Brightest Moments In All-Star History

What do you get when you match up the best players in baseball against each other? Some of the greatest moments in the history of the sport. After the COVID-suspended All-Star Game in 2020, The Midsummer Classic is finally back with plenty of headlines. So before the 91st game between the American and National leagues, let’s look at some of the greatest moments from the All-Stars who shined the brightest.

1934 — Carl Hubbell Strikes Out Legends

The second All-Star Game featured 27 Hall of Famers, including the entire AL lineup. The starting pitcher for the NL, Carl Hubbell, made his mark in All-Star history with his performance.

After letting the first two batters get on to start the game, Hubbell set the record for most consecutive strikeouts in an All-Star game when he struck out the following five hitters. The names included OF Babe Ruth, 1B Lou Gehrig and 3B Jimmie Foxx. While the record was tied in 1986 by SP Fernando Valenzuela, Hubbell’s dominant performance was an outlier during the height of the new power era in baseball.

Hubbell also set the record for most strikeouts in a single All-Star game with six in three innings of work. However, the AL quickly turned things around and scored nine runs in the subsequent three frames to win 9-7.

1941 & 1946 — Ted Williams: The All-Star Hero

It would not be right to pick just one of LF Ted Williams’s moments throughout his 19 All-Star appearances. So here’s a few: Williams, for starters, is the record holder for most career RBIs in All-Star games. In 1941, he showed the NL just how dangerous it was to pitch to him when he ripped a three-run walk-off home run to give the AL a 6-3 series lead in the Midsummer Classic. The home run won the game, but the other two runs were from New York Yankees, which showed that even two bitter rivals could work together once in the year.

Williams later topped his feat in 1946 when he delivered another home run, the only one of the game. However, the pitch made the moment even more special as it was the only home run against Rip Sewell’s eephus pitch. Williams also set the record for most hits (4), home runs (2), RBI (5) and TB (10) — all of which still stand or have been tied.

1979 — Mazzilli Magic

The All-Star Game isn’t always about the most prolific players showing off for the fans. Many times, late in the game, it comes down to a sub to turn things around for a team. In 1979, OF Lee Mazzilli made his first and only All-Star appearance with the NL down one run in the top of the eighth. The 24-year-old hit an opposite-field home run to tie the game. The next inning, he took a walk forcing in the eventual winning run for the NL.

Mazzilli played 14 seasons in the big leagues and didn’t reach 100 home runs in his career, but the one on July 17, 1979, was the highlight of his career.

1983 — Lynn’s Grand Entrance In The Record Books

Slump was an understatement to describe what the AL was going through heading into the 1983 All-Star Game. The NL had won 11 straight and 23 of the last 26 meetings with one tie as well. However, things started to change for the AL on the 50th anniversary of The Midsummer Classic. The AL blew out their counterpart 13-3 thanks to a seven-run third inning. Four of those runs came off the first and only grand slam in All-Star Game history.

OF Fred Lynn was in his fifth straight All-Star game when he made history. The NL sent LHP Atlee Hammaker to the mound in the third to hold the deficit at one. However, the AL had other plans, ambushing him early and loading the bases for Lynn to deliver. Lynn’s grand slam sits alone in the All-Star history books, but he hit seven more in his 17-year career. 

1999 — Pedro Dominates In Boston

The 1999 All-Star Game was all about the Boston Red Sox. Before the game, the All-Century team was announced, with Williams making his return to Boston. And once the game got started, it was all about SP Pedro Martínez. The Hall of Famer was in his second season with the Red Sox, and the AL knew there were few things harder in baseball than getting a hit against him.

The top of the NL’s lineup quickly learned just how difficult it really was when Martinez stuck out SS Barry Larkin, RF Larry Walker and CF Sammy Sosa. Then, in the second, he sat down 1B Mark McGwire and ended the inning with a strike ‘em out throw ‘em out.

By the end of the season, Martínez was the obvious choice for the Cy Young Award with a 2.07 ERA and 313 strikeouts.   

2001 — Ripken Goes Out With a bang

SS Cal Ripken Jr. is known for his 2,632 consecutive game streak record, giving him the nickname Iron Man. Iron Man wasn’t completely infallible, as demonstrated when he broke his nose during the team picture of the 1996 All-Star Game. However, Ripken Jr. recovered from this and was still able to start.

In 2001, the Baltimore Orioles legend was ready to finish his career and made his 19th straight All-Star appearance. Ripken was elected to play third for the AL, but at the start of the game, SS Alex Rodriguez switched with him to let him play short one last time and give him the record for most appearances at shortstop.

Everything lined up perfectly for Ripken to steal the show, and in the third inning, he hit a solo home run to put the AL on the board first. Ripken’s final home run in an All-Star game sparked his team’s offense to pick up a 4-1 win.

2013 — Sandman Puts The NL To Sleep

Closer may be the only position in baseball with a definitive answer to who did it best. RHP Mariano Rivera is the all-time leader in saves (652) and boasted a 2.21 ERA with 1,173 strikeouts. Rivera, nicknamed the Sandman, dominated his opponents in the regular season and the playoffs while securing five World Series titles for New York.

Rivera started his farewell tour in 2013 and was selected to that year’s All-Star team. When he ran out to the mound in the eighth, both teams stood at their dugouts to cheer for Rivera. The Sandman set down the NL in order, and he became the first pitcher to win an All-Star MVP since Martínez in 1999. After retiring, Rivera was the only person to be unanimously elected to the Hall of Fame.

Some of the greatest moments in baseball history have taken place in The Midsummer Classic. As the event resumes once again, it will be time for the new generation to make unique moments of their own. So who will write their name in the All-Star Game record books? And who had the best moment of all time? Let us know what you think.

Cover photo courtesy of Barton Silverman/The New York Times