MLB All-Star Game: Each team’s worst All-Star selections ever
Washington Nationals – Al Oliver (1983)
Back in 1983, the Washington Nationals were still in their first home and wore the uniform of the Montreal Expos. Like the Blue Jays, they took a few years to start turning things around, but by 1983 things were starting to look up nicely in Montreal. As such the Expos were starting to get some national following, both in Canada and in the States, and they saw that when they placed four players in the starting line-up and five overall for the 1983 All-Star Game.
One of those players was Al Oliver. Oliver was a first baseman and knew a thing or two about driving in runs, picking up 84 RBI on the back of a .300/.347/.410 batting line. However, his overall value to the team was lowered as his eight home runs were below par for his position and he was dreadful in the field, holding on to a -10.9 defensive efficiency. That led to an overall WAR of 1.7, ranking him 7th in the National League in 1983.
What made Oliver’s selection a travesty was the fact that the best first baseman in the N.L., Keith Hernandez was left home during the game. Hernandez was traded just from the Cardinals to the Mets just weeks before the game and was known to have multiple issues with manager Whitey Herzog. With Herzog managing the National League team, the roster crunch gave him the last say in the argument between the two. Had Oliver not won the vote, it would have certainly been an interesting situation to behold.
Next: MLB All-Time 25-man Roster
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