All-Star Game stakes mount as home edge goes to winning league.(Chicago Tribune)

Byline: Phil Rogers

CHICAGO _ Quick getaways are no longer the order of the day for baseball's All-Stars. The new mandate is to win as well as to entertain.

In recent years, as the events around the game increased in importance, the game itself lost its luster. Some players, including the White Sox's Frank Thomas and the Cubs' Sammy Sosa, cared so little they didn't even stick around to see how it ended.

But despite some reservations, the players union has signed off on Commissioner Bud Selig's proposals to make the game more competitive. In the biggest of those, home-field advantage in the World Series will be awarded to the league that wins the All-Star Game.

The new rules will be in place for a two-year trial that covers the July 15 game at U.S. Cellular Field and the 2004 game, which will be played in Houston.

New York Mets pitcher Tom Glavine was among the powerful voices in the union who opposed linking the All-Star Game to the World Series. But players agreed to the two-year experiment, in part because owners accepted two of their counterproposals.

Rosters will be increased from 30 to 32, with pitchers the probable beneficiaries of the increase. Players will get a direct say in selecting the rosters with the creation of a vote to determine 16 of 24 pitchers and reserves in the National League and 17 of 23 pitchers and reserves in the American League, where fans elect a designated hitter.