Background and Relevance
For the first time in Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (LMB) history, the All-Star Game featured a team of players from the Mexican circuit (known as Estrellas LMB) against a team representing Mexico’s national selection. The Tri, managed by the iconic Vinicio Castilla, emerged victorious with a score of 4-3.
Game Details and Key Moments
The game, initially scheduled for Sunday night and set to conclude on Monday afternoon, was postponed due to heavy rainfall in Mexico City. The action finally took place over two days at the Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium.
- Art Charles, a Leones de Yucatán player representing Mexico’s national team, was the star of the show.
- On Saturday, Charles won the Home Run Derby with an impressive 43 home runs.
- On Monday, Charles was awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the All-Star Game.
- Charles contributed a home run in the sixth inning, reducing the deficit from 3-0 to 3-2.
- Robinson Canó, a hometown favorite (Diablos Rojos del México), hit a home run in the fourth inning, giving Estrellas LMB an early 1-0 lead.
- Ángel Reyes and Francisco Mejía extended the lead to 3-0 in the fifth inning.
- The game was shortened to seven innings from the original ten due to rain delays.
- Despite a significant drop in attendance from a full house the previous night, with only 5,890 spectators present at the 20,000-capacity venue, the game’s intensity remained high.
- Mexico’s comeback was capped off in the seventh inning, with two runs that tied and eventually won the game for the national team.
Art Charles’s Journey and Achievements
“I’m incredibly excited. Before this weekend, I didn’t envision this moment,” Art Charles said in the post-game press conference. “I’m grateful to God and my team for making it happen.”
This marked the 91st LMB All-Star Game, with Charles being only the second player to win both the MVP and Home Run Derby titles. The latter event began in 2000, with Alexander Cabrera being the sole precedent when he achieved this feat in that year.
Charles, now 34, joined LMB in the 2017 season with Algodoneros de Unión Laguna. He moved to Leones de Yucatán in 2018 and remains with them.
Overwhelmed with emotion during the celebration, Charles tearfully expressed his gratitude for his family’s support throughout the All-Star weekend, including his parents, spouse, and children.
Future of Mexico’s National Baseball Team
The LMB announced Monterrey as the host city for the 2026 All-Star Game, though the exact date remains to be confirmed. This will mark the eighth time Monterrey has hosted the event, with the last one taking place in 2016.
