As with each All-Star Game since 1970, the 8 starting position players (with no designated hitter due to playing in an NL stadium) of each league were elected by fan balloting.

At $194.7 million, the New York Yankees payroll was more than those of the Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers combined.

The NL would respond in the bottom of the inning with David Wright hitting his own home run to left field, tying the game at 1–1.

After Roy Oswalt relieved Penny in the third, Brandon Webb, Bronson Arroyo, Brian Fuentes, Derrick Turnbow, and Tom Gordon would each throw an inning of scoreless relief, limiting the AL to just three hits in that span.

However, Paul Konerko hit a single to left past third baseman Miguel Cabrera, and was pinch-run for by José Lopez.

Despite an error made by Lopez, Rivera pitched a quiet ninth to earn the save and extend the American League's unbeaten streak to ten games.

By allowing the home runs to carry over, a player can't necessarily be "punished" for hitting an impressive total in the first round.

In the finals, Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies defeated David Wright of the New York Mets 5–4, and hit a total of 23 home runs on the night, leading all competitors.

Howard memorably hit his winning home run into a sign guaranteeing one person in the crowd 500 free round-trip flights from Southwest Airlines.

Many fans waited in the river in canoes hoping to retrieve a ball, a sight more reminiscent of the following year's All-Star Game and Home Run Derby site, AT&T Park.

Any home runs hit with the gold ball meant Major League Baseball and Century 21 would pledge to donate $21,000 (US) to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Easter Seals, respectively.