Kauffman Stadium underwent a US $250 million renovation, funded by a 0.375% sales tax increase on the residents of Jackson County, Missouri for the Harry S. Truman Sports Complex, which also houses Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the Kansas City Chiefs.

[5] As a result of the deal, Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig promised the area that the team would host a future All-Star Game no later than 2014.

On June 16, 2010, Selig officially awarded the rights to host the game to Kansas City for the 2012 season.

The winners of the All-Star Final Vote were Yu Darvish of the Texas Rangers (AL) and David Freese of the St. Louis Cardinals (NL).

Chipper Jones, of the Atlanta Braves, was removed from the ballot on July 3 after he replaced Matt Kemp on the roster due to injury.

For the American League, pitchers Yu Darvish, Félix Hernández (who threw 114 pitches on July 8),[15] Jake Peavy, and Chris Perez did not enter the game.

Two two-out walks loaded the bases before Pablo Sandoval cleared them with a triple to the right field corner.

The AL had the bases loaded in the fifth off of Clayton Kershaw, but failed to drive in any runs and the NL won 8–0.