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 All-time All-Stars The greatest stars in All-Star Game history
Posted: Saturday July 04, 1998 11:49 AM
By Tony DeMarco They remain etched in the minds of baseball fans who witnessed them: Reggie Jackson's 520-foot homer off the light tower in a 1971 game at Tiger Stadium. Pete Rose barreling over Ray Fosse and scoring the winning run on Jim Hickman's single in the 12th inning of a 1970 game in Cincinnati. Ted Williams' three-run, game-winning homer off Claude Passeau in the bottom of the ninth in a 1941 game at Briggs Stadium. Carl Hubbell striking out Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin in succession in a 1934 game. These are just four of the greatest moments in all-star game history. But how about the greatest stars in All-Star Game history? Now that's where it gets a little bit trickier -- and open for debate. After all, in 68 midseason classics, roughly 1,200 players have been involved. But with an emphasis on longevity and accomplishments over one-time heroics, we offer one set of all-time all-stars: CATCHER - Johnny Bench: Yogi Berra caught the most games (15), but Bench played in 12 games from 1968-83, and the National League won 10 of them. And although Bench never won an MVP award, he certainly played his part in the N.L.'s domination. He was 10 for 28 (.357) with three homers (tied for fourth alltime), 19 total bases (seventh), and a .679 slugging percentage (15th). Runnerup: Gary Carter, who won MVP awards in 1981 and '84, when he hit a total of three homers. But watch out for Mike Piazza, who takes an .833 slugging percentage (fourth), .364 batting average (19th) and two homers (tie for 10th) into this year's game. FIRST BASE - Steve Garvey: A two-time MVP winner, including his unlikely 1974 award, when he made the team as a write-in candidate, and played despite a glandular infection that swelled his cheeks.
But Garvey was far from a one-year wonder, hitting .393 (13th) in 28 at-bats, with two homers, seven runs (tie for fifth), two triples (tie for third), 23 total bases (fourth), six extra-base hits (fifth) and an .821 slugging percentage (fifth). SECOND BASE - Charley Gehringer: "The Mechanical Man'' played in six straight All-Star Games beginning in 1933, but if the game existed earlier, he would have played in many more, as his Hall of Fame career began in '26. As it was, Gehringer was an all-star standout, hitting an even .500 -- 10 for 20 -- with nine walks. The .500 mark is the highest for players with at least 20 at-bats. In the 1934 game, he established a record that has been tied only twice by reaching base five times on three walks and two hits. Runner-up: Nellie Fox. Played in 13 games (most at the position), and hit .368, with 14 hits (tied for third). SHORTSTOP - Arky Vaughn: Much like Cal Ripken Jr., Vaughn played in a string of All-Star Games as a shortstop before shifting to third base. In nine consecutive games from 1934-42. Vaughn, inset, batted .364 with two home runs, five runs scored, 15 total bases and a .682 slugging percentage. Both of Vaughn's homers came in the 1941 game at Briggs (now Tiger) Stadium, but he was upstaged by Ted Williams, who hit a gamewinning three-run homer. Runnerup: It's hard to top Ripken's 15 (and counting) appearances, 14 of those at shortstop, plus his MVP award in 1991, when he hit a game-deciding, three-run homer. THIRD BASE - Brooks Robinson: There's no other third baseman remotely close, as Robinson played in 18 games - tied with Ted Williams behind the 24-game triumvirate of Willie Mays, Stan Musial and Hank Aaron. And while Robinson holds the record for playing on 15 losing American League teams, you can't blame him. He tripled in two runs in 1964, homered for the A.L.'s only run in '67 and tripled in two runs in '70 - all losses. In all, Robinson tied for first with three triples, is fifth with 45 at-bats, and tied for fifth with 13 hits and 22 total bases. Runner-up: It's a tossup among Wade Boggs (12 games, .321 average, one homer), Mike Schmidt (10 games, four extra-base hits, game-winning homer in 1981) and George Brett (10 games, four extra-base hits, five RBI). OUTFIELD - Willie Mays: If you had to pick one all-time all-star, it would have to be the "Say Hey Kid.'' Name an all-time batting record and Mays probably holds it or shares it. OK, we'll do it for you -- games played (24), at-bats (75), runs (20), hits (23), singles (15), triples (three), total bases (40), extrabase hits (eight), stolen bases (six). So what if he had the advantage of playing in two games annually from 1959-62. He's No. 1 on this list.
Ted Williams: One-time heroics or career achievement -- either way you want to measure, it's hard to top the "Splendid Splinter.'' He played in 18 games, and ranks first in RBI and walks, tied for second in homers, third in runs and total bases, tied for third in hits, fourth in at-bats. And Williams' 1946 performance may be the best all-time. He had four hits, including two homers, and had a record 10 total bases. Stan Musial: He really was "The Man'' when it came to the midseason classic. His six homers are even more impressive when you consider that only two players hit four, and only six more players hit three. His 24 appearances are tied for the most, as are his 40 total bases, and he is second in runs, hits and RBI. DH - And here is where we will invoke an All-Star Game tradition by adding a name that belongs. For a moment, just consider this an A.L. year, when the designated hitter is used. And that clears a spot for Fred Lynn, who did plenty of damage in his nine appearances. Foremost was his 1983 game, when he hit the only grand slam in history -- sparking a record six-hit, seven-run inning that helped the A.L. break an 11-game losing streak with a 13-3 rout. In all, Lynn hit four homers (tied for second), drove in 10 (tied for second), had a .900 slugging percentage (third), and 18 total bases (tied for 10th). PITCHERS - Juan Marichal: There's plenty of room for debate here, as the game has been dominated by pitching throughout its history. But we'll go with Marichal, whose ERA is the lowest ever at 0.50. His eight appearances are tied for the most with three others, and his 18 innings are tied for second. Marichal also picked up victories in 1962 and '64. Runner-up: Don Drysdale: He made eight starts, won two games, leads with 19 innings pitched and strikeouts with 19, and is seventh with a 1.40 ERA. Lefty Gomez: No other All-Star Game pitcher won as many games (three), and only two others made as many starts (five), and only one has thrown more innings. Gomez even helped invoke a rule change. After he and Mel Harder each pitched six innings in the 1935 game, pitchers were limited to three innings. Gomez, who won the 1933, '35 and '37 games, also drove in the first run in AllStar Game history. Runnerup: Carl Hubbell. Everybody knows about his consecutive strikeouts of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin in the 1934 game, but additionally Hubbell fanned 11 in five appearances. MANAGER - Walter Alston, above, compiled a 7-2 record. His nine appearances rank second to Casey Stengel, who was 4-6. Copyright 1998 The Denver Post
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Garvey had a .393 All-Star average in 28 plate appearances 
Simply Splendid: Williams hit two homers and two singles in the 1946 All-Star Game 