A consumer’s guide to the best and...

A consumer’s guide to the best and worst of sports media and merchandise. Ground rules: If it can be read, played, heard, observed, worn, viewed, dialed or downloaded, it’s in play here.

What: “Midsummer Memories.”

A walk down memory lane

of past All-Star games.

When: 4 p.m. Wednesday,

Classic Sports Network

If today’s All-Star games have too much pageantry and not enough paladins, “Midsummer Memories” on Classic Sports Network should bring the boys of summer back to your heart.

This well-produced collection of anecdotes and highlights starts with the first All-Star game--a one-time special, the “Game of the Century” was part of the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair--and goes hopscotching into last year’s game.

But instead of a predictable year-by-year format, Classic Sports does a nice job of tying in themes.

After a brief lead-in of player memories, CSN gets down to history and homers. Trivial and charming, you learn that Babe Ruth had the first homer in the first game and that Fred Lynn’s All-Star-first grand slam 50 years later was hit in the same park--the old Comiskey--only 10 feet from where Ruth’s landed.

Hosted capably by Ozzie Smith, “Midsummer Memories” is true to its title by spending less time on statistics and more on the memories, such as Pete Rose running over Ray Fosse to score the winning run in 1972; Mark Fidrych sculpturing the mound and talking to a ball; Steve Garvey, a write-in candidate, playing all nine innings with the mumps and winning the MVP award; and John Kruk bailing out on three consecutive pitches after Randy Johnson’s first one had sailed over his head.

“Midsummer Memories” addresses the infusion of African Americans into the major leagues. And although it ignores the Negro League All-Star games, it does talk at some length with Larry Doby and Don Newcombe about the experience of being among the first African Americans to play in the game.

The anti-Semitism directed at Hank Greenberg is not addressed, even though there is a short interview with Greenberg. Still, the breadth, scope and quality of what is shown is tremendous. There is neither the pompousness of a documentary nor the campy style of a weekly baseball show. “Midsummer Memories” is done with dignity, respect and good humor.

It’s much like reminiscing about friends you grew up with. They may not be the most important people in the world, but you feel better for having shared the time.