The 2015 MLB All-Star game may just be an exhibition, but this exhibition has brought us plenty of memorable moments throughout the years.
By Steven Cifuentes
It is the 2015 MLB All-Star Game in Cincinnati.
Prior to making the game “count,” players played for pride and the name on the front of their jersey, not the back.
In 1933 Arch Ward of the Chicago Tribune came up with the idea to pit the best players from both leagues in a one time exhibition game. 82-years later it has turned into a global event and became a summer classic hosted by MLB.
Every baseball fan has that special moment from prior All-Star games. Mine was sitting next to pops and waiting for my favorite New York Yankees to be introduced each season.
There was no better feeling then getting to stay up late and seeing Don Mattingly get introduced and wonder how he will fair against the best of the best.
So crack open a brew, grab a bag of peanuts or Cracker Jacks and enjoy a stroll down memory lane as this is our Top 5 MLB All-Star moments of all time.
5. 1970 All-Star Game, Pete Rose vs. Ray Fosse
Pete Rose earned the nickname Charlie Hustle way before the 1970 All-Star Game. The nickname was backed up when he decided this “exhibition” game meant so much to him he had to take out Ray Fosse in the 12th Inning to score the winning run.
Rose jarred the ball loose in a play that has gone down in infamy.
Fosse ended up playing with pain in his arm the rest of his career and still to this day cannot lift his arm above his head.
It was not until a year later that Fosse discovered Rose had fractured his shoulder and it healed in place.
While Rose tends to be remembered more for his gambling exploits, it was these moments that will be played over and over if the Hall of Fame ever opens the doors to him.
My only question is, did Rose have the over on the game or the National League on the money line?
4. Babe Ruth Hits 1st Ever All-Star Game HR
Babe Ruth hit 714 career home runs and recognized by everyone as the greatest player in baseball history.
The Babe changed the game from a dead ball era and rang in the live ball era by hitting more home runs in some seasons than entire teams.
The 1933 MLB All-Star game featured many future Hall of Fame players, including Lou Gehrig, Left Gomez and Jimmie Fox, but the only player every fan wanted to see was Babe Ruth.
Babe Ruth came up in the third inning with two men on base and took Bill Hallahan deep to stake the American League to a 3-0 lead. The American League never looked back and took the first All-Star Game by a score of 4-2.
The Babe had plenty of memorable home runs in his career. Most of them coming in games that counted, but this one home run that did not count just showed how Babe Ruth knew how to capture a moment.
The greats of the game always do.
3. Mariano Rivera Stands Alone
The words that come to mind when fans think of Mariano Rivera are domination and class. There was no athlete, of this generation, that lived up to the definition of a role model better.
Mariano’s career stats have been mentioned over and over and still make people think how does a man do that with one pitch. Bring up his postseason stats and it is easy to see why many people believe he was the MVP during the Yankees late 1990s dynasty.
In 2013, Rivera announced he would be retiring from baseball. This afforded Major League Baseball to see him out like a great of the game deserved.
At the end of the 7th Inning the crowd got quiet as Metallica’s Enter Sandman blared from the Citi Field speakers. The fans erupted as everyone knew they were about to see a legend take the All-Star mound for the last time.
As Mariano got the mound grab the ball and attempted to warm up he realized all of his American League teammates were still on the bench.
In typical Mariano fashion he took his cap off and thanked all the players and fans and went out and pitched a scoreless inning to take home the game MVP honors.
2. Cal Ripken Jr. Finishes Where He Started
There were three things that were certain during Cal Ripken Jr’s career. These were death, taxes and that Cal Ripken would be in the starting lineup for the Baltimore Orioles.
Ripken played an unbelievable 2,632 games before advising his manager at the time it was time to take him out of the lineup vs. the Yankees.
While the curtain-call and lap Ripken took around the field will always be the top moment in his career, the way he was honored at his last All-Star game in 2001 is a close second.
Ripken stood tied for the most All-Star games started at shortstop going into the 2001 game. The problem was he would never break that record, because he had to switch to third base due to his lack of range.
Alex Rodriguez was voted in as the starting shortstop for the 2001 game, but instead of running out to shortstop to start the game he made a beeline to third-base and pushed Ripken to where he belonged, starting shortstop for the American League.
The move allowed Ripken to break the record for most starts as an All-Star shortstop. He ended up going out in style, leading off the third inning with a solo home run and walking away with the MVP award.
1. Ted Williams Honored At 1999 All-Star Game
Ted Williams was not known as the nicest guy in the world on and off the field. Ted got so angry at the Boston faithful he actually wouldn’t tip his cap when he was cheered off the field.
That all changed when Ted was honored at the 1999 All-Star game in front of Red Sox nation.
Williams came out from the outfield bullpen to a standing ovation from the fans and admiration from the All-Stars playing in the 1999 game.
Williams was even moved by the moment as every All-Star wanted to come over to let the legend know how they felt about him.
Tony Gwynn took the honor of walking Williams out to the spot he would throw the first pitch of the game. The site of two of the greatest pure hitters walking to the mound together gives me chills to this day.