Retroactive All-Star Game Project: 1926 NL stars drub American League, 11-5
Editor’s note: This game summary is from the Retroactive All-Star Game Project. Voting was conducted to select retroactive MLB All-Star teams from the 1926 season and the games were simulated using Out of the Park 14.
By Mike Lynch
The National League fell behind early to the American League at St. Louis’ Sportsman’s Park, but staged a rally in the middle innings, then pulled away for an 11-5 win to even the All-Star series yet again. Four errors and eight free passes marred the event, but Babe Herman, Ray Blades and the NL’s bullpen gave fans plenty to cheer about. Thanks mostly to Goose Goslin’s three-run homer off Charlie Root in the third inning, the junior circuit jumped out to a 5-0 lead.
- Related: Learn more about the Retroactive All-Star Game Project by clicking here
- Vote for 1927 All-Stars: Make your selections for the retroactive 1927 All-Star teams
The seniors answered with one in the third and six in the fourth, and effectively ended the contest, as the AL failed to cash in over the final six innings. Herman and Blades, both making their All-Star Game debut, combined to go 4 for 7 with five RBIs and four runs scored to pace the National League. And except for Root, Bill McKechnie’s mound corps was exceptional, combining for seven scoreless innings against a lineup that boasted Eddie Collins, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.
The series is tied at 5-5 heading to spacious Griffith Stadium, home of the Washington Senators, next season. If fans turn out the way they did for the 1925 Fall Classic, baseball officials will be swimming in gate receipts.
Highlights and outstanding players from this year’s game include:
- Babe Herman going 2 for 3 with four RBIs, two walks a double and a run.
- Ray Blades going 2 for 4 with three runs, a double an RBI and a walk.
- Paul Waner going 2 for 4 with a triple, a run an RBI and a walk, and robbing Babe Ruth of extra-base hits with a spectacular diving catch in the first inning.
- Walter Johnson fanning three of the six batters he faced, including Pirates Glenn Wright and Pie Traynor back-to-back in the fifth.
- Eddie Collins reaching base twice and scoring both times, giving him 11 in All-Star play, and putting him atop the Retroactive All-Star Game runs scored list.
- 39-year-old Grover Cleveland Alexander becoming the first pitcher to make 10 Retroactive All-Star Game appearances and closing out the victory on a bases loaded double play.
You can find a full account of the game, box score, game log and stats here.
Learn more about the Retroactive All-Star Game Project by clicking here.
Originally published: February 6, 2014. Last Updated: February 6, 2014.