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In recent years, the MLB All-Star Game has gotten a bad reputation. The infamous tie in 2002 certainly didn’t help matters, making some fans more concerned with the MLB standings at the all-star break or the best Home Run Derby moments. But if we take a stroll down memory lane, we can surely remember some of the best MLB All-Star moments. That’s why we were inspired to come up with a list of the best MLB All-Star Games of all time.
Best MLB All-Star games
American League win 4-1, 1999
This game was all about Pedro Martinez pitching in Boston in front of the hometown fans.
Obviously, he only pitched two innings, but he struck out five of the six batters he faced. But these weren’t your ordinary all-stars, he struck out Barry Larkin, Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, and Jeff Bagwell. In fact, Martinez made it look easy and embarrassed a few of those hitters. The AL scored two runs in the first inning, allowing Martinez to get the win.
American League win 7-5, 1941
This is arguably the most dramatic All-Star Game of all time, at least among the games that only went nine innings.
It was also played at a time when Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio were both at the height of their careers.
Pirates shortstop Arky Vaughan hit two home runs to help the National League get out to a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the 9th. Ultimately, it would be Williams who stole the show, hitting a three-run walk-off homer with two outs in the ninth to finish off the rally and give the AL the win. This will forever be remembered as one of the best All-Star games.
National League win 2-1 (15 innings), 1967
Until the 2008 All-Star Game equaled this game, it was the longest All-Star Game in MLB history.
Needless to say, pitchers dominated this game from start to finish. The only two runs scored in the first nine innings came on solo homers. In fact, it wasn’t until the 13th inning that a runner who didn’t homer touched third base. In the end, Tony Perez hit a home run in the 15th inning to break the stalemate.
National League win 5-4 (12 innings), 1970
In perhaps the most iconic moment in All-Star Game history, Pete Rose ran over catcher Ray Fosse at home plate in the bottom of the 12th inning to score the game-winning run.
Prior to that moment, we saw a classic pitcher’s duel with Tom Seaver and Jim Palmer leading the way. Also, the National League needed to rally in the ninth inning to erase a 4-1 deficit and get the game to extra innings, ultimately setting up the famous collision between Rose and Fosse.
American League win 4-3 (15 innings), 2008
There was no talk of ending this game in a tie, even if it took 15 innings.
By today’s standards, the game would have been unrecognizable with seven stolen bases, three sacrifice flies, and even a sacrifice bunt.
Closer Brad Lidge, who was virtually perfect during the regular season, gave up the sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 15th to take the loss, ending what is tied for the longest game in All-Star history.
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