Top 5 Red Sox Moments In All-Star Game History
BOSTON (CBS) -- The 85th MLB All-Star game is in the books, with the second straight midsummer classic going to the American League.
Despite their 43-52 record, the Red Sox were well represented in Minnesota with John Farrell and his staff manning the bench and Jon Lester and Koji Uehara each taking the mound in the 5-3 win for the AL.
While nothing really stands out from a Red Sox' standpoint from Tuesday night's game, there have been plenty of memorable moments for the Red Sox in the All-Star game. From 1999's incredible show at Fenway Park to some big home runs off the bat of Ted Williams, here are the Top 5 moments in Red Sox All-Star history.
5. Yaz Named MVP In 1970
Carl Yastrzemski was named to 19 All-Star teams throughout his career, but the 1970 All-Star game may be his most memorable.
Yaz went 4-for-6 in the AL's 12-inning, 5-4 loss, driving in a run and scoring another. He plated the American League's first run with a sixth inning RBI single, and scored on a two-run triple by Brooks Robinson in the top of the eighth to put the AL up 4-1.
Yaz played center field, left field and first base in the game, and was just the third player in All-Star history to record four hits in the game.
4. Ortiz, Manny Homers Give Red Sox Home-Field In 2004
David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez became a feared combo in the heart of the Boston lineup, and their power in the 2004 All-Star game ended up helping the Red Sox at the end of the season.
Ortiz and Ramirez both homered in the American League's 9-4 win in Houston in 2004, clinching home field advantage for the American League in the World Series. Manny's blast in the first, a two-run shot off Roger Clemens, gave the AL a 3-0 lead at the time, with Ortiz's two-run shot off Carl Pavano in the top of the sixth making it a 9-4 ballgame.
Boston would sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series later that season, ending an 86-year championship draught.
As an added All-Star bonus, Clemens gave up six runs in one inning and was pegged with the loss in the Midsummer Classic.
3. Ted Williams Hits Walk-Off Homer In 1941
Williams never won a World Series over his career, so the 1941 All-Star game always ranked high on his list of career moments.
Teddy Ballgame, who was hitting .405 at the break, already had an RBI double to his name when he stepped to the plate in the bottom of the ninth in Detroit. With his AL squad trailing 5-4 with two on and two out, Williams crushed a pitch into the right field stands for a game-winning blast.
2. Pedro Mows Down NL In 1999
Much like he was doing prior to the break, Pedro Martinez showed off his sheer dominance on the mound in the 1999 All-Star game.
In front of his home crowd, Pedro made some of the National League's best bats look utterly useless. He struck out the side in the first inning, sitting down Barry Larkin, Larry Walker (who was batting .382 for the Rockies at the break) and Sammy Sosa by way of the K. He started the second by fanning Mark McGwire, who one night before put a bucket of baseballs onto Lansdowne Street in the Home Run Derby. Matt Williams then reached on an error, but Martinez struck out Jeff Bagwell and Williams was caught stealing by Ivan Rodriguez to end the inning.
Martinez struck out five of the biggest names in the NL over his two innings of work and earned the win as the AL was victorious 4-1.
The 1999 All-Star game had a little bit of everything for Red Sox fans. Nomar Garciaparra started the game, and when replaced by Derek Jeter, the Yankees shortstop did a little Nomar toe-tap at the plate during his next at-bat. Not to mention, there was even a Jose Offerman error for good measure.
But none of those moments compare to the top moment on this list.
1. Splendid Splinter Honored At Fenway
In what may be one of the greatest moments in Fenway Park history, grown men looked like little boys as Williams was brought to the mound at Fenway Park to toss out the ceremonial first pitch in the 1999 All-Star game. With his No. 9 etched into the center field grass, Williams was introduced as "The greatest hitter who ever lived" and surrounded by both All-Star squads, in addition to several all-time greats who were introduced prior to him, for several minutes. The lengthy handshake and story-sharing session lasted so long the Fenway PA announcer had to ask the players to return to their dugouts.
It was a very emotional moment for anyone in attendance, players included, as Williams tipped his cap to the crowd and was met with a lengthy ovation.
Honorable Mention: JD Drew's game-winning homer in 2008; Ted Williams homers twice in 1946 All-Star Game; Roger Clemens wins All-Star Game MVP in 1986
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