Michael Conforto will be the lone Met participating in the 2017 All-Star game this Tuesday in Miami. Will he deliver one of the best All-Star performances in Mets history? We’ll find out soon enough.
Before being placed on the disabled list Jul. 1, Michael Conforto was hitting .285 with 14 home runs, 41 RBI and a fantastic .953 OPS over 69 games played.
He’s going to need to put up an equally impressive performance at the Midsummer Classic if he hopes to crack our list of the top three MLB All-Star Game performances in Mets history.
On to the rankings.
No. 1: Lee Mazzilli, 1979, Seattle
Lee Mazzilli’s offensive display in the late innings of the 1979 All-Star Game single-handedly carried the National League squad to victory. Mazzilli was a reserve in the game and made the most of his two at-bats.
In the top of the eighth inning, Mazzilli, pinch-hitting for Braves outfielder Gary Matthews, blasted a solo home run off Rangers stud Jim Kern, tying the game at six.
1979 ASG: @Mets Lee Mazzilli mobbed in NL dugout after hitting a game-tying pinch hit HR off @Rangers Jim Kern. pic.twitter.com/6HVdlKWP5p
— 1970s Baseball (@70sBaseball) December 20, 2014
In the top of the ninth inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, Mazzilli walked and gave the NL a 7-6 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Chicago Cubs reliever Bruce Sutter slammed the door shut in the bottom of the ninth.
No. 2: Tug McGraw, 1972, Atlanta
Tug McGraw’s dominance on the mound created a memorable ending to the 1972 All-Star Game, which was held at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
McGraw entered the game in the top of the ninth inning with the NL trailing 3-2 and gave up a leadoff double to Oakland’s Joe Rudi. McGraw didn’t panic and struck out the next three batters he’d face, escaping trouble.
After the NL tied things up in the bottom of the inning on a RBI groundout from Houston’s Lee May, McGraw returned to the mound for another inning of work. He’d work a perfect 10th, picking up his fourth strikeout of the day.
Two of those four strikeouts came against future Hall of Famers — Carlton Fisk and Reggie Jackson.
A RBI single off the bat of Cincinnati’s Joe Morgan would give the NL the victory in the bottom of the 10th.
No. 3: Jacob deGrom, 2015, Cincinnati
Jacob deGrom did the unthinkable during the sixth inning of the 2015 All-Star Game in Cincinnati: Strikeout the side on just 10 pitches.
First, he needed just three pitches to retire Oakland A’s catcher Steven Vogt, who was hitting a healthy .287 going into the Midsummer Classic.
Then, deGrom sat down Cleveland second baseman Jason Kipnis on four pitches. Kipnis who was boasting a strong .323 average at the time looked nothing short of lost during the at bat.
Finally, the 2014 NL Rookie of the Year fanned Detroit’s Jose Iglesias on just three pitches, two of which were in the dirt.
Honorable Mentions
- Tom Seaver, 1970 ASG: 3 IP, 1 H, 4 K
- Jon Matlack, 1975 ASG: 2 IP, 2 H, 4 K
- Dwight Gooden, 1984 ASG: 2 IP, 1 H, 3 K
- Lance Johnson, 1996 ASG: 3-for-4, 2B, SB, R
- Jose Reyes, 2007 ASG: 3-for-4, 2B, R
