Midsummer Classics
Tomorrow night in Cleveland the MLB players will be showcased in the 90th All-Star Game between the American and National Leagues. The AL currently leads the series 44-43-2! There is no professional sport that has an all-star game with more history or relevance. We all have our list of special All-Star Game memories, and much of it has to do with our own favorite players in the game we love. So let me give it a whirl and present my top 10 list in chronological order starting with my first memory.
Hometown Hero. Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California, 1967. My earliest image of watching an All-Star Game on television was the ‘67 game probably because Tony Perez of the Reds was the MVP. Like many All-Star Games, this was a pitchers’ duel, tied 1-1 going into the 15th inning. Perez, or affectionately known by his teammates as “Doggie”, hit the game-winning homer in the 15th. The pitching line for the game was a story of some of the greatest: WP – Don Drysdale; LP – Catfish Hunter; and Save – Tom Seaver. It was a sign of good things to come for the Reds as Perez soon became known as one of the great clutch hitters in the game.
Play at the Plate. Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1970. Riverfront Stadium was no more than 2 weeks old when it hosted an extra inning All-Star Game classic of its own. This one was tied 4-4 going into the bottom of the 12th inning. With Pete Rose of the Reds on second base, Jim Hickman of the Cubs singled to centerfield. Rose came charging to the plate and literally bulldozed the AL catcher, Ray Fosse of the Indians, who dropped the ball. This play might be one of the most controversial ones in All-Star Game history pitting the traditionalists who favored Rose’s all-out play all the time vs. the naysayers who questioned the necessity of the injury sustained by Fosse in a meaningless game.
Home Run. Tiger Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, 1971. Reggie Jackson is probably best known as Mr. October as a slugger for the Yankees in their championship years. On this night though he was an All-Star representative of the Oakland A’s, and Mr. July. In the bottom of the third inning Jackson hit a 520 foot home run that crashed into a transformer on a light tower above Tiger Stadium. It was the longest HR in All-Star Game history. Jackson had some more majestic shots to come during the ‘70s!
Throw. Kingdome, Seattle, Washington, 1979. To set the stage, there were 2 outs in the bottom of the eighth inning with the Angels’ Brian Downing on second base. Craig Nettles of the Yankees singled to right field off Bruce Sutter of the Cubs. Dave Parker of the Pirates gunned down Downing with a rifle shot peg to the plate. The speed and accuracy of the throw from right field by Parker was certainly reminiscent of some of the amazing throws of the all-time greatest Pirate, Roberto Clemente.
Athlete. Angel Stadium, Anaheim, California, 1989. In my lifetime there has never been someone like Bo Jackson, an athlete who was a star in so many sports – football, track, and baseball. Bo only played 8 MLB seasons and in just one All-Star Game, but it was a classic performance in 1989. Jackson was the MVP of the game lighting up the box score in so many offensive categories – 2 for 4 at the plate; a HR; 2 RBIs; and a stolen base. He also made an outstanding running catch in the outfield. I always wish we would have had more Bo to watch through the years.
At Bat. Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland, 1993. Randy Johnson’s 22-year MLB pitching career might be best remembered by a single confrontation in an All-Star Game with an NL hitter, John Kruk of the Phillies. It was the classic left-handed dominating pitcher against a lefty hitter. The first pitch from Johnson sailed over Kruk’s head. Kruk then seemed terrified and stood at the edge of the batter’s box with his bat on his shoulder for the first strike and waived his bat at the next two, totally overmatched. It was one of the most humorous moments in the history of the Midsummer Classic.
Century Turn. Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts, 1999. The All-Century Team was announced prior to the game and featured a pre-game appearance by the all-time greatest natural hitter, Red Sox HOF, Ted Williams. Williams was greeted by, among others, star Red Sox shortstop, Nomar Garciaparra, representing the transfer of the torch from the 1900s to 2000s in baseball. The game had highlights as well. Pedro Martinez, named MVP, struck out 5 batters in two innings.
Iron Man. T-Mobile Park, Seattle, Washington, 2001. All-Star Games are often about the celebration of a player’s career, not just the first half of his season during a given year. This game honored Cal Ripken, Jr., baseball’s Iron Man. The AL starting left side of the infield had Alex Rodriguez at short and Ripken at third. Before the first pitch of the game ARod asked to switch positions with Ripken so that baseball and its fans would see Ripken in the spot where he set his career record for consecutive games played, 2,632, besting Lou Gehrig’s former record of 2,130. It was a wonderful gesture shared by two great players.
Tie. Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2002. This game changed baseball for the next 14 years. After 12 innings, the managers agreed through Bud Selig’s urging to end the game in a tie. Acknowledging that baseball’s Midsummer Classic had become less competitive in nature, it was decided shortly thereafter to give incentive to the winning league by having its World Series representative receive the home field advantage. Previously, the two leagues changed home field advantage in even (NL) and odd (AL) years. Now, finally, beginning in 2017, the best record rules the day.
Inside the Parker. AT&T Park, San Francisco, California, 2007. I often play down enthusiasm for home runs, but not when it comes to one of these! Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki hit a ball to right center field that struck an All-Star Game banner and bounced away from the NL outfielders. Ichiro circled the bases before the relay throw reached the plate. It was the first and only inside the park home run in All-Star Game history, and hit by one of baseball’s greatest gentlemen of all-time.
The 2019 Midsummer Classic will feature the youngest starting lineups and rosters the game has ever seen. My guess is that one of these young players will stand out and become a star of the ‘20s. I’m looking forward to finding out which player that might be. Enjoy the game. And let me know your favorite Midsummer Classic memory!
Until next Monday,
your Baseball Bench Coach