No Stars vs. All-Stars

Can there be a star quality team without any All­ Stars? Can a team compiled entirely of All-Stars be mediocre? The answer to both questions is a resounding yes, at least theoretically.

Kirk Gibson won an MVP Award but was never named to a single All-Star roster during bis entire career. John Denny won the 1983 National League Cy Young Award but did not make the NL All-Star team that year, or any other year. What about a player who hit at least .330 four times, drove in 100 runs six years in a row, hit more than 25 home runs four times, and scored more than 100 runs four times? A player such as that would be an All-Star several times over. would he not? No, on the contrary, he never was an All-Star. Surely a pitcher with the eighth-highest winning percentage of all time pitched in a few midsummer classics, right? Wrong.

Findings such as these, along with memories of Atlee Hammaker’s performance in the 1983 All-Star game, led me to the following hypothesis: one could formulate an all-time team of players who were never named to an All-Star roster whose talent would be far superior to a roster of actual All-Stars whose careers were, as a whole, mediocre. The goal was not to show that the players who never made an All-Star team should have, or those who did were unworthy of making the team based on a solid half-season performance. Rather, the point was to compare a group of star quality players who were never bestowed All-Star status with a group of players who were named to at least one All-Stars team in spite of rather pedestrian careers. The result is a 32-man roster (the current All-Star limit) of players who never made a major league All-Star team that would in all likelihood easily win over 100 games if pitted against its counterparts—a squad of 32 less than illustrious All-Stars-in a mythical 162 game season.

Players who played any portion of their careers prior to the inception of the All-Star game in 1933 were omitted from consideration. The basis for this is obvious-a player who didn’t play after 1933 was never eligible for an All-Star game, so players like Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, etc., who surely would have been All-Stars, are not included. Likewise, players such as Rogers Hornsby, who continued to play for a few years after the All-Star game came into existence but never made an All-Star team because their best years were pre-1933, were likewise omitted because they, too, likely would have been All-Star, but for the fact that no midsummer game existed at the time. One roster, therefore, will truly be filled with players who were eligible for the All-Star game during every year of their playing careers, but who nevertheless concluded their careers with no All-Star selections.

Players who were still active at the end of the 2004 season were not eligible. Even if they are nearing the end of lengthy careers, the possibility remains that players who are still active may yet be selected to an All-Star roster.

Finally, the fact that a player never played in an All-Star game was not enough. There are many instances where players don’t make it into the game but are nonetheless on the roster. Similarly, there have been myriad situations involving injured players who don’t participate in the game or even attend the contest, but are nonetheless, technically, All-Stars. In order to be eligible, the player must never have been named to an All-Star roster in Major League Baseball.

In the other dugout, the same rules of eligibility apply. The mediocre players who were bestowed All-Star status had to begin their careers after 1932 and retire from the game prior to 2004. There is no requirement that they threw a single pitch, had a plate appearance, or even played in the field. As long as they were named to an All-Star roster, they were eligible. This is the case for the reasons noted above to a certain extent, but also for consistency’s sake.

The team of superior talent, but no official All­ Stars, will be dubbed the No Stars. Their adversaries will be referred to as the All-Stars.

NO STARS: THE STARTING LINEUP

• HAL TROSKY, 1B
• TONY PHILLIPS, 2B
• WOODIE HELD, SS
• CLETE BOYER, 3B
• KIRK GIBSON, OF
• KEVIN McREYNOLDS, OF
• GARRY MADDOX, OF
• RICK DEMPSEY, C

Hal Trosky

Trosky is the player whose hitting acumen is noted in the opening paragraphs. During his first full season, Trosky batted .330 with 35 home runs, 142 RBI and 117 runs scored. He was not a flash in the pan. He hit at least .330 four times, hammered 25 or more home runs six times, drove in over 100 runs in six consecutive seasons, and scored at least 100 runs four times. He finished the year in the top 10 in the AL in batting average four times, slugging percentage six times, OPS four times and led the league in total bases in 1936. He finished in the top 10 in runs, home runs, and RBI twice, six times, and five times respectively. His 162 RBI in 1936 paced the American League and remained an Indians single season record until 1999. His 216 home runs with the Indians is fifth on their all-time leader board. Unfortunately for Trosky, he played during a time of outstanding American League first basemen. Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, and Hank Greenberg were selected over Trosky for the AL All-Star team during his career, as were lesser stars such as George McQuinn and Rudy York. Sadly, Trosky’s career was cut short due to unmitigated migraine headaches. While he returned to baseball in the mid-1940s, his career effectively ended in 1941 at the age of 28, when most players are in their prime.

