There have been scores of Yankees who have played in the All-Star Game, which means that there are plenty of moments etched in pinstripes from the Midsummer Classic. From Ruth and Gehrig to Jeter and Rivera, the Yankees have transcended generations to create unforgettable All-Star memories. I’ve decided to rank the top 5 Yankee moments from the All-Star Game.
5. Jeter Earns MVP Honors: Derek Jeter was inserted into the starting lineup at the last minute by manager Joe Torre and went 3-3 to earn All-Star Game MVP honors as the AL beat the NL 6-3 in the 2000 All-Star Game. Jeter put the AL in the lead for good in the 4th inning with a 2-run single. He started for the injured Alex Rodriguez and set the tone with a double in his first at-bat. More importantly, it was the first time a Yankees player was named the All-Star Game MVP since its inception in 1933.
4. Goodbye to Mo: Pitching a perfect 8th inning in his final All-Star Game, Mariano Rivera earned the MVP award of the 2013 game. It was a sentimental gesture as well, as it was Rivera’s final season in a baseball uniform. The all-time saves leader was greeted with a warm welcome at Citi Field in Queens, and was given a standing ovation when he exited the contest for the final time. The iconic number 42 gave up just one unearned run in his 9 All-Star appearances, a personal stat that is only superseded by his 0.70 postseason ERA.
3. Ruth Blasts First-Ever ASG Homer: The 1933 All-Star Game was the first one ever to be held by professional baseball. It was dubbed “The Game of the Century”, and it did not disappoint. The AL won 4-2 on the strength of the first ASG home run ever, hit by none other than Babe Ruth. With one on in the third inning, Ruth made baseball history by launching one into the right field stands off of Bill Hallahan, and the fascination with the All-Star Game began. Lefty Grove earned the win, and Frankie Frisch hit a homer for the NL in the 6th inning.
2. Goodbye Jeter: After announcing that the 2014 season would be his last, Derek Jeter was voted into the Midsummer Classic as the starting shortstop one final time. Jeter, who led off and played short for the AL, received a standing ovation before his first at-bat in the bottom of the first. He stroked a double off of Adam Wainwright, and then scored on a triple by Mike Trout. He then singled in the bottom of the third, and was taken out for a defensive replacement in the top of the fourth. The appreciative crowd at Target Field gave Jeter a 3-minute standing ovation as he walked off the field. The AL won 5-3.
1. A Farewell to the House that Ruth Built: The longest All-Star Game in history, a 15-inning, 4 hour and 50 minute affair, allowed for an extended “goodbye” to the old Yankee Stadium. In its final year, the MLB voted to host the festivities in the Bronx. The night before, Josh Hamilton put on a show in the Home Run Derby, blasting 28 homers in the first round, including 3 shots that went 500-plus feet. Then the game was deadlocked at 3 until the 15th inning, when Michael Young hit a walk-off sac fly to end it. It’s only fitting that one of the most exciting games of the biggest spectacle in baseball was held in the cathedral of the game. The Yankees were represented by none other than Jeter, Rivera, and Alex Rodriguez.
