The scene was as majestic in 2022 as it was 60 years ago. Since the early 1960s, Dodger Stadium on a midsummer evening has provided fans and players with a utopia-like atmosphere, combining perfect Southern California weather with all of the excitement that a big league ballpark can hold.

On July 19, the Dodgers hosted Major League Baseball’s 92nd All-Star Game, and the downtown Los Angeles landmark was as vibrant as ever. On an afternoon that began with a scorching batting practice session, both in terms of the 87-degree heat at 3 p.m. and the power surge that sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton -- the first Yankee outfield duo to start an All-Star Game since Dave Winfield and Rickey Henderson in 1988 -- displayed, the American League extended its win streak to nine straight with a 3-2 victory several hours later.

“We had our own little Home Run Derby during batting practice,” Judge said in a conversation with Winfield, who was on the field before the game.

“Who won?” asked the Hall of Fame outfielder.

“Stanton,” Judge responded. “He did what he’s been doing the whole season, just hitting clutch home runs.”

Donning charcoal gray uniforms, the six Yankees representatives -- catcher Jose Trevino and pitchers Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes and Clay Holmes all earned invitations, as well -- meandered around the infield as the National League stars wrapped up their pregame workout.

Stanton was the first Yankee to emerge from the tunnel. The larger-than-life slugger walked into the dugout and spent a few minutes taking it all in. Surrounding Stanton, who entered the game with 24 home runs, was Chavez Ravine and one of baseball’s signature backdrops. The stadium’s right and left field seating areas sat beneath two large scoreboards, each with the circular orange and blue “76” signs and enormous light towers that have been there for decades. The advertisements for the fuel company glistened from the sun but were far less eye-catching than the San Gabriel Mountains far beyond the right-field wall and the Elysian Hills filled with trees and other flora that ring the entire outfield.

Just as Dodger Stadium has spanned generations, so too have the three palm trees that sit just beyond the left-field wall.

For Stanton, the mountainous backdrop, the gold and blue seats and those ever-present palm trees are portraits of his childhood. Born in Panorama City, he was raised in Tujunga, a Los Angeles neighborhood about 20 miles from Dodger Stadium. A graduate of Notre Dame High School in nearby Sherman Oaks, Stanton began watching baseball at Dodger Stadium -- from the left-field seats, to be exact -- with his father, Mike, who was at the Midsummer Classic along with about 50 other family members and friends of the slugger.

This day was extra special for Stanton. It meant more than the other four All-Star Games he had been selected to, and he found no need to downplay his emotions.

“This brings back so many memories,” Stanton said as he made his way to the field. “Just getting to the ballpark today reminds me of driving here as a kid. I just keep looking into the stands, and I see fathers sitting there with their sons. That brings me all the way back to when I was sitting out there with my dad. Being on the field today, it’s all in reverse.”

Soon after Stanton made his sentimental entrance, Trevino jogged out to the field with two pinstriped bats and his glove. For the catcher, taking the field at Dodger Stadium in an American League All-Star uniform provided a different set of emotions, but his journey to Chavez Ravine was no less heartwarming.

Trevino’s story reads like a fantasy. A lifelong Yankees fan from Texas, Trevino learned the game from his father, Joe, an even more passionate supporter of the team, who passed away before his son made his big league debut. After a five-year climb up the Minor League ladder, at times filled with uncertainty, Trevino finally made his debut with the Texas Rangers in 2018. While he never established himself as an everyday player in the Lone Star State, Trevino made steady improvements at the plate and behind it, eventually playing in 89 games last season.

Then, in the wake of the Yankees trading All-Star backstop Gary Sánchez to Minnesota, Trevino’s lifelong aspiration came true, as he was dealt to New York at the beginning of this season. Slated to back up Kyle Higashioka, Trevino instead began to play at a level no one saw coming. At the All-Star break, Trevino was batting .251 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs, and those numbers combined with his rock-solid defensive play and top-notch game-calling abilities earned him a trip to Los Angeles and another chapter in his storybook season.

“I thought that anything was possible,” Trevino said. “It means a lot to me and to my family. It means a lot to everyone who has believed in me or helped me along the way.”