Tony Phillips

The spirited and much-traveled Phillips played a variety of positions during his career but spent more time at second base than anywhere else. Unlike most players who are traded twice before they reach the majors, Phillips’ career was extremely successful. He could hit for power (160 home runs), steal bases (177) and score runs (1,300). In fact, he led the AL in runs scored in 1992 and finished in the top 10 six times during that decade. Phillips was also prolific at getting on base. His lofty on-base average was due in large part to his ability to draw walks. He led the league in that department in 1993 and 1996, and finished in the top five in the American League in bases on balls seven times in the 1990s. While Phillips moved around a lot, playing eight stints with six different franchises in his career, his bat kept him employed for almost two full decades. In 18 years in the big leagues, however, it never resulted in an All­ Star selection.

Woodie Held

Although not terribly impressive with the glove, in six seasons with the Indians Held averaged 21 home runs, finishing his career with 179. While the premier shortstops of today routinely hit 20 or more round trippers per year, it was not nearly as commonplace in Held’s day. Luis Aparicio was Held’s contemporary, and Pee Wee Reese and Phil Rizzuto played near the same time. All three are Hall of Famers. Aparicio and Rizzuto combined for 121 home runs, and Reese hit 126, fewer than Held. While he is obviously not a Hall of Farner, he had more power than even the best shortstops of his era.

Clete Boyer

Boyer won his only Gold Glove with the Braves and showed more power while in the National League, but he spent the majority of his career in the American League and contributed greatly to the success of the Yankees during his years with the club. Playing the hot corner for one of the strongest defensive infields of all time, Boyer helped the Yankees to five consecutive pennants and back-to-back World Series titles in 1961 and 1962. In spite of the success of his teams, often a significant factor in All-Star selections, Boyer never made a single All-Star roster. While the Orioles third sacker, Brooks Robinson, explains not only why Boyer wasn’t winning Gold Gloves but also why he wasn’t starting midsummer classics, it’s interesting to note who was backing up Robinson at the All-Star games in those days. Other third basemen invited to participate during Boyer’s tenure in the AL include Max Alvis, Dick Howser, and Rich Rollins, but no Clete Boyer, one of the finest fielding third basemen of all time. Boyer also had some power, clouting double-digit round trippers in nine of ten seasons in which he had more than 350 at-bats, while most of the time hitting seventh or eighth in the order, with no protection behind him.

Kirk Gibson

While Gibson’s most famous moment occurred while a member of the Dodgers, he had long before ingratiated himself to AL fans as a member of the Tigers. Although he never quite lived up to Tiger manager Sparky Anderson’s proclamation as the next Mickey Mantle, Gibson’s aggressive play and athleticism helped Detroit to great success during the 1980s. His post-season exploits are well documented, beginning with the 1984 world champion Tigers. He was the 1984 ALCS MVP and clouted two home runs in game five of the World Series in which Detroit closed out the overmatched Padres. Gibson drove in seven runs in the 1984 World Series and stole three bases as well. In the 1988 NLCS, as a member of the Dodgers, Gibson continued his clutch play with a 12th-inning game winning home run in game four, a three-run homer in game five and the game-winning RBI in game seven. While he managed only one at-bat in the World Series that year due to injury, it was one of the most replayed at-bats in the history of the game. Gibson’s home run in the bottom of the ninth won the game, and in some people’s opinion, the Series. As Gibson had done to Goose Gossage in the 1984 World Series, he beat another of the game’s great closers, the Athletics’ Dennis Eckersley. In all, Gibson finished his career with seven home runs and 21 RBI in 21 post-season games.

Gibson truly had a power/speed combination. He ranks tenth all-time in Tiger home runs, and sixth in the club’s history in stolen bases. He finished in the league top 10 in home runs three times, slugging four times, and stolen bases four times. He won the National League MVP in 1988, and remains the only MVP never to be named to an All-Star roster. Although Anderson, and later Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda, reportedly asked Gibson if he would like to play in the game (invitations he obviously declined), the fact remains that he was never on a single All-Star roster in either league.

