MLB All-Star Game 2015: 5 most memorable All-Star Game performances
By Will Osgood
Cal Ripken, Jr. wins MVP at 1991 All-Star Game in Toronto
In some ways awarding Cal Ripken, Jr. is a mere acknowledgment of his entire career, especially in All-Star Games. Ripken of course would go on in 1995 to set the all-time record for consecutive games played at 2,131 and would end up setting the record at 2,630 finally sitting for the first in over 15 years on September 20, 1998.
The “Iron Man’ will rightly be remembered first and foremost for his consecutive games played streak. But part of the reason he was able to play so many consecutive games is because he was so darn good.
He finished with 431 home runs and 3,184 hits for his regular season career. Because of his play, he was a 19-time All-Star.
In addition to the 1991 game he also won the All-Star Game MVP in 2001. But the 1991 MVP was his finest All-Star moment, as he hit a game-winning three-run homer and went for 2-for-3 in the game. He also won the Home Run Derby the day prior.
A pretty good week for the “Iron Man”, who also won the American League MVP for the regular season–his second such title–and first Gold Glove award.
You might say 1991 was “The Year of Ripken”. The 1991 All-Star Game certainly was “The Ripken Game”.
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