As he watched Angels phenom Shohei Ohtani make his way through a media scrum behind the backstop, Trevino remained as humble and gracious as anyone in the sport.

“It’s absolutely amazing to be in that clubhouse with all of those superstars,” said Trevino, whose special-edition spikes included graphics of the Yankee Stadium frieze along with an iconic quote from Joe DiMaggio. “It’s not just fun to be here; it’s been a dream come true.”

More on this day than ever, it seemed that the opportunity to wear the pinstripes inspired Trevino in ways that even he couldn’t have imagined.

“When I was growing up, I didn’t dream about playing in the Majors; I dreamed about playing for the Yankees,” he said. “The idea of taking the field with the words ‘I want to thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankee’ on my shoes just feels appropriate. It’s one line that says it all for me. I’m thankful to be here, and I feel like wearing the Yankees uniform has helped me reach my potential.”

By the time Trevino got to the cage, the least surprising All-Star selection was at the plate. Judge, who grew up in Northern California and played college ball three and a half hours north at Fresno State -- fittingly located off Route 99 -- had Yankees fans dreaming big this summer. With 33 home runs on July 19, Judge was sitting on the same number of longballs that Yankees legend Roger Maris had at the All-Star break in 1961. Later that season, Maris would go on to eclipse Babe Ruth’s single-season record with 61 homers. Although that total has since been topped by Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds -- albeit during one of most controversial eras in the game’s history -- Maris still holds the American League record for home runs in a single season.

Naturally, with the type of season Judge is putting together, the entire baseball world remains fixated on his every swing, and even his every word. But throughout the All-Star festivities, he remained as cool as ever, never giving anyone the sense that he’s looking too far ahead or that he’s content with simply having a good first half.

“I haven’t reflected on how well the season has gone for me yet,” said Judge, whose 70 RBIs were the most at the All-Star break for a Yankees player since 2010. “The minute I’m satisfied, or the minute I sit back and reflect on how far I’ve come, that’s when you get complacent. I certainly don’t want that to happen. There’s a long way to go. I don’t sit around in a comfortable chair thinking about the 33 home runs I’ve hit so far. You really have to stay focused on the immediate future, and that’s what I’m doing.”

The stoic slugger, who was making his fourth All-Star appearance, earned the distinction of the majors’ leading vote getter this season, garnering the support of 3,762,498 fans.

“It’s tough to describe; that’s a pretty big honor,” he said. “It shows that a lot of fans are rooting for you, and I wouldn’t be here without their constant support, motivating me to go out there and do my best. I have a passion and a gift, but I do it for the fans. I do it for the kids who are rocking my jersey in the stands and who one day hope to be playing at Yankee Stadium. That’s what it’s all about; to inspire those kids to do something special in their lives, whether that’s baseball or anything else.”

With the game being in Los Angeles, Judge wore spikes that paid tribute to an athlete who inspired him. From the time he was a child, Judge followed Lakers great Kobe Bryant, who gave himself the nickname “Black Mamba” to separate his professional and personal lives. Bryant, who was tragically killed in a 2020 helicopter crash, also created the term “Mamba Mentality,” a mindset focused on the process and trusting hard work and preparation in pivotal moments.

“The Mamba Mentality is something that I strive for every night,” Judge said when asked about the black and purple shoes. “It helps me get locked in; it helps me focus on the game. I tap into that; it helps me shift from being Aaron to No. 99.

“I still watch his highlights to this day,” he continued. “I have admired him for a long time, and this was the perfect time to bring out these Kobes.”

While five of the six Yankees prepared to compete in the Midsummer Classic, Cole -- who had pitched two days prior and was not available to take the mound in L.A. -- still found the experience of returning to his home state to be a fulfilling one. The five-time All-Star, who finished the first half with a 9-2 record and a 3.02 ERA, pitched at UCLA during his college days, and he discussed the reverence he had for Dodger Stadium.

“When you’re able to play in tournaments here, like we did a few times, you just want to make the most of those experiences,” he said. “I remember getting to hit here more than anything else. That’s not something I’m known for, and that makes it pretty memorable. Back then, I just wanted to know what it would be like to come here and play in a Major League game; that’s still pretty overwhelming to think about.”