Kevin McReynolds

Rob Neyer, in his Big Book of Baseball Lineups, calls McReynolds the best left fielder in Mets history, and the second-best center fielder in Padres history. His best season was 1988, when he finished third in MVP balloting as a Met. McReynolds batted .288 that summer, with 27 home runs, 99 RBI and was a perfect 21 for 21 on the base paths, culminating a two-season string that saw McReynolds caught stealing only once in 36 attempts. McReynolds ranks in the top 10 all-time in Mets history in most major offensive categories. McReynolds was also a fine defensive outfielder.

Garry Maddox

The “Secretary of Defense” is widely regarded as one of the best defensive outfielders of all time. His defensive skills were so highly regarded that broadcaster Ralph Kiner is often quoted as having said, “Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water. The other third is covered by Garry Maddox.” The only outfielders in NL history with more Gold Gloves than Maddox’s eight are Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente. Maddox contributed with his bat as well. He was a lifetime .285 hitter and finished third in the NL in batting average twice. His 1976 season earned him fifth place in MVP voting. He finished his career with 248 stolen bases and was among the top 10 in the NL in stolen bases, doubles, and triples three times each. Maddox recorded the series-winning hit against Houston in the 1980 NLCS in extra innings, culminating one of the most exciting post-season series in NL history.

Rick Dempsey

Dempsey caught in four different decades and did so with great success. He caught more games than any other player in Oriole franchise history. During his career, he played in 25 post-season games and earned MVP honors in the 1983 World Series. The Orioles acquired him midway through the 1976 season in a trade with the Yankees. Dempsey did not hit much, but was an excellent defensive catcher. Bill James rates him as the 43rd best catcher of all time. On this mythical team, he handles a staff peppered with Royals and Cardinals.

NO STARS: THE ROTATION

• JOHN TUDOR, LHP
• DENNIS LEONARD, RHP
• PAUL SPLITTORFF, LHP
• CHARLIE LEIBRANDT, LHP
• BOB FORSCH, RHP

John Tudor

Tudor never had a losing record during any season in the 1908s. The high point of the decade was 1985, Tudor’s first season with St. Louis, when he was a runner-up for the NL Cy Young. Although he started the season 1-7, he finished 20-1. The slow start deprived him of an All-Star berth. He finished the year with a 1.93 ERA, 14 complete games, and 10 shutouts, all good for either best or second best in the league. Tudor has a lifetime winning percentage of .619 and ranks first in that category in Cardinal history. He also owns the second lowest career ERA among Cardinal hurlers.

Dennis Leonard

Shockingly, Leonard never made an All-Star roster in spite of the fact that he won more games than any other pitcher in the junior circuit from 1975 to 1981. His 120 wins during that span paced several strong Royals teams, including a pennant winner in 1980. He ranks first all-time in Royals complete games and shutouts, second in wins, and third in strikeouts and games started. He is the only Royals pitcher to post three 20-win seasons and finished fourth and tied for seventh in Cy Young voting in 1977 and 1978 respectively. He tied for the league lead in wins in 1977 and shutouts in 1979. He had multiple other league top 10 finishes during his career, including five top 10 finishes in strikeouts, five in wins, and six in shutouts. 

Paul Splittorff

Leonard’s teammate, Splittorff, was likewise snubbed by All-Star managers. He has more wins in a Royals uniform than any pitcher in franchise history with 166. He also ranks at the top of the franchise list in games started, second to Leonard in complete games and shutouts, and fifth in strikeouts. He garnered enough recognition in 1978 to tie for seventh in Cy Young voting, but not enough to win a place on the All-Star team.

Charlie Leibrandt

The third former Royal on the staff began his career with the Reds. His success, however, came primarily in Kansas City, where he ranks eighth all-time in wins and tenth in ERA and strikeouts. He finished fifth in Cy Young voting in 1985 but was overshadowed by two teammates who finished first and fourth­ Bret Saberhagen and Dan Quisenberry. Although Saberhagen is largely considered the ace of the Royals staffs of the mid and late 1980s, Leibrandt won 60 games from 1985 to 1988, while Saberhagen posted 59 victories during that span. Leibrandt finished in the league top 10 in wins three times, ERA three times, and shutouts four times.

Bob Forsch

Forsch, another Cardinal hurler, made hitters earn their way on base. He finished in the top 10 in the league in fewest walks per nine innings five times during his career. He led the league in that department in 1980. He ranks third all-time in Cardinal wins, behind only Bob Gibson and Jesse Haines. He also ranks third in Cardinal history in strikeouts and ninth in shutouts. Forsch also helped himself, handling the bat well.

