Major League Baseball, the Washington Nationals and officials from the District of Columbia today unveiled the official logo of the 2018 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard. The 89th Midsummer Classic will be played at Nationals Park on Tuesday, July 17th, with the National League as the home team during the contest.
Those in attendance for this afternoon's unveiling prior to Washington's game against the Milwaukee Brewers included Marla Lerner Tanenbaum, Principal Owner of the Washington Nationals; Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr.; Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser; veteran Nationals All-Stars Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy, Max Scherzer and Ryan Zimmerman; and Nationals manager Dusty Baker, an All-Star as both a player and a manager.
The official logo of the 2018 All-Star Game is as patriotic as its iconic setting. The focal point of the mark is the pristine white United States Capitol dome, which is crowned with the bronze Statue of Freedom. A U.S. flag proudly waves behind it, while the logo is surrounded by a ring of stars. The two stars on the red ring represent the competing leagues, and the six stars on the navy field symbolize their divisions. The ribbon proudly states the location and year of the Midsummer Classic, and to punctuate the mark, the MLB batter is in the colors of scarlet and navy honoring the host franchise.
Commissioner Manfred said: "Major League Baseball is delighted to return the All-Star Game to Washington, DC for the first time in nearly 50 years in 2018. Today's logo unveiling marks the start of an exciting year for our sport in the nation's capital, and we look forward to showcasing our game's brightest stars in an outstanding city and ballpark next summer."
"I know that Washington will be one of the best host cities because nothing could be more fitting, exciting, or appropriate than hosting the All-Star Game for the national pastime in the nation's capital," said Mark D. Lerner, Washington Nationals Principal Owner and Vice Chairman. "The logo conveys that spirit of celebrating one of our most beloved traditions in the city that uniquely belongs to us all."
Mayor Bowser said: "We are thrilled to host the 2018 All-Star Game here in Washington, DC. Many people already know that DC is home to one of the best baseball teams in the league, and now we have the opportunity to show baseball fans from around the nation a side of DC that not everyone knows about - local DC. From the Southwest Waterfront near Nationals Park to the U Street neighborhood where Duke Ellington had his roots, there is truly something for everyone in DC, and we look forward to showcasing our city and ensuring that all players and visitors have a tremendous experience at next year's game."  
The Nationals will host their first All-Star Game, while the city of Washington will become a five-time host (also 1937, 1956, 1962 [1st] and 1969) when the 89th Midsummer Classic is played next July 17th at Nationals Park, which opened in 2008. The 2018 season will mark the 14th season of play for the Nationals.