Cheaters, Mobsters, and the Six Bullets That Birthed Baseball’s All-Star Game
The Brian D. O'Leary ShowTHE FIRST ALL-STAR GAME with author Randall Sullivan
What happens when a botched assassination attempt on a president, the “Outfit,” the Great Depression, and the Legend of Babe Ruth collide in Chicago?
Author Randall Sullivan reveals how the first so-called “Game of the Century” helped pull America out of its darkest era. Discover the untold history of baseball’s first All-Star Game and the legends that shaped the sport.
In 1933, an assassin fired six bullets at President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt in Miami. Every single bullet missed FDR, but they fatally struck Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak. Out of the political chaos of that assassination, a city’s desperation to escape the shadow of Al Capone’s crime syndicate, and the darkest, most terrifying days of the Great Depression, an unbelievable gamble was born.
To save the city’s morale, a new mayor and a sports editor dreamed up the ultimate distraction: the first Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
The Book
THE FIRST ALL-STAR GAME: Babe Ruth, FDR, and America at the Crossroads (Atlantic Monthly Press, June 2, 2026)
Summary
Brian O’Leary sits down with three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee Randall Sullivan to discuss his new book, THE FIRST ALL-STAR GAME: Babe Ruth, FDR, and America at the Crossroads (Atlantic Monthly Press, June 2, 2026).
Sullivan explains that the book was born from his discouragement over modern political polarization, leading him to research how the United States survived the Great Depression. The conversation traces the chain reaction of events that created the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair and the first-ever All-Star Game. This includes a Miami assassination attempt on President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt that resulted in the death of Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak.
Throughout the episode, we dive into the towering mythos of Babe Ruth, noting that his absence in 1925 caused American League attendance to plummet. We also explore the cultural fallout of the 1919 Black Sox scandal, the iron-fisted rule of Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, and the forgotten legacies of players like Chuck Klein and Lefty O’Doul.
Key Takeaways
- The Origins of the All-Star Game: The 1933 game was staged as a one-off exhibition for the Chicago World’s Fair. It was pitched by sports editor Arch Ward to Mayor Edward Nash to boost morale after Mayor Cermak’s tragic death.
- Babe Ruth’s Unmatched Stardom: Ruth’s absence due to illness in 1925 caused American League attendance to drop by 34%. Furthermore, he holds the top three WAR (Wins Above Replacement) seasons in Major League history. That’s just the tip of the iceberg of the Ruthian Legend (and reality).
- The Black Sox Legacy: The 1919 scandal resulted in a complicated trial where players were acquitted by a working-class jury. However, Judge Landis later banned them for life, restoring baseball’s image in the eyes of the outraged American public.
- Overlooked Baseball Legends: Sullivan argues that Lefty O’Doul deserves Hall of Fame recognition. O’Doul not only hit .398 with 254 hits in a 154-game season, but he was also instrumental in bringing baseball to Japan and in developing it there.
Chapters
- Introduction to Randall Sullivan and his new book, The First All-Star Game.
- Finding inspiration in America’s resilience during the Great Depression.
- FDR’s assassination attempt and its connection to the Chicago World’s Fair.
- The creation of the “Game of the Century” by Arch Ward.
- Babe Ruth’s towering legacy and massive impact on baseball attendance.
- The 1919 Black Sox scandal trial and Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis.
- Unfairly judged players: The forgotten greatness of Chuck Klein.
- Why Lefty O’Doul deserves a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- Final thoughts on the historical significance of the 1933 All-Star Game.
Memorable Quotes
- “If Michael Jordan had been injured in a season, maybe NBA attendance would’ve dropped by 3.4%… but without Babe Ruth, it dropped by 34%.” – Randall Sullivan
- “I want people to understand… that this was more than a game. And it was more than the inauguration of a tradition. It was a turning point in American history.” – Randall Sullivan
Resources Mentioned
- THE FIRST ALL-STAR GAME: Babe Ruth, FDR, and America at the Crossroads (Atlantic Monthly Press, June 2, 2026). By Randall Sullivan
- The Big Fella: Babe Ruth and the World He Created. By Jane Leavy
- The Called Shot: Babe Ruth, the Chicago Cubs, and the Unforgettable Major League Baseball Season of 1932. By Thomas Wolf
- Baseball in the Roaring Twenties: The Yankees, the Cardinals, and the Captivating 1926 Season. By Thomas Wolf
- Eight Men Out (1988 Film).
- Arch: A Promoter, Not a Poet : The Story of Arch Ward. By Thomas B. Littlewood
Relevant Content published at UNRELENTING – The O’Leary Review
- Thomas Wolf on The Brian D. O’Leary Show. Discussion on BASEBALL IN THE ROARING TWENTIES. (September 30, 2025)
- Is this still baseball? How the All-Star Game lost its heart. MLB’s shift toward speed and sponsorship is eroding America’s Game, but fans don’t have to take it lying down (July 15, 2025)
- What the History Books Scrubbed from the 1927 Yankees. Forget the sanitized myths of the 1927 Yankees. Before Murderer's Row became immortal, they were hot-headed brawlers fueled by bizarre blunders, petty feuds, and a morning diet of warm blood. (October 3, 2025)
- Cubs Announcer Became President Thanks to Baseball. Before Ronald Reagan saved the free world from Soviet nuclear annihilation, he was a $75-per-week radio announcer recreating Cubs games hundreds of miles from Wrigley Field. (October 4, 2025)
- How a Utility Infielder Eavesdropped His Way to Oblivion. Fred McMullin (one of the “Eight Men Out”) and the fatal price of the shortcut. (May 19, 2026)
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