NO STARS: THE BENCH

• LYMAN BOSTOCK, OF
• ELMER VALO, OF
• CESAR TOVAR, OF
• DWAYNE MURPHY, OF
• DAN DRIESSEN, 1B
• BILL DORAN, 2B
• SOLLY REMUS, SS
• RICHIE HEBNER, 3B
• BILL BRUTON, OF
• DON SLAUGHT, C
• DOUG RADER, 3B
• JIM GANTNER, 2B

Lyman Bostock

Bostock was murdered on September 23, 1978, in the waning days of his fourth big-league season. Bostock, a member of the California Angels at the time of his murder, has finished a game against the White Sox in Chicago earlier that day, and traveled to Gary, Indiana, to visit his uncle. The two men were riding through the streets of Gary with two ladies, one of whom was the estranged wife of Leanord Smith. Smith drove up beside the vehicle and shot into the car, striking Bostock in the head. Bostock died later that evening, Smith was acquitted of the crime, a jury finding him insane. He spent less than two years in an asylum and was released in the midst of the 1980 season, which would have been Bostock’s sixth.

Bostock, the son of a former Negro League player, was only 27 years old when he was killed, and was undoubtedly entering the prime of his career. He hit .323 in 1976, his first full season in the majors. That was the fourth-best average in the American League. The following year, he hit .336, second best in the American League. 1977 was Bostock’s breakout season. He finished in the top seven in the American League in seven major offensive categories, including second in average, fourth in runs scored, and seventh in on-base percentage. During the season he tied a major league record for putouts in a nine-inning game by a center fielder, with 12, and set an American League record for putouts in a doubleheader with 17. He helped the Twins set a franchise record for most runs scored in a season. In short, he had become a star, and was arguably the most sought-after player in the free agent market between the 1977 and 1978 seasons.

In 1978, after signing a hefty free agent contract with the California Angels, Bostock started the year miserably, and demanded that Angels owner Gene Autry keep his money until Bostock started earning it. When Autry refused, Bostock gave the money to charity. In June, his bat came alive, and his average for the remainder of the season was well over .300. He finished at .296.

That capped a three-year stretch during which Bostock hit .318, the third highest average in the game during that span, behind only Rod Carew and Dave Parker. Bostock garnered a few points in the MVP voting in both 1977 and 1978. His body of work for the three-year stretch of 1976-78 is impressive in and of itself, but consider that those were his first full major league seasons, and the numbers are even more impressive. Unfortunately, Bostock was murdered before he had a chance to reach more lofty heights, and his career ended without a single trip to a major league All-Star game.

Elmer Valo

Valo, one of only four major leaguers born in Czechoslovakia, and the only native Czech with any success, spent the bulk of his career in Philadelphia. He was noted as a hustling player, not afraid to crash into an outfield wall to make a catch. While not blessed with significant power, Valo was adept at getting on base. His lifetime OBA is 50 points higher than the league average during his career, and he finished in the top 10 in OBA twice and ranks eighth all-time in Athletics franchise history. He also notched league top-10 finishes in batting average, OPS, doubles (twice), triples (three times), RBI, walks (twice), and stolen bases (seven times). Also contributing to his ability to get on base was his knack for getting hit, finishing in the top 10 in HBP four times. According to baseball historian Bill James, Valo has the third highest on-base percentage of all time among outfielders who played at least 1,500 games and are not in the Hall of Fame. As Barry Bonds and Rickey Henderson are ranked one and two on that list, it is only a matter of time before Valo reaches the top. Evidently, he is already the leader among players who were never All-Stars.

Cesar Tovar

Tovar was a very versatile player, once playing all nine positions in a single game. He struck out Reggie Jackson while on the mound. Tovar finished in the top 10 in the AL in stolen bases six times and totaled 226 for his career. He hit .311 in 1971 while leading the league in hits. The year before, he hit an even .300 and led the AL in both doubles and triples. He finished in the top 10 in the AL in runs six times, hits four times, doubles four times, and triples four times. He recorded the lone hit in five one-hitters during his career. He did a lot of things well, but didn’t dominate any aspect of the game, which is the likely cause of his omission from All-Star rosters.

