⚾ Crack of the bat | Sports Daily Newsletter

Think about it. Only eight batters competed in last night’s MLB Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park, and two of them were Phillies — one a Commissioner’s Pick in Bryce Harper.

Speaking of Harper, he’s picking up the pieces from a different spectacle at the moment, but let’s keep it to what’s on tap now, and that is tonight, back at the ballpark for the MLB All-Star Game (8 p.m., FOX).

Ahead of that, Inquirer writer Scott Lauber sat down with one of the best to ever do it in Phillies pinstripes, former slugger Ryan Howard. The two talked about everything from his time taking part in an All-Star week to Kyle Schwarber chasing down his home run record. It’s a great read to start your Tuesday, but if you’re more of the visual type, you can watch their conversation right here.

Speaking of Tuesday, we’re looking at a carbon copy of yesterday, with clear skies and highs in the mid-90s. Sounds like a steamy midsummer classic is on the horizon, y’all.

— Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓Which sport do you think delivers the best All-Star event? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

It’s not just that Brandon Marsh has become a beloved figure among fans and most notably in the clubhouse, but that he actually has teammates who are playing the role of proud dad watching him come up through the ranks to what will tonight be his first MLB All-Star appearance.

But it’s not just that he’s a good-natured, fun-loving guy, he’s also a baller. A dive into his stats and you’ll see that the left-handed Marsh has been a .300 hitter since May of last year, and currently sits with a .301 average and an .829 OPS.

Even more amazing is that there was a portion of time last year when we were talking about the slump he was in. Inquirer writer Lochlahn March takes a look at Marsh and why he’s a hard man to dislike.

🤔 Wondering: Is Makai Lemon feeling any pressure from all of the “ready to replace A.J. Brown” comparisons?

👀 Watching: Sixers forward Johni Broome as he continues to rehab and refocus from an unexpected injury.

⚽ Sharing: The U.S. women’s national soccer team will play Spain at Subaru Park in Chester in October.

👏🏽 Applauding: Chase Utley coming back to Philly to dish out slices of tomato pie at Sarcone’s Bakery yesterday.

VJ Edgecombe was already “shocked” at the Sixers going after — and obtaining — former Celtics forward Jaylen Brown during the NBA’s free agency period. Now, he’s holding his breath for the possibility that the Sixers will win again in their still-ongoing pursuit of LeBron James, one of Edgecombe’s basketball idols.

“I like it,” Edgecombe said at the Sixers’ Summer League practice in Las Vegas. “It’s LeBron James. At the end of the day, despite how old he is, he’s still, to me, the greatest player of all time. If I get to play alongside LeBron, that would be amazing.”

So how realistic is it, really? It’s what we’re evaluating with our Bron-o-Meter, updating as we get the latest news, reports, and rumors on where King James might take his talents next.

When Detroit slugger Kevin McGonigle made it to The Show, few people were happier than teachers and administrators at Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast High School.

They desperately tried to get to a game to see the Delco native, but each notion was interrupted by a school event, except one: a game on July between the Tigers and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. So 55 members of the school’s community got on a bus and went to the game to see McGonigle, who rewarded them with a 422-foot home run.

Now, they have the opportunity to see him in Philly as he was named to the All-Star roster for the American League. Inquirer writer Alex Coffey tells this awesome story of planning, preparation, and a little bit of luck.

July 14, 1951: Today marks the first time a sporting event was televised in color. The station was CBS, and the first-ever sport to go full color? Horse racing. 🏇🏼

DASHE NAWU

This former top prospect out of Ohio State is doing what he can to crack the Eagles roster at the cornerback position after an unsuccessful go at a few other spots. Think you know? Take a guess and then click here to see if you’re correct.

With the MLB All-Star Game leading off tonight, we wanted to know how many Phillies players have hit a home run in a game. The number was surprising, even to us.

A) Three

B) Nine

C) Seven

D) Five

We asked: What is your favorite part of the MLB All-Star Game?

My favorite part of the All-Star game, especially as a young fan, was seeing all these great players together. Seeing Stan Musial and Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, the great Willie Mays, and our own Robin Roberts, Mike Schmidt, Hank Aaron, Ted Williams, Jackie Robinson, Steve Carlton, Roberto Clemente, Mickey Mantle, and on and on. And of course, years back, the players from the two leagues only played each other at the All-Star game and the World Series. An all-time favorite All-Star moment was Johnny Callison’s walk-off in New York in 1964. — Everett S.

I personally love watching the Phillies players who make the team. As a lifelong Phillies fan in a baseball-crazed family, in addition to my favorite part of the whole weekend being the Home Run Derby and all of the smaller events leading up to it, but I do get joy in watching a Phillies player do well in the game. Here’s hoping we get [Kyle] Schwarber, [Bryce] Harper, or [Brandon] Marsh to hit an absolute tank and give us something to be proud of. — Harold W.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Alex Coffey, Scott Lauber, Lochlahn March, Gina Mizell, Ryan Novozinsky, Jonathan Tannenwald, and Conor Smith.

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