MLB All-Star Game: Each team’s worst All-Star selections ever
Los Angeles Dodgers – Tony Cuccinello (1933)
Back in the 1930’s, the All-Star Game rosters were much smaller, with only 18 players being selected to both squads. That said, the competition to make the team was much tougher and you’d think that would mean only the best of the best were selected.
In 1933, Dodgers’ second baseman Tony Cuccinello was selected as a reserve on John McGraw’s National League squad. Cuccinello would lead all second basemen in home runs during the 1933 season, popping nine out of the yard, with All-Star starter Frankie Frisch finishing with four.
That said, neither Frisch or Cuccinello were poor choices for the game, but were defensively weak. Meanwhile, the two players that ranked directly above them in WAR (Hughie Critz and Billy Herman) were excellent defenders but lacked with the bat. As such Cuccinello deserved the nod to represent both the Dodgers and the National League at the game.
So why does he end up on this list? Well, the Dodgers have a very storied history and sometimes even those guys that were deserving over 80 years ago pale in comparison to those that followed them in the trenches. Tony Cuccinello is just the unlucky guy that takes that particular cake.
Next: Miami Marlins - Alex Gonzalez (1999)