Lawsuit seeks backpay for 2,000 unpaid 2013 All-Star FanFest volunteers

A lawsuit filed in New York says Major League Baseball staffed a profitable "2013 All-Star FanFest" last month almost entirely with more than 2,000 unpaid volunteers — who now want a piece of the pie.

The federal lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Manhattan, reports the Associated Press. It seeks unpaid wages and an order to stop the league from soliciting and accepting work from unpaid volunteers.

The lawsuit says recruiting volunteers violates federal and state minimum wage laws.

Lawyers brought the lawsuit on behalf of a Queens man who volunteered for five days at the event. They said they will seek class-action status.

The 2013 "All-Star FanFest" held events for five days at the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan.

They noted that the league has already invited this year's volunteers to work for free at the 2014 All-Star Game in Minneapolis.

A baseball spokesman did not immediately return a message for comment.

Could the Super Bowl be next?

Brett Myers disses Rivera's MVP award and starts war of words on Twitter

Twitter blew up late Tuesday night after Mariano Rivera took home the All-Star Game MVP award and  Brett Myers was one of the first tweeters to question the merit of Rivera's performance garnering the trophy for coming in and routinely pitching to three batters in the eighth.

"Appreciate Mariano Rivera for all he's done but, MVP???? No way! Mariano is a class act and respect him but the media rules who wins!" tweeted the journeyman Cleveland Indians righthander.

Appreciate Mariano Rivera for all he has done but, MVP???? No way! Mariano is a class act and respect him but the media rules who wins!
— Brett Myers (@TheOutlaw39) July 17, 2013

Myers — who was accused of punching his wife when he was with the Phillies — was just venting what probably a lot of baseball fans were thinking when Mo was awarded the glass bat after the game. Why him?

Minutes later, the Kenny Powers lookalike added, "The guys that deserve the MVP are the guys that drove in the runs to get Mariano the chance to be a hero in his last all star game!”

The guys that deserve the MVP are the guys that drove in the runs to get Mariano the chance to be a hero in his last all star game!
— Brett Myers (@TheOutlaw39) July 17, 2013

The 32-year-old Myers Twitter account (TheOutlaw39) blew up bigger than his ERA after he dissed the Yankees closer.  Comments calling Myers a "has been" and "Mariano's waterboy" were countered by support for sometime closer's viewpoint.

"You got balls, kid" and "support you 100%" were tweets that had Myers' back.

Either way, Myers must have seen the eighth-inning tribute to baseball's all-time saves leader and the outpouring of respect for Rivera and know it's only a glorified exhibition game.

Myers should have just kept his thumbs to himself.

Players and fans pay tribute to Mariano Rivera at All-Star Game

Mariano Rivera made his last All-Star Game appearance more than just a memorable one.  It was a downright love-fest.

Even though the New York Yankees brilliant closer wasn't entering the game in a save situation at Yankee Stadium, the opening chords of "Enter Sandman" still filled Citi Field as players from both sides emptied the diamond to pay a touching tribute to the future Hall of Famer in the bottom of the eighth.

With all of the All-Star players in their respective dugouts, there wasn't one person in the stadium not on their feet when No. 42 made his slow jog to the mound and emotionally tipped his cap to the cheering crowd. The ovation lasted through his warm-up tosses.



Rivera pitched a 1-2-3 inning and kept the ball from his final out — another souvenir from his 18 seasons in the majors.

The American League went on to a 3-0 victory and, when Rivera was awarded the Chevrolet MVP Award at the end of the game, the always humble Mo admitted he almost cried at the outpouring of adulation.

"I took everything in because it was priceless," he said. "I will never see this again."

Exit Sandman.

Robinson Cano leaves All-Star Game after getting hit by Matt Harvey pitch (VIDEO)

New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano exited Tuesday night's All-Star Game in the first inning after being hit in the right leg by a 97 mph Matt Harvey fastball. He stayed in to run the bases but left one batter later. Here's the pitch:

Cano went to the clubhouse with the trainer. X-rays were negative and early reports say the Yankees star was hit in the quadriceps and not his knee — and he should be fine.

Yankee fans said "Whew!" “@Ken_Rosenthal: Told Cano got hit more in the quadriceps than the knee - and that he should be fine.”
— Sweeny Murti (@YankeesWFAN) July 17, 2013

Harvey was just as upset as Yankees fans about seeing his cross-town rival leave the game.

"I obviously feel terrible about hitting him," the Mets pitcher said. "That's the last thing you want to do in a game like this."

Cano came into the All-Star Game after playing every one of the Yankees 95 games this season — hitting .302/.386/.531 (150 OPS+) with 21 home runs. He has been the one constant in their lineup as Derek Jeter (ankle), Alex Rodriguez (hip), Mark Teixeira (wrist) and Curtis Granderson (hand) have spent most of the year on the DL.

Mets' Citi Field lands 2013 All-Star game

First the good news for New York Mets fans— there will be a lot All-Stars coming to Citi Field next year.  Now the bad— they'll only be there a couple of nights.

In what had to the worst kept secret in New York over the past few days, MLB announced that the 2013 All-Star game will be hosted by the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 16.

The announcement was made at a news conference at City Hall with commissioner Bud Selig, Mets owner Fred Wilpon and Mayor Michael Bloomberg in attendance.  Even Mr. Met was there to share in the fun.

The Mets last hosted the annual event in 1964 at Shea Stadium— the year the old Flushing ballpark was opened.  In 2008, the New York Yankees hosted the game— the final season of the old Yankee Stadium.

While MLB decided over four years ago that the Mets would get to host the game at their new ballpark, they held off the announcement until agreements with city agencies for the main event and related services like the FanFest could be reached.  Selig said the Mets' financial problems caused by the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme had no bearing on the delay.

"I have great faith in the Wilpons and the family," said Selig. "And I was very confident they would work things out, and they have.  I had no trepidation at all."

Mets fans cringed at the remark.

Bloomberg then pulled out an old script he uses at every Mets or Yankees presser and said, "I'm counting on a Subway Series this year."

Yankees fans laughed at that remark.

This year, Kansas City will host the game and the 2014 game is expected to be played at Minnesota's Target Field.