National League secures victory in MLB All-Star Game, thanks to Kyle Schwarber's heroics; Sauce Gardner and Trey Smith sign substantial deals
The 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game saw an unprecedented moment as Kyle Schwarber, a player for the National League, was awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) honour despite going 0-for-2 at the plate. This historic achievement marked the first time an MVP was awarded without a hit in the actual game.
The National League led by as many as six runs before the American League mounted a comeback with a four-run seventh inning and two runs in the top of the ninth. However, it was Schwarber's exceptional performance in the tiebreaker swing-off that ultimately secured the victory for the National League in a thrilling Home Run Derby-style tiebreaker, a rule introduced in 2022 but utilised for the first time in this game.
Schwarber's performance stands out for its uniqueness, as unlike previous MVPs who often had impactful performances during the game itself, his MVP award was entirely based on his exceptional performance in the tiebreaker swing-off. His achievement is notable for being part of a new format implemented to reduce pitcher usage and add excitement to potential tie games.
The swing-off saw Schwarber go head-to-head with Steven Kwan of the American League. Kwan legged out an infield RBI single to tie the game, invoking the swing-off rule. In the tiebreaker, Schwarber demonstrated his prowess, outperforming Kwan to secure the victory for the National League and earn the MVP award.
This historic win was only the second for the National League in the last 12 All-Star Games, highlighting the significance of Schwarber's contribution. Schwarber became the second Phillies player to win the All-Star Game MVP, following Johnny Callison's achievement in 1964.
The 2025 All-Star Game will undoubtedly go down in history as a memorable event, with Schwarber's unique performance and the introduction of the swing-off format setting it apart from previous MVP performances.
Meanwhile, in other sports news, the British Open, concluding the major championship season, is set to commence overnight on Thursday morning. The Open Championship will see a host of top golfers, including Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, Shane Lowry, and Collin Morikawa, competing for the prestigious title.
Elsewhere, the NFL All-Quarter Century Team will feature an iconic roster of superstars, with Tom Brady headlining the list. In the NFL, Terry McLaurin, a wide receiver for the Commanders, is frustrated with the lack of contract extension talks between him and the team, and has not spoken with them in over a month.
In the world of basketball, Caitlin Clark has injured her groin and her availability for All-Star weekend is uncertain. Meanwhile, in the WNBA, Rhyne Howard is out of Saturday's All-Star Game due to a knee injury, and Kayla McBride is her replacement.
The sports calendar is packed with exciting events, including the NHL schedule release, NBA Las Vegas Summer League, Fever at Liberty, Fire at Atlanta United, ESPY Awards, Rapids at Sounders, and The Open Championship, all happening in the coming days.
- The 2025 MLB All-Star Game saw Kyle Schwarber, a player from the National League, win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, an unprecedented achievement that occurred without a hit in the actual game.
- Schwarber's MVP award came as a result of his exceptional performance in the tiebreaker swing-off, a rule introduced in 2022 and utilised for the first time in this game.
- The National League led the game by as many as six runs, but the American League mounted a comeback in the seventh and ninth innings.
- In a thrilling Home Run Derby-style swing-off, Schwarber outperformed Steven Kwan of the American League to secure the victory for the National League.
- This was the second win for the National League in the last 12 All-Star Games, emphasising Schwarber's significant contribution.
- Schwarber's victory marked the first time an MVP was awarded without a hit in the actual game.
- Meanwhile, in the world of MMA, the discussions on the upcoming season's betting odds and potential victories are causing a buzz among fans.
- In the NFL, general-news has been dominated by the NFL All-Quarter Century Team, featuring Tom Brady as a headlining star.
- Terry McLaurin, a wide receiver for the Commanders, is frustrated with the lack of contract extension talks between him and the team, and has not spoken with them in over a month.
- In the NBA, Caitlin Clark has injured her groin, and her availability for All-Star weekend is uncertain.
- Rhyne Howard is out of Saturday's WNBA All-Star Game due to a knee injury, and Kayla McBride is her replacement.
- The sports calendar is filled with exciting events, including the NHL schedule release, NBA Las Vegas Summer League, Fever at Liberty, Fire at Atlanta United, and The Open Championship, among others.
- The Open Championship, concluding the major championship season, is set to commence overnight on Thursday, with a host of top golfers competing for the prestigious title.
- In the MLB, the record for the longest post-season losing streak is still held by the Boston Red Sox, who lost 17 consecutive games from the 1948 World Series to the beginning of the 1960 season.
- In the world of football, the 2025 NFL season is scheduled to begin on September 6, with the Super Bowl LVI set to take place on February 11, 2026.
- The sports entertainment industry continues to thrive, with the American Football Association (AAF) announcing its return for a new season, promising a unique blend of professional football and general-news entertainment.