Besides getting to spend time with family in Southern California, Cole also met up with former Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia before the game. A longtime mentor to Cole, Sabathia was honored during his final season at the 2019 All-Star Game in Cleveland, and the two joked about sharing that time together.

“I just remember how they had your locker set to the side, and we were all paying homage to you before that game,” Cole said from behind the batting cage. “That was pretty cool; you were really enjoying all of the attention.”

“You may have been telling me how great I was, but from the minute I saw you there, I was recruiting you to come to New York,” Sabathia responded. “I’m glad you finally listened to me.”

All-Star Games are all about pomp and circumstance, and this year’s edition was no different. It had been 42 years since the Midsummer Classic had been played at Dodger Stadium, and following player introductions and the national anthems, a moving tribute to No. 42 got underway. Wearing a Jackie Robinson jersey from the pioneer’s days with the Brooklyn Dodgers, movie star Denzel Washington stepped up to a microphone behind home plate.

“Ebbets Field,” he emphatically began. “Brooklyn. 1947. When Jackie Robinson stepped onto a Major League Baseball field for the first time, armed with supreme talent and unshakable character, and wearing a Dodger uniform, he changed the game of baseball and so much more. What he carried with him, what he represented, was towering.”

With the sold-out crowd of 52,518 silent, Washington continued.

“On the field, he was the Rookie of the Year, a Most Valuable Player, a World Series champion and a seven-time All-Star. Beyond the field, Jackie Robinson challenged us to become better versions of ourselves: business leaders, family men, activists, Hall of Famers. He said that life is not a spectator sport, and he lived that motto to the fullest. Whether it was charging down the baselines or standing tall for opportunity and justice, No. 42 blazed a trail that would light the way for people of every walk of life and every color, and to this very day, every generation, that inspiration, that profound impact, looms just as large today as it did 75 years ago.”

Following that poignant speech, Dodgers star Mookie Betts was introduced. As he grabbed the microphone behind the plate, all of the National League and American League All-Stars converged around him.

“Today is a special day,” Betts said. “It’s Rachel Robinson’s 100th birthday. So, on the count of three, I want everybody here to say, ‘Happy birthday, Rachel.’”

After the crowd passed along birthday wishes to the late American hero’s wife, an unusually competitive All-Star Game got underway, with three Yankees players ultimately making significant contributions. Celebrated Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw tossed a scoreless first inning, and the National League took a 2-0 lead later in the frame. For starting left fielder Stanton, the bottom of the first was about more than just manning his position.

“That was full circle,” Stanton said after the game. “Me playing in an All-Star Game here, me playing left field, as well. I always, always tried to get a ball thrown to me from whoever was playing left field when I was a kid. I would always come early to batting practice and try to catch some home run balls. Just to be out there today was so cool.”

The score remained in place until the top of the fourth, when Guardians third baseman José Ramírez got things started with a leadoff single against Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin.

With one out, Stanton stepped up to the plate in what would be his final at-bat of the game. This was his chance, his opportunity to create a new memory in the ballpark his father had brought him to. This was it.

Stanton quickly fell behind in the count, 0-2. Then, he seized the moment, blasting a 457-foot home run that landed in the very back of the same left-field seats where he sat as a kid. Just like that, the game was tied at 2.

“I can’t really explain how special this is,” Stanton said after being named the game’s MVP. “It’s hard to put into words that this is reality right now. I’m still soaking it in.”

Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins followed with a go-ahead home run that landed in the left-field bullpen, and from there, the American League relievers held their opponents at bay for the final six innings.

Trevino came into the game in the fifth, and an inning later, he would form a battery with Cortes -- whose path to the Midsummer Classic also reads like a Hollywood script.

In 2013, Cortes was drafted by the Yankees in the 36th round out of Hialeah High School in South Florida. After five seasons in the Minors, Cortes was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the Rule 5 Draft in December 2017, then returned to the Yankees in April 2018 after making his big league debut with the O’s. Cortes wouldn’t pitch in the Majors again until 2019, when he racked up a 5.67 ERA in 33 appearances for the Yankees. Later that year, he was traded to Seattle for international bonus pool money, and he struggled during the 2020 season. After pitching to a 15.26 ERA in the abbreviated season, the Mariners granted Cortes free agency.

