HISTORY

The History of the Delaware High School Blue-Gold All-Star Game

         In February of 1978, Bob Fischer, Head Coach at St. Mark’s H.S., called a meeting of all Delaware high school baseball coaches at St. Andrew’s School and organized the Delaware Baseball Coaches Association, known as DBCA.  At this meeting, the coaches set forth the following objectives for DBCA.

             1.  Promote high school baseball,

         2.  Promote fellowship among high school baseball coaches, 

         3.  Take an active role in forming policy governing high school baseball in DE,

         4.  Select a high school All-State baseball team, and

         5.  Plan and hold an All-Star Baseball Game for graduating seniors.

             Fischer was a guiding light in seeing that these goals were met in the organization’s first year.  As a result of Bob’s hard work and direction, his goal of having the first annual Blue-Gold Game came to a reality at Dyer Field on June 17, 1978.  Working tirelessly, he found groups which would provide the field, pay for the lights, purchase the shirts and hats given to each player, supply the balls, and people to collect the tickets.  Fischer received financial support from the Kiwanis Club of Rodney Square only one week prior to the game with the agreement that the proceeds of the game, after covering expenses, would be contributed to the Delaware Lung Association.  Paul Tebbutt was instrumental in getting the Interstate Umpires Association to donate their services, Jack Ireland wrote several articles published in the Wilmington News Journal, and Gerald Booth and Bob Colburn helped with the details  such as printing the program, setting up the rules of the game, and putting together a committee to select the Most Valuable Players.   The tradition of presenting the first team All-State Players with their plaques prior to the contest was started.

             The following year, Bob Fischer (St. Mark’s H.S.), Bob Colburn (St. Andrew’s School), Gerald Booth and Joe Simeone, Jr. of the Kiwanis Club, formed an All-Star Committee with the goal of organizing a game which would be consistent with the Kiwanis objective of “service to Youth, Community, and Nation.” The primary objectives were to provide high school baseball All-Stars a special recognition, provide an opportunity for the youth in our communities to see the game at no charge, and donate the proceeds to the Delaware LungAssociation.  A feeling prevailed to move the game from Northern Delaware to a more central location and beginning in 1980, the Blue-Gold All-Star game was moved to St. Andrew’s where it was played for the next eight years. 

           In 1981, the softball coaches Association started their annual All-Star Game with the both games being played at St. Andrew’s School – one in the morning and one in the afternoon alternately from year to year.  With the support of the Kiwanis Club, a pressbox was constructed in 1981 and the All-Star Game was broadcast and televised for the first time.  Because of conflicts with reunion weekends at St. Andrew’s in the late eighties, it was decided to move the Game to different locations throughout the State to give greater exposure in all three counties and eliminate the ever present upstate-downstate controversy. 

         From 1988 – 1993, the Game was played at Caesar Rodney H.S., the Camden-Wyoming Baseball Complex, the Georgetown Baseball Complex, Caravel Academy, and Wesley College.  As the game continued to grow and with the construction of Frawley Stadium, the home of the Wilmington Blue Rocks, it seemed appropriate to hold the Blue-Gold All-Star Game at Frawley Stadium which provided more spacious and adequate seating with a professional atmosphere for the players.  In 1994, the Delaware Baseball Coaches Hall-of-Fame was started and the first class of inductees was presented before the Game.  The Hall, now under the Chairmanship of Tom Lemon who followed Richard Green, now includes over 100 members and a plaque in their honor is mounted on a wall at Frawley Stadium. 

         Other additions to the game day festivities include an Alumni Game with MBNA which was held in 1996.  There have been years with a homerun hitting contest with players taking swings against such stalwarts as Dallas Green and Tug McGraw.  Former major league players have been present to sign autographs and select the MVP for each team.  They include Dick Allen, Bill Bruton, Dallas Green, Spook Jacobs, Judy Johnson, Davy May, Tug McGraw, Scott McGreggor, Dickie Noles, Chris Short and Mickey Vernon.  Bill Pfeiffer, John McAdams, and Paul Ford have served as public address announcers.  Joe McDonald of the Delaware Stadium Corporation has been most helpful in providing a professional atmosphere just as if it were a Blue Rock’s contest.   Steve Gold and his staff do an outstanding job of maintaining the field and keeping it in top form for the players.  There have been contests during the game for team mascots and Rocky Bluewinkle has been present to add spirit.  The Phillie Phanatic did his thing at the 1981 game at St. Andrew’s.  

         In 1990, Big Brothers/Big Sisters became the sponsor of the game and the charity to which the proceeds were directed.  Joe Duffy and Lou Beccaria became strong supporters of the event and helped provide strong financial support and institute many of the activities mentioned above.  Each year, the players receive a shirt and hat from the game and in 1993, the At-Bat program was initiated to provide a way for players to give back to the game.  Players from every team in the State get pledges for given game during their season.  This money is then donated to BB/BS.  Bridget Pote began working as the game coordinator in 1999 and provided great organizational skills in coordinating all the special events which surround the game.  In 2012, the Executive Board asked each school to donate $ 40 to the Blue-Gold Game as part of their annual dues to replace the At-Bat program.  Johnies now acts as the liaison between DBCA and BB/BS and Joe DeGregory serves as the All-Star Game Director.  Before the start of the game, all 2nd and 1st Team All-State players receive plaques.

         In 2016, a new arrangement for teams representing the blue and gold teams was instituted to be the same as the blue-gold football.  The new method allows for the teams to be more balanced than in previous years and the same format is used to pick the rosters of the Delaware North and South teams in the Carpenter Cup Tournament supported by the Philadelphia Phillies.  The 2016 game was cancelled due to wet playing conditions at Frawley Stadium and due to many complications, no rain date was possible. The series stands at Blue 16 wins, Gold 14 wins with 4 ties.