Baseball fans, summer is here. The weather is warm, games are played every day, and the All-Stars are emerging for the 2012 All Star Game. This year, the 3-day event is taking place in Kansas City, from July 8-10. All Star Week also features the yearly State Farm Home Run Derby, which is annually a big attraction for fans and viewers across the nation. The All Star Game, along with the State Farm Home Run Derby, will be shown on FOX this year.

The All Star Game, commonly named the “Midsummer Classic” will be played for the 83^rd time this year. With the top players from each league (American League, National League), the game is always exciting to watch. MLB’s All Star Game is also the only All Star Game with significant value for the game’s winner. Whichever team wins, that league gains home field advantage in the World Series.

As many fans like to vote numerous times for their favorite players, I too, have created my own ballot for each team.  The starters for both teams are listed in BOLD PRINT.

American League (25 players)

1.      Prince Fielder (1B Starter) – Detroit Tigers

2.       Albert Pujols (1B Reserve) – LA Angels

3.      Robinson Cano (2B Starter) – New York Yankees

4.      Ian Kinsler (2B Reserve) – Texas Rangers

5.      Derek Jeter (SS Starter) – New York Yankees

6.      Elvis Andrus (SS Reserve) – Texas Rangers

7.      Adrian Beltre (3B Starter)  – Texas Rangers

8.      Miguel Cabrera (3B Reserve) – Detroit Tigers

9.      Joe Mauer (C Starter) – Minnesota Twins

10.  Matt Wieters (C Reserve) – Baltimore Orioles

11.  David Ortiz (DH Starter) – Boston Red Sox

12.  Edwin Encarnacion (DH Reserve) – Toronto Blue Jays

13.  Mike Trout (OF Starter) – LA Angels

14.  Jose Bautista (OF Starter) – Toronto Blue Jays

15.  Josh Hamilton (OF Starter)  -Texas Rangers

16.  Adam Jones (OF Reserve) – Baltimore Orioles

17.  Nick Swisher (OF Reserve) – New York Yankees

18.  Josh Reddick (OF Reserve) – Oakland Athletics

19.  Justin Verlander (P)- Detroit Tigers

20.  Jim Johnson (P)- Baltimore Orioles

21.  Jared Weaver (P) – LA Angels

22.  Felix Hernandez (P) – Seattle Mariners

23.  Chris Perez (P) – Cleveland Indians

24.  Jose Valverde (P) – Detroit Tigers

25.  Jordan Walden (P) – LA Angels

National League (25 players)

1.      Joey Votto (1B Starter) – Cincinnati Reds

2.      Paul Goldschmidt (1B Reserve) – Arizona Diamondbacks

3.      Brandon Phillips (2B Starter) – Cincinnati Reds

4.      Jose Altuve (2B Reserve) – Houston Astros

5.      Jose Reyes (SS Starter) – Miami Marlins

6.      Ian Desmond (SS Reserve) – Washington Nationals

7.      David Wright (3B Starter) – New York Mets

8.      Chipper Jones (3B Reserve) – Atlanta Braves

9.      Carlos Ruiz (C Starter) – Philadelphia Phillies   

10.  Buster Posey (C Reserve) – San Francisco Giants

11.  Justin Upton (DH Starter) – Arizona Diamondbacks

12.  Brian McCann (DH Reserve) – Atlanta Braves

13.  Bryce Harper (OF Starter) – Washington Nationals

14.  Matt Kemp (OF Starter) – LA Dodgers

15.  Carlos Gonzalez (OF Starter) – Colorado Rockies

16.  Jason Heyward (OF Reserve) – Atlanta Braves

17.  Ryan Braun (OF Reserve) – Milwaukee Brewers

18.  Andrew McCutchen (OF Reserve) – Pittsburgh Pirates

19.  R.A Dickey (P Starter) – New York Mets

20.  Matt Cain (P) – San Francisco Giants

21.  Roy Halladay (P) – Philadelphia Phillies

22.   Clayton Kershaw (P) – LA Dodgers

23.  Heath Bell (P) – Miami Marlins

24.  Craig Kimbrel (P) – Atlanta Braves

25.  Stephen Strasburg (P) – Washington Nationals