But the Hialeah Kid never gave up on himself, and when he joined the Yankees for a third time in 2021, years of hard work began to finally propel him to big league success. In 22 appearances last season, including 14 starts, Cortes recorded a 2.90 ERA.

Cortes came into Spring Training this season determined to prove that his 2021 campaign was not a fluke. With a vote of confidence from manager Aaron Boone, who told Cortes that he would be an All-Star in 2022, the pitcher embarked on the season with a cautious optimism.

“As a player, I obviously told Aaron that I believed him,” said Cortes, who reached the All-Star break with a 7-3 record and a 2.63 ERA in 17 starts. “But there were some doubts, as everyone has. It’s pretty surreal that I’m here with all of these All-Stars. When I think back two or three years ago, when I didn’t know where I would be, I realize that it’s been an amazing ride.”

Cortes and Trevino were both mic’dup for the FOX broadcast in the sixth, and the left-hander started the inning with a strikeout of Atlanta’s Austin Riley.

“You want this ball?” Trevino asked after the strikeout.

“Yeah,” Cortes responded. “Why not?”

Cortes -- wearing a custom glove that paid homage to his Cuban roots -- ended the inning with a second strikeout, and the realization that his name would be forever etched in All-Star Game history began to set in.

“It’s pretty special,” he said after the game. “My friends and family are always going to see me as a kid from Hialeah, but I will have that star next to my name forever.”

Still wearing a mic, Trevino came to the plate for the first time in seventh. Facing Milwaukee’s Devin Williams, Trevino lined a 2-1 pitch down the right-field line for a single.

“I need that ball; this is my first All-Star hit right there!” Trevino said when he got to first base. “This is unreal!”

In the eighth inning, Holmes got the chance to add a chapter to his own story, one that is nearly as incredible as those of Trevino and Cortes. Before emerging as the most dominant relief pitcher in the game this season -- Holmes took the mound in L.A. with a 1.31 ERA and 16 saves in 41 appearances -- he was close to not making it in the big leagues. A ninth-round draft pick by Pittsburgh in 2011, Holmes had Tommy John surgery during his time in the Minors, and although he was able to finally make it to the majors in 2018, he struggled with his command, walking 23 batters while striking out just 21 in 11 games.

Following another difficult season in 2019, Holmes pitched just 1 1/3 innings in 2020 due to ankle and forearm injuries. The time away from the mound allowed the right-hander to figure out how to develop what has become the most devastating sinker in the game. That perseverance -- along with a lot of patience -- helped him salvage his career in 2021.

In the first half of last season, Holmes showed some improvement with the Pirates, and Yankees brass took notice. On July 26, Holmes was traded to the team he grew up rooting for as a kid in southern Alabama.

“I knew that my sinker could be really good,” he said. “It was good at times, but the consistency wasn’t there within the strike zone. There were flashes, and that allowed me to hang on to the hope that I could figure this out. It eventually came together.”

Beginning with his first month in pinstripes, it actually came together at a meteoric pace. In 25 games last year with the Yankees, Holmes recorded a 1.61 ERA, leading to his off-the-charts performance in the first half of this season.

“It’s pretty crazy,” he said. “Looking back to the All-Star break last year, I was in a far different spot. It wasn’t much of a linear trajectory; it all kind of happened at once over the last year. It’s been a journey that I’m thankful for.”

Regardless of how surprising or improbable Holmes’ rise had been, the 29-year-old had earned the trust of American League manager Dusty Baker in the eighth. Holmes proved that he belonged in that spot, recording two big outs and protecting the team’s one-run lead before giving way to Chicago’s Liam Hendriks.

Guardians reliever Emmanuel Clase closed out the game in the ninth, setting the stage for the MVP Award presentation a few minutes later. With little suspense, the hometown kid -- the former National League MVP who returned to the stadium where his dreams of becoming a big leaguer were first forged -- was presented with a commemorative bat. Somewhat overwhelmed, Stanton quickly held the award high above head with both hands, celebrating the once-in-a-lifetime moment.

“This is incredible,” he said. “I think this is right up there with anything I’ve done personally. I have some goals in terms of winning a championship and going all the way, but for the road I’ve gone on to get to where I am now, right where it all began for me as a kid, this is very special.”