Fansided

Top 10 moments in MLB All-Star Game history

By Joshua Sadlock

Cal Ripken Jr., (R) of the Baltimore Orioles, asked to move to short stop position by American Leaguer Alex Rodriguez (L) during the first inning of the baseball All-Star game 10 July, 2001 at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington. Ripken is making in final appearance in the All-Star game after nineteen season and played most of them as short stop. AFP PHOTO/John MABANGLO (Photo by JOHN G. MABANGLO / AFP) (Photo credit should read JOHN G. MABANGLO/AFP/Getty Images)
Cal Ripken Jr., (R) of the Baltimore Orioles, asked to move to short stop position by American Leaguer Alex Rodriguez (L) during the first inning of the baseball All-Star game 10 July, 2001 at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington. Ripken is making in final appearance in the All-Star game after nineteen season and played most of them as short stop. AFP PHOTO/John MABANGLO (Photo by JOHN G. MABANGLO / AFP) (Photo credit should read JOHN G. MABANGLO/AFP/Getty Images) /
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(Original Caption) 7/9/41-Detroit, Michigan: Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox (left) and Joe DiMaggio, Yankee stalwart, rest their feet after yesterday’s hair-raising All-Star Game in Briggs Stadium. Williams gave the game a De Mille finish by blasting out a homer in the last inning with two on and two out.
(Original Caption) 7/9/41-Detroit, Michigan: Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox (left) and Joe DiMaggio, Yankee stalwart, rest their feet after yesterday’s hair-raising All-Star Game in Briggs Stadium. Williams gave the game a De Mille finish by blasting out a homer in the last inning with two on and two out. /

5. Ted Williams hits a walk-off, 1941

Because of the way the All-Star Game is played today, the best players rarely participate in any late-inning drama. The pure exhibition nature of the game in modern times means the starters are long gone by the time any sort of clutch heroics are needed. That wasn’t the way it always was, however, as the biggest stars used to play the entire game with very little substitution.

In 1941, Boston Red Sox outfielder Ted Williams was already a bona fide superstar at the young age of 21. Williams was already in his third MLB season, but looked destined for the Hall of Fame. He teamed up with New York Yankees star and fellow Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio to spark a big ninth-inning rally.

The AL side trailed 5-3 entering the home half of the ninth inning, but DiMaggio and Williams had some heroics in store to save the day. DiMaggio legged out an infield grounder to avoid a game-ending double play. Williams was due up next and promptly stroked a walk-off three-run homer to give the American League a 7-5 win.

Williams went on to finish the 1941 season with a .406/.553/.735 line and led the Major Leagues with 37 home runs. Somehow, he did not win the MVP but is still the last MLB player to hit over .400 for an entire season. DiMaggio was the MVP winner on the strength of his record-setting 56-game hit streak.

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