It had all the ingredients for an historic night of baseball — excellent players drawn from both the National and American Leagues, lots and lots of legendary players from not-all-that-long ago and the swan song for the “House that Ruth Built,” the old Yankee Stadium, at least as far as All-Star games go.

Should have been a great night. Even the game, which went on for 15 innings and ended in the wee hours of the next morning (sorry, I did not watch, I had to be up early the next day) had its moments. And as an American League fan, I am pleased that the “right” team won, and will have home field advantage for the Series. To my National League friends, better luck next year.

But …

I am also a Red Sox fan. I come by it honestly — both my parents came from Lynn, Mass., just a few miles north of Boston. Wherever my dad’s military career took us, the family watchword was to cheer on the local team, but the Red Sox were the “home” team.

Some of my favorite memories of my father involve him watching, trying to watch or reacting to a Red Sox game. Dad could be dead to the world, asleep on the couch with the game on, but if you tried to change the channel he’d wake up and be all outraged at you. If challenged, (we kids learned you only did that once) he could give you chapter and verse on the last three plays.

He called it “watching with my eyes shut.” I’m sure it’s something he learned from listening to ball games on the radio. Wish I could do it.

So, I was looking forward to some good baseball and a chance to remember Dad.

When the American League players were introduced, the fans in Yankee Stadium cheered. They cheered for the Minnesota players, the Texas players, the Los Angles Angels, the … well you get the idea. And yes, they cheered the Yankees on the squad. Of course. What good sports these Yankees fans are!

Until the Red Sox players were introduced. The crowd in Yankee stadium booed Youkillis, Pedroia, Rameriz, and Ortiz. They booed pitcher Jonathan Papelbon when he entered the game in the eighth. They even booed Manager Terry Francona. He earned that position by managing the Red Sox (not the Yankees!) to win the 2007 World Series. In all, there were seven BoSox players on the AL squad, the most of any team in the league. Take that, Yankee fans!

What good sports. Indeed. They can’t even give a halfhearted cheer or at least contain the boos for the players playing for them.

That’s all right. That’s OK. As it was, Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning and took home MVP honors. According to the Associated Press, the New York crowd booed Drew as he rounded the bases. What wonderful sports fans.

I didn’t see anyone in a Yankees uniform taking home any awards. By the way, the MVP award Drew won was named for Ted Williams. Now who did Williams play for …

Anyway.

A big “Thank You” to everybody on every major league roster. Yes, even the … Yankees. You guys make summer and fall a little more interesting for all of us.

And to you New York Yankees fans — get some class.

Donna Riley-Lein is staff writer for The Independent. Contact her at drileylein@gulfcoastnewspapers.com.