Dwayne Murphy

One of the finest-fielding center fielders of all time, he won six consecutive Gold Gloves. He displayed power (hitting at least 15 homers in live consecutive seasons) and speed (swiping at least 10 bags in four consecutive campaigns). In his only post-season. he hit .545 in the ALDS, collecting 6 hits in 11 at-bats in a series victory against the Royals in the strike­ shortened 1981 campaign. Despite his acumen at the plate, on the base paths, and especially roaming the outfield, he was never recognized as an All-Star.

Dan Driessen

Never a starter with the Big Red Machine during its truly dominant stretch, Driessen moved to first when Tony Perez moved to the Expos. He exhibited a good glove during his seven-year stretch as the Reds starter at first, a period that began in 1977 and ended in 1984, when he. like his predecessor, went to Montreal. He tied for the NL lead in walks in 1980 and throughout his career showed good power and speed, finishing with more than 150 home runs and more than 150 stolen bases lifetime.

Bill Doran

Doran was an integral member of the successful Astros teams of the 1980s with both his glove and his bat. He was a two-time team MVP and ranks in the top 10 in Astros history in OBA, games, at-bats, runs, hits, total bases, triples, walks, and stolen bases. His speed on the base paths was a particular asset to Doran and the Astros. He finished his career with over 200 stolen bases, including 42 for Houston’s 1986 division-winning team.

Solly Hemus

Hemus finished his playing career with a phenomenal lifetime on-base average of .390, thanks in large part to a willingness to sacrifice his body. He led the league in times hit by a pitch three times. His propensity to take one for the team also allowed him to score more than 100 runs in both 1952 and 1953.

Richie Hebner

Hebner was seemingly in the post-season constantly, although most often for teams that lost once they got there. He was, however, a big reason why many of those teams made it as far as they did. He was a lifetime .276 hitter with 203 home runs, 890 RBI and 865 runs scored. He ranks in the top 25 in the illustrious history of the Pirates in multiple offensive categories, including home runs, slugging, total bases, RBI, walks, extra-base hits, and times hit by a pitch.

Bill Bruton

Bruton was the table-setting leadoff man for the strong Braves learns of the 1950s. He led the NL in stolen bases his first three seasons in the majors, 1953-1955. In all, he placed in his league’s top 10 in swipes eight times. His speed also manifested itself in triples, a category in which he led the league twice and finished in the top 5 six times. Bruton led the National League with 112 runs scored in 1960 and had three other top 10 finishes in that department. While he would have made a fabulous leadoff hitter in front of Mays, Clemente, Aaron and other perennial NL All-Stars of the 1950s and ’60s, he was never a member of an All-Star team.

Don Slaught

Although not regarded as one of the best defensive catchers in the league, Slaught’s offensive contributions were noteworthy. He hit over .300 six times in his career, including a .34.5 clip in 1992 with the Pirates.

Doug Rader

Rader’s defense is too impressive to ignore. He won every NL Gold Glove at third base from 1970 to 1974. Rader could handle the bat as well, hitting 155 career home runs. Rob Neyer calls him the best third baseman in Astros history.

Jim Gantner

Gantner played more games at second base than anyone in Brewers history, and it isn’t even close. In fact, other than Robin Yount and Paul Molitor, Gantner has more games played and at-bats than anyone in franchise history at any position. His consistency over the course of his career resulted in his place among the top eight in Brewers history in hits, runs, doubles, triples, RBI, walks, stolen bases, and sacrifices. He is the club’s leader in sacrifices.

NO STARS: THE BULLPEN

• ALEX FERNANDEZ, RHP
• BILL HANDS, RHP
• DON GULLETT, LHP
• JOHN DENNY, RHP
• ELLIS KINDER, RHP
• GENE GARBER, RHP
• RON PERRANOSKI, RHP

Alex Fernandez

Alex Fernandez’s career was short-circuited by injuries, but while he played, he was among the game’s most successful pitchers. His best years were 1993-1997, when he recorded a mark of 74-46, for a .616 winning percentage. He tied for sixth in the American League Cy Young voting in 1996, only to leave for the Marlins the following year, where he led the World Series champs to victories. During his short career he finished in his league’s top 10 in wins four times, strikeouts four times, shutouts five times, complete games three times, and ERA twice. 

Bill Hands

Hands finished in the league top 10 in wins, complete games, and fewest walks per nine innings three times each. He never walked more than 76 batters in a season.

