The Red Sox every year seem to have multiple players selected for the All-Star Game, but for the most part the Sox players never seem to do anything outstanding. Only four Sox players have been named All-Star MVP: Carl Yastrzemski, Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez and, most recently, J.D. Drew.

This year the Red Sox had six players named to the All-Star team. They include pitchers Jon Lester and Josh Beckett and position players Adrian Gonzalez (starter), David Ortiz (starter), Kevin Youkilis, and Jacoby Ellsbury. Lester will not play due to injury.

WEEI.com takes a look at the 10 best performances in All-Star Game history by Red Sox players.

10. Fred Lynn, 1979

Lynn’s best All-Star Game moment occurred in 1983, but he wasn’t a member of the Red Sox at the time, he was a California Angel. He hit the only grand slam in All-Star history in that game and went on to be named MVP. Lynn was named to nine All-Star Games, including six with the Red Sox. In the 1979 game Lynn hit a three-run home run to give the AL a 3-2 lead. The AL went on to lose the game 7-6.

9. Ted Williams, 1941

Entering the game, Williams was batting .405 on the season. He continued to swing the bat well during the game. In the fourth inning Williams hit an RBI double. Then in the ninth inning Williams came up with the AL trailing 5-4, with two runners on and two outs. Williams belted a 1-2 pitch over the fence, giving the AL a walk-off victory.

8. Manny Ramirez, 2004

Ramirez was named to 12 All-Star Games over the course of his career, including eight in a Red Sox uniform. His best performance came in 2004, the year the Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918. Ramirez belted a two-run home run off of Roger Clemens in the top of the first inning to give the AL an early lead. The AL went on to win 9-4.

7. Carl Yastrzemski, 1975

Yastrzemski was named to 18 All-Star Games. In the 1975 game he was called on to pinch hit in the sixth inning, and the left-handed slugger responded by hammering a Tom Seaver pitch over the wall for a three-run bomb that tied the game at 3-3. This was the only scoring for the AL as it lost the game 6-3.

6. J.D. Drew, 2008

Drew made the most of his only All-Star appearance as he was named the game’s MVP in 2008. He hit a game-tying two-run homer in his first All-Star at-bat in the seventh inning off of Reds pitcher Edinson Volquez to tie the game at 2-2. He went on to get four at-bats in the contest thanks to the game going into extra innings and taking nearly five hours to complete. Drew added a single in addition to the home run.

5. Ted Williams, 1946

Williams had one of the greatest performances in All-Star Game history in 1946, in a game that was held at Fenway Park. Williams hit two home runs and drove in five runs in the AL’s 12-0 triumph. One of the home runs came off of Rip Sewell’s famous “eephus pitch.” Williams would most likely have won the game’s MVP award, but the award was not given until 1962. In 2002 the All-Star Game MVP trophy was named after Williams.

4. Roger Clemens, 1986

Clemens won the All-Star Game MVP in 1986, but that wasn’t his only MVP award of the season. He went on to win the AL MVP that year. Also that year, Clemens stuck out a record 20 hitters in one game. In the Midsummer Classic, Clemens pitched three innings and did not allow a baserunner. He struck out two hitters.

3. Carl Yastrzemski, 1970

Yastrzemski was named the game’s MVP for his four hits, which tied an All-Star Game record. He scored in the eighth inning to give the AL a 4-1 lead, but the bullpen blew the lead and the AL eventually lost in the bottom of the 12th. It was only the second time in All-Star Game history the MVP came from the losing team.

2. Ted Williams, 1999

Williams didn’t even need to play in the game to be remembered at the 1999 All-Star Game, which was held at Fenway Park. Williams threw out the game’s first pitch after riding in a cart around the warning track, saluting the hometown fans. Once he reached the mound, players from both teams gathered around the legend in one of the greatest moments in All-Star Game history.

1. Pedro Martinez, 1999

Martinez followed the pregame ceremonies with one of the greatest performances by a pitcher in All-Star Game history, in front of his home fans. He pitched the first two innings and struck out five hitters, including Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire. It was the first time a pitcher struck out the side in the first inning. For his performance he was awarded the game’s MVP.

One Comments for “LEEInks List: Best All-Star Game performances by Red Sox players”

1. swingerklub Says:
   September 30th, 2011 at 4:53 am

   Undeniably believe that which you stated. Your favourite justification seemed to be at the internet the easiest thing to take note of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed even as other folks consider issues that they plainly don’t recognize about. You managed to hit the nail upon the highest as neatly as defined out the entire thing without having side effect , other people can take a signal. Will likely be again to get more. Thank you

Leave a Reply