This is the third and
final part of the All-Star series. Like the game that was featured in moment number four, the first game we look at today also went into extra innings.
Unfortunately, this one did not have a positive dramatic ending.
3. 2002 – Hunter Responsible for Change in AS
Format
This All-Star Game would
get the nod for the most disappointing ending for sure.
It was played at Miller Park in Milwaukee, and went into extra
innings as the score was deadlocked at seven after nine innings. Neither team
scored in the tenth—or eleventh.
There was no twelfth inning. Both and AL and NL bullpens were
empty as all the pitchers had been used. It was announced over the P.A. system
that if the NL didn’t score in the bottom of the eleventh, the game would end
in a time.
The crowd booed loudly. Bottles and other debris were thrown
onto the field. The NL did not score and the game ended, prompting more booing
and thrown bottles.
It was a mess. Commisioner Bud Selig was criticized for not
letting the game continue and the sport of baseball, itself, had its integrity
questioned.
Looking back, I think if the MLB brass had to do it over again,
the game would have continued until there was a winner, but who’s to say,
really?
One thing the game did do was alter the incentive for the team
that won the game. Starting in 2003, the winning League of the All-Star game
would win home-field advantage for its pennant winner in the World Series.
Before this change, the Leagues alternated the home field.
While I didn’t like this idea at first (why should a great play
from a player from the Seattle Mariners ensure that the Yankees had home field
advantage, and so forth) it has grown on me to the point that twelve years
later, I have begrudgingly accepted it.
But we have to look closer at this game and find someone to
blame for this alteration and from the morning after this game,
I chose Torii Hunter.
Although I’m joking about the blame, of course, I believe it
was Hunter who was responsible for the tie. The Minnesota Twins centre fielder
put his talents on display during the first inning of the game.
The game was still scoreless when San Francisco Giants slugger
Barry Bonds stepped to the plate. Bonds had broken the single-season home run
record the previous season when he belted out 73 dingers.
Bonds swung at a 1-1 pitch and launched it high in the air to
centre field. Although it didn’t have the majestic arc of most of his homeruns,
it appeared that Bonds had gotten just enough of it to break the ice in the
scoreless game. And he did.
But Hunter glided back towards the warning track and timed his jump perfectly.
He extended his arm above the outfield wall and snared the ball in his glove,
robbing Bonds of the homerun that would have prevented the game from ending in
a tie.
Hearsay of course, because you can never tell how a game will
go if such-and-such happened, but it makes for a great “what if” moment at the
very least.
2. 1991 – Key Gets Win in Front of Blue Jays’
fans
This was the first and,
to date, only visit to the city of Toronto for the Mid-Summer Classic. The
SkyDome was the scene of the second All-Star game played outside the United
States, the other being the Olympic Stadium in Montreal in 1982.
At the time, it was the most important game to be played in
Toronto (the World Series would have to wait until the following season.)
Scalpers were getting in the neighbourhood of a thousand dollars for a single
ticket. Considering the average price was in the seventy-five dollar
range, that was quite a hefty hike.
The AL won the game by a score of 4-2. Baltimore Orioles
shortstop Cal Ripken won the first of his two All-Star Game MVP awards after
going two for three at the plate, including a three-run home run in the third
inning off Montreal Expos pitcher Dennis Martinez.
Secondbaseman Roberto Alomar of the Blue Jays started the game
for the American League. In a classy gesture to the Toronto fans, AL manager
Tony LaRussa of the Oakland A’s, allowed Alomar to play the entire game.
But the highlight for me was seeing Toronto pitcher Jimmy Key
pitch one inning of scoreless ball in the top of the third, allowing only one
hit and striking out a batter. While it wasn’t an earth-shattering pitching performance,
Ripken’s homer in the bottom of the inning game the AL a lead it would never
relinquish, meaning Jimmy Key was the winning pitcher of the game. Key became
the second Blue Jay pitcher to win the All-Star Game after Dave Stieb had done
it in 1983. It would not happen again until B.J. Ryan accomplished the feat in
2006.
1.
2008
– AL Walk-off Victory In Final AS Game at Yankee Stadium
Unfortunately
for fans of the New York Yankees, the final season of Yankee Stadium II ended
without a post-season appearance. That meant there was no late-inning October
Magic happening in the Bronx in the final year of the hallowed ground of
baseball.
However,
the game played on the night of July 15th, surely matched the
October Classics of years past with its thrilling drama.
The
ceremonial first pitch (pitches) was thrown by Yankee greats Yogi Berra, Whitey
Ford, Rich “Goose” Gossage and Reggie Jackson. The official first pitch was
thrown by Cleveland Indians ace Cliff Lee at 8:47 PM local time. The game would
not finish until 1:38 AM the following morning, an All-Star Game record for the
longest game at four hours and 50 minutes.
The
game was also the longest in terms of innings played at fifteen, tying the mark
set by the 1967 game.
It
could have ended in the tenth, as two errors and an intentional walk allowed
the AL to load the bases with none out. However, they were unable to score
thanks to some fine pitching by Colorado Rockies Aaron Cook, who was able to
get three ground ball outs (two of them force outs at the plate) to get out of
the inning.
The
NL then had their chance in the twelfth when they loaded the bases with one
out. But back-to-back strikeouts ended their threat.
As
the game moved on, I’m sure a lot of people were thinking about the tie of 2002
and were ever hopeful that the scenario wouldn’t be repeated, especially in the
last All-Star Game to be played at The Stadium.
In
the bottom of the fifteenth, the AL finally came through. Twins firstbaseman
Justin Morneau led off with a single. An out later, he moved to second when
Tampa catcher Dioner Navaro singled. J.D. Drew walked to load the bases.
Texas
Rangers second baseman Michael Young sent a flyball to rightfield that was caught,
but the ball was deep enough to score Morneau who tagged from third and beat
the throw with a slide to end the last thrilling game at the House That Ruth
Built.
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