Don Gullett

Gullett was the unheralded ace of the Big Red Machine. His career winning percentage of .686 ranks eighth in the history of the game. While some may attribute that solely to the offense that supported him in Cincinnati, he had a lifetime ERA of 3.11, and finished sixth in the league in 1971 with a 2.65 mark. He was seventh in Cy Young voting in 1974 and fifth in 1975, yet never made an All-Star squad. He was a member of two world championship teams in Cincinnati and one in New York, with the Yankees. 

John Denny 

While Kirk Gibson is the only MVP in the All-Star era without an All-Star game on his resume, Denny is the only NL Cy Young winner never to play in a midsummer classic. (Pete Vukovich, a near miss for this roster, won the 1982 AL Cy Young without a career All-Star appearance.) Denny won the award in 1983 after leading the league in wins (19-6) and compiling seven complete games and an ERA of 2.37, Denny walked only 53 batters in over 240 innings that season. Seven years earlier, Denny led the league with a 2.52 ERA.

Ellis Kinder

”Old Folks,” as he was affectionately dubbed, did not pitch in a major league game until his 30s. Once he started, he flourished. Kinder finished fifth in the AL MVP race in 1949 and seventh in 1951. He was a versatile pitcher, compiling a league-leading, six shutouts and winning 23 games in 1949 (second in the American League), while at the end of games showing his worth by leading the league in saves twice and finishing in the top 10 six times. He ranks third on the Red Sox all-time saves list.

Gene Garber

His 218 saves ranks 29th all-time. While he never led the league in saves, he finished in the top 10 six times, and is second only to John Smoltz in saves us a Brave. He finished seventh in Cy Young voting in 1982. when he saved 30 games and posted a 2.34 ERA.

Ron Perranoski

Perranoski split his time between the leagues. His best season came as a member of the Dodgers in 1963. He was 16-3 with 21 saves and a 1.67 ER.A. He was fourth in MVP voting that year. He saved 179 games in his career, leading the American League twice. He finished in the top 10 in saves seven times and is 43rd all-time. He’s fifth in Dodgers history and seventh in Twins history in saves.

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ALL STARS: THE STARTING LINEUP

• RON COOMER, 1B
• EMIL VERBAN, 2B
• ROCKY BRIDGES, SS
• EDDIE KAZAK, 3B
• RICHIE SCHEINBLUM, OF
• DAVE ENGLE, OF
• ORIS HOCKETT, OF
• DON LEPPERT, C

Ron Coomer

Coomer was a decent hitter and a good fielder, but never finished in the top 10 in any season in any offensive category and never hit .300. He never hit more than 16 home runs, while playing a position that is typically associated with power. Coomer also grounded into a lot of double plays. That said, Coomer is one of the better hitters on this team but would not make the No Stars team.

Emil Verban

Verban made three All-Star teams in three consecutive seasons, 1945-47. He is evidently considered, or at least was, a fine fielder. Although that may be true, his career fielding percentage was basically league average. He hit a grand total of one home run in his entire big-league career, and never had a batting average higher than .289 or an on-base percentage higher than .316. Although he was nicknamed “The Antelope,” he stole only 21 bases in his major league career, and never more than five in a season.

Rocky Bridges

Bridges made the American League All-Star team as a member of the Senators in 1958. He had little power, hitting 16 career home runs and driving in 187 in parts of 11 major league seasons. He struck out more than he walked and was caught stealing more often than not.

Eddie Kazak

Kazak’s short career reached its apex in the summer of 1949, when he was the starting third baseman for the NL All-Star team. He had a solid season in 1949, but in his entire career had only 165.hits. Speed was not his game either, as he was never credited with a single stolen base. Kazak’s career was that of a part­ time player, evidenced by the fact that he had only two seasons with more than 33 at-bats.

Richie Scheinblum

1972 was a good year for Scheinblum, who was rewarded with an All-Star selection that summer. Other years were not as productive. Scheinblum recorded single season batting averages of .218 (1968), .186 (1969); .143 (1971), and .183 (1974). He homered only 13 times and drove in only 127 runs during his entire career. He was never successful in attempting to steal a base, a feat he attempted to accomplish on only six occasions.

Dave Engle

The Twins had to have an All-Star representative in 1984, and Engle was the man. He was a part-time outfielder/catcher who also played designated hitter. He was below average defensively, and although he had some power, he played so infrequently that he hit only 31 career home runs. Engle was part of a trade for Rod Carew while in the minors.

