1945 All-Star Game

Despite risking public outrage, the Major League owners collectively decided to cancel the 1945 All-Star Game due to wartime travel restrictions. Initially, the entire season was in jeopardy as the American war effort against Japan was receiving full attention and resources. In February, a memo was sent out from the Office of Defense Transportation ensuring that the season could take place if all teams reduced their travel by twenty-five percent (as compared to the 1944 season). Like most of America, both the league and its fans agreed to sacrifice and the Midsummer Classic was one of the first events to go. Originally scheduled to take place in Boston at Fenway Park, the affair was the first All-Star Game to be cancelled since its inception in 1933. According to Ford C. Frick, president of the National League, cutting out the contest would bring a significant savings with approximately 500,000-less passenger miles spent.

As a replacement, eight simultaneous "inter-league" games were scheduled between the National and American Leagues to help raise money for the American Red Cross and War Relief efforts. These games included the New Yankees versus the Giants at the Polo Grounds, the Chicago Cubs versus the White Sox at Comiskey Park, the Cincinnati Reds versus the Cleveland Indians at Cleveland Stadium, the Brooklyn Dodgers versus the Washington Senators at Griffith Stadium, the St. Louis Cardinals versus the Browns at Sportsman's Park, the Philadelphia Athletics versus the Phillies at Shibe Park, the Detroit Tigers versus the Pirates at Forbes Field (which ended up being cancelled) and the Boston Braves versus the Red Sox at Fenway.

With the cancellation, Major League Baseball did not name a formal list of All-Stars for that season. However, sports writers from the Associated Press created their own "mythical" list of standouts for the 1945 season after requesting nominations from each of the team's managers.