite tradition was born. (early 1970's)

Continue Reading our in-depth look at the history of the song that includes the best and worst people who have ever attempted to sing it...

Hit the title/read more to continue reading on the best traditions in baseball...

Each League and Interleague Play

In Major League Baseball there are two "Major Leagues" - the American League (AL) and the National League (NL), each of which is split into three divisions. Almost all of the games played by teams are within their own league, but in the early 90's, Interleague was started allowing for a couple weeks out of the year for AL teams to face off against NL teams.

Interleague is not liked by many baseball traditionalists but for some fans they enjoy playing against teams they would normally only see in the World Series. For example, only in Interleague play would you see the Mets play the Yankees, unless its the World Series.

Difference Between the Two Leagues

The main difference between the American League and the National League is the Designated Hitter (DH). The DH is only used in the American League and is when the pitcher does not bat but rather a skillful hitter takes his place. When an AL team meet an NL (during Interleague play or the Postseason), the Designated Hitter rule is used for games played in AL ballparks, but not for games played in NL ballparks.

Its usually considered an advantage for the AL that pitchers do not have to bat but it can also be argued that an AL pitcher's stats are inflated more than tha of a NL pitcher due to the fact they are facing tougher hitting during every outing.

Teams and Divisions

Each team's first aim is to win their divisional title, and if they cannot win their division, then to finish as the best runner-up in their league (the Wild Card).

If two teams are tied for a divisional title, or the wild card spot, then a one game playoff is held (venue decided by tossing a coin) the day after the season ends to determine the winner.