Oris Hockett

Hockett homered every 166 at-bats or so, not exactly Ruthian numbers. His career on-base percentage was .329 even though he played most of his career during World War II, against somewhat lesser competition.

Don Leppert

Ken Retzer caught more games for the Senators in 1963 than Leppert, yet Leppert made the AL All-Star team. In other words, he wasn’t even the starting catcher on his own team. Leppert’s lifetime batting average was .229 and lifetime on-base average was .289. He clobbered 15 major-league home runs, drove in 59 runs, and scored 46 times. He never played in more than 73 games during any major league season.

ALL STARS: THE ROTATION

• JERRY WALKER, RHP
• ATLEE HAMMAKER, LHP
• JACK ARMSTRONG, RHP
• HAL GREGG, RHP
• WAYNE SIMPSON, RHP

Jerry Walker

Walker finished his career with a record of 37-44 and a 4.36 ERA, playing for the Orioles before they hit their stride in the 1960s. He never finished a season more than one game over .500 as a pitcher, and he accomplished that feat only twice.

Atlee Hammaker

Hammaker, truth be told, was not a bad pitcher. The 1983 All-Star game may have been the worst thing that ever happened to him. He gave up six hits and seven runs in the midsummer classic, retiring only two batters and giving up a home run to Jim Rice and the first All-Star grand slam ever to Fred Lynn. After leading the National League in ERA in 1983, his career was never the same.

Jack Armstrong

As a Red in 1990, Armstrong started the season 11-3 with a 2.28 ERA and was rewarded with a starting assignment in the All-Star game as the NL’s hurler. The rest of the season, Armstrong was 1-6 with a 5.96 ERA. 1990 proved to be Armstrong’s only winning season in the major leagues. He finished his career having only one full-season ERA under 4.49. In spite of his early success for the Reds in 1990, he did not pitch in the NLCS and logged only three innings in the World Series.

Hal Gregg

An All-Star in 1945, Gregg won 18 games that season. He won only 22 in every other season of his career combined. His lifetime ERA was 4.54. Gregg was not a control freak. He walked more batters during the course of his career than he struck out and led NL pitchers in walks in 1944 and in 1945, his All-Star season. In 1944, he also led the league in earned runs allowed, wild pitches, and hit batsmen.

Wayne Simpson

Largely due to arm trouble, Simpson was 14-3 with an ERA of 3.02 in 1970 and achieved much of that success in the first half of his rookie season, resulting in his only All-Star selection. The rest of his career was not as impressive. He was 22-28 with a 4.89 ERA between 1971 and 1977.

ALL STARS: THE BENCH

• MIKE HEGAN, 1B
• RAY MACK, 2B
• EDDIE KASKO, SS
• FRANKI ZAK, SS
• BILLY HUNTER, SS
• BILLY BRABARKEWITZ, 3B
• JIM FINIGAN, 3B
• MORRIE ARNOVICH, OF
• LEE WALLS, OF
• GINO CIMOLI, OF
• STEVE SWISHER, C
• JERRY MOSES, C

Mike Hegan

The son of catcher Jim Hegan, Mike was a good-fielding first baseman with a .242 lifetime average. He led the Pilots in 1969 with a .292 mark and represented the team at the All-Star Game. Mike drove in more than 50 runs only once and stroked 53 home runs in 12 big-league seasons.

Ray Mack

With the exception of the. 1940 season, his All-Star campaign, Mack never hit higher than .232 in a season in which he had substantial playing time. His career on-base average was only .3o1, but he was a solid defensive player.

Eddie Kasko

Kasko did not get on base often (career on-base average of .317) and was caught stealing as often as he was successful. He averaged a bit more than two home runs per season.

Frankie Zak

This 1944 NL All-Star never hit a home run and drove in a mere 14 runs during a career which spanned only three seasons and 208 at-bats.

Billy Hunter

Hunter finished his career with the following percentages: batting average .219, on base average .264, slugging .294.

Billy Grabarkewitz

During a career hampered by injuries, Grabarkewitz had a fine season in 1970. A comparison of that season to the rest of his career is mind-boggling. He hit 17 home runs in 1970, but only 11 the rest of his career. He drove in 84 runs in 1970, but only 57 during all his other seasons combined. He stole 33 bases in his career, 57% (19) of those in 1970. He never hit higher than .226 in any single season the rest of his career, and 153 of his lifetime 274 hits came during his All­ Star summer of 1970.

