All-Stars share touching moment with young fans during 'America the Beautiful'

“Summer after summer, generation after generation, baseball is always with us.”

Those words, spoken by actor and noted Tigers fan J.K. Simmons, closed a video package that aired during the fifth inning of Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game and led into what will go down as one of the most indelible images of this Midsummer Classic.

As Ray Charles’ iconic rendition of “America the Beautiful” played inside Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park and fireworks burst into the sky above, a group of kids rode bicycles onto the field in a nod to "The Sandlot." Then, one by one, they stood next to the All-Stars on the diamond.

There was Jacob Misiorowski showing one youngster how he grips the baseball. There was Bobby Witt Jr. going through baseball cards with another kid. Mike Trout watched on as his on-field buddy showed the 12-time All-Star his swing.

"It was pretty cool," AL manager John Schneider said. "You know, the players get asked to do a lot, and I think in the moment, you kind of realize how special baseball is and just how many people it affects, kids, adults. Kind of brings you back to your childhood a little bit. You know, celebrating the 250th year of this country, too.

"It was pretty special. I thought the league and Philly did a great job with it. It was a cool baseball moment, for sure."

It was a true showcase of how baseball brings all of us together. Summer after summer. Generation after generation.

"It's fantastic," NL manager Dave Roberts said. "It was kind of like that sandlot kind of ode. We were all one of those kids. Some of these kids might never get a chance to be on a Major League field. So for them to have that opportunity to be -- have a conversation with, you know, an All-Star is something that they might never get that chance again, right?

"So it was great, and baseball is in a great place. So to have these young kids, you know, be a part of it was something special."