The First MLB All-Star Game
The first MLB All-Star game was held in 1933 in Chicago's Comiskey Park in connection with that year's Worlds Fair. John McGraw was the National League manager and Connie Mack served as the skipper for the Ameican League squad. The game was held on July 6, and it drew an immense crowd of 49,200.
The American League roster featured future Hall of Famers Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Charlie Gehringer, Joe Cronin and Al Simmons. The NL had its own crew of legends that included Frankie Frisch, Chuck Klein, Bill Terry, Pie Traynor and Paul Waner.
With the score tied at zero in the bottom of the third inning, 39-year old Babe Ruth smacked a two-run homer, the first dinger in MLB All-Star game history. The American League went on to win by a score of 4-2, and Lefty Gomez picked up the first of his three All-Star game wins.
Carl Hubbell's 1934 Strikeout Show
The second MLB All-Star game was held on July 10, 1934 at New York's Polo Grounds. The previous year's winner, Lefty Gomez made another start for the American League. This year, however, he would be overshadowed by the National League starter, Carl Hubbell. In the first inning, Hubbell used his legendary screwball to strike out Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx in succession. He began the second inning by whiffing fellow future Hall of Famers Al Simmons and Joe Cronin. His five straight strikeouts of Hall of Fame players is the only time that any pitcher has done that in baseball history.
Despite Hubbell's heroics, the American League still won the game 9-7.
Ted Williams's Homer off Rip Sewell
The 1946 All-Star game was held in Boston's Fenway Park. The game was special because it was the first time since 1942 that several great players who had gone off to fight in World Warr II, were back from military service. One of those players was Ted Williams, who had been a bomber pilot during the war. Williams came back to the Majors better than ever, and at the break he was leading the AL in batting (.343), home runs (20) and RBI (68).
The Splendid Splinter homered in the fourth inning off Kirby Higbie. In the bottom of the eighth, National League manager Charlie Grimm brought in Rip Sewell. Sewell was famous for his eephus pitch, which traveled with a very slow, high arc that dropped right into the strike zone. Because of its slow speed and high trajectory, hitters often overswung at the pitch and either missed the ball altogether or made weak contact, often resulting in a dribbling ground ball. Prior to the 1946 MLB All-Star game, no one had ever hit a home run off the pitch. But in the eighth inning, Williams timed his swing perfectly and deposited Sewell's offering into the center field stands, which sent the Boston faithful into a frenzy.
Williams finsihed 4 for 4 and the American League won 14-3.
Pete Rose Runs over Ray Fosse
With the game tied 4-4 in the bottom of the twelfth inning in the 1970 All Star game, Pete Rose tried to score from second base on a single by teammate Jim Hickman. But American League centerfielder Amos Otis made a good throw to catcher Ray Fosse, who was blocking the plate. But Rose, who was determined to score, ploughed right over Fosse to score the winning run. The game was over, the National League won and Fosse's shoulder was severely dislocated. Fosse was never the same player after the collision. Rose, of course, never apologized.
Fred Lynn's Grand Slam
Over the first fifty years of the MLB All-Star game, no player had ever hit a Grand Slam. Then, on July 6, 1983, in the third inning of the 50th anniversary game, American League centerfielder Fred Lynn hit a Grand Slam that put the American League ahead. They went on to win the game 13-3 and Lynn won the MVP award.
All-Star Game Records
Career Records
Batting average: (.700) by Derek Jeter.
Most Games: (24) by Willie Mays, Stan Musial and Hank Aaron
Most Hits: (23) by Willie Mays
Most Home Runs: (6) by Stan Musial
Most RBI: (12) by Ted Williams
Most Runs: (20) by Willie Mays
Most Wins: (3) by Lefty Gomez
Most Saves: (3) by Mariano Rivera
Most Strikeouts: (19) by Don Drysdale
Single Game
Most Hits: (4) by Joe "Ducky" Medwick (1937), Ted Williams (1946) and Carl Yastrzemski (1970)
Most Home Runs: (2) by Arky Vaughan (1941), Ted Williams (1946), Al Rosen (1954), Willi McCovey (1969) and Gary Carter (1981)
Most RBI: (5) by Ted Williams (1946) and Al Rosen (1954).
Most Runs: (4) by Ted Williams (1946)
James Lincoln Ray - Real Name: James Lincoln Ray Jim has been the Feature Baseball Writer for Suite101 since March, 2007, where he has written more then ...
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