Jim Finigan

Finigan was an All-Star his first two seasons. In a six-year career he hit only 19 home runs and drove in 168 runs. Only three of those home runs and 49 RBI came after his second major league season.

Morrie Arnovich

Ten of Arnovich’s 22 career homers came in 1937. He was an All-Star, however, in 1939, when he hit .324, by far the highest average of his career.

Lee Walls

Walls struck out almost twice as often as he walked during his career. With the exception of the 1958 season, he never generated more than 11 home runs or 54 RBI. His All-Star season of 1958 was excellent.

Gino Cimoli

Cimoli never reached .300 or hit more than 10 home runs in any single season. He struck out more than twice as often as he walked.

Steve Swisher

Like Cimoli, Swisher struck out more than twice as often as he walked. He was a career .216 hitter with an on-base average of only .279. A former first-round draft pick, he had season batting averages of .214, .213, .236, .190, .151, .143, and .172. He was selected as an All-Star in 1976, ahead of such players as Ted Simmons and Manny Sanguillen.

Jerry Moses

Moses was a career .251 hitter with an on-base average under .300. He had only one season with more than 200 at-bats, his All-Star campaign of 1970. He scored a total of 89 runs in his entire major league career, which spanned almost a decade. He struck out nearly three times as often as he walked.

ALL STARS: THE BULLPEN

• MATT KEOUGH, RHP
• DAVE STENHOUSE, RHP
• TYLER GREEN, RHP
• JASON DICKSON, RHP
• ED FARMER, RHP
• JOHN O’DONOGHUE, LHP
• DEAN STONE, LHP

Matt Keough

although Keough posted a 3.24 ERA in his All-Star season of 1978, he finished the year with a record of 8-15. That season marked one of four campaigns in which he lost at least 13 games. He won that many only once. He finished three different seasons with an ERA over 5.00, and in 1982 he walked 26 more batters than he struck out, and led the league in home runs allowed, earned runs allowed, and losses.

Dave Stenhouse

Stenhouse started one of the two major league All­ Star games played in 1962. He won 10 games by the All-Star break during that, his rookie, season. He won six the rest of his career. (He was 10-4 by the All-Star break and 6-24 from that point until the end of his career in 1964.) He never had a winning season.

Tyler Green

Green’s career record was 18-25 and he finished with a 5.16 ERA. Although he was an All-Star in 1995, his lowest single-season ERA came in 1997, when he posted a 4.93 earned run average.

Jason Dickson

Dickson suffered from arm injuries during his short career. He posted an ERA above 6.00 in both 1998 and 2000, and finished his career with a record of 26-25 with a 4.99 ERA.

Ed Farmer

The well-traveled Farmer achieved his most success with the White Sox, for which he saved 30 games in 1980. He finished seven of his 11 seasons, however, with an ERA over 4.00, and had a career ERA of 4.28. He won 30 games and suffered 43 defeats during his nomadic tenure in the big leagues.

John O’Donoghue

Oddly, O’Donoghue led the American League in losses during his All-Star season of 1965. His only winning season was 1970, when he was an unspectacular 4-3 and posted a 5.12 ERA. His career record was 39-55.

The No Stars feature speed and power throughout the batting order. Phillips is the likely leadoff hitter followed by Maddox. The best hitter of the bunch, Trosky, hits in the third spot, although he could bat cleanup as well. McReynolds, Gibson, and Boyer bat fourth through sixth, with Held and Dempsey hitting before the pitcher. If a designated hitter were allowed, a manager would love to have the ability to insert Bostock, Hebner, Murphy, Driessen, Doran, etc. The bench is deep and has speed, power, and defensive prowess. Their All-Star counterparts cannot field a starting lineup that competes with the bench of the No Stars.

Likewise, the No Stars have eight or nine starting pitchers who are arguable superior to anyone the All-Stars can send to the mound. The No Stars bullpen has three legitimate closers to finish games.

For the most part, the All-Stars roster consists of players who had a good half season. If these rosters were pitted against one another, all players in their prime, for a mythical 162-game season, the All-Stars would have difficulty winning 40 games against the opposing team, devoid of a single All-Star.

TIM CONNAUGHTON is an attorney who lives in Troy, Michigan with his wife and son.