9. Fenway Park, 1961: The First Tie
There were two All-Star Games played in 1961. One of them was played in Fenway Park. Rocky Colavito became the first person to hit an All-Star Game home run over the Green Monster, but the game went into a rain delay with the score tied at one. Unfortunately, they would never resume and the game ended in a tie.
8. Minute Maid Park, 2004: Manny, Ortiz Give Red Sox Home Field Advantage In World Series
Alfonso Soriano may have won MVP of the 2004 All-Star Game, but David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez each homered to help give the American League home field advantage in the 2004 World Series. Of course, the Red Sox would end up playing in the Fall Classic that October as they won their first World Series in 86 years.
7. Old Yankee Stadium, 2008: J.D. Drew’s Huge Game In the Bronx
The American League was down, 2-0, in the bottom of the 7th when J.D. Drew sent a rocket over the short porch in right field of the old Yankee Stadium sending the game to extra innings. Drew would single, reach on an error and walk throughout the rest of the game as the American League won, 3-2, on a Michael Young sacrifice fly in the 15th inning and Drew won MVP honors.
6. Riverfront Stadium, 1970: Yaz Takes MVP Crown In Loss
This All-Star Game is best remembered for the infamous Pete Rose-Ray Fosse collision, but Red Sox fans remember it for what Carl Yastrzemski did. Yaz went 4-for-6 with an RBI and played both center field and first baseman in a losing effort. These were the days when All-Stars played the whole game and not even a loss prevented Yaz from taking MVP honors.
5. Comiskey Park, 1983: Fred Lynn’s Grand Slam
Fred Lynn hit a grand slam in the third inning and ended up winning the MVP award as the American League snapped an 11-game losing streak by destroying the National League, 13-3.
4. Astrodome, 1986: Roger Clemens Wins MVP
Roger Clemens pitched three hit-less innings against the National League’s best as the Amercian League won, 3-2. Clemens retired guys like Tony Gwynn, Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, Darryl Strawberry, Ryne Sandberg and Mike Schmidt and also recorded two strikeouts.
3. Fenway Park, 1946: Splendid Splinter’s Heroics
Ted Williams put on an All-Star performance for the ages in the ’46 Game at Fenway. He went 4-for-4 with two home runs, four runs and five RBIs. You don’t need sabermetrics to realize how dominant Williams was in the American League’s 12-0 victory. What’s more impressive is that Teddy Ballgame did all of that after serving in the military.
2. Fenway Park, 1999: Pedro Hoses Down Lethal Sluggers
Baseball in 1999. Most fans think of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa hitting steroid shots into the night sky. Red Sox fans think of a man who had a 2.07 ERA in the height of the steroid era. Pedro started the ’99 Game at Fenway after an emotional ceremony honoring Ted Williams and he struck out five of the six hitters he faced. Among the sluggers he mowed down were Sosa, McGwire, Barry Larkin, Jeff Bagwell and Larry Walker. The rest of the game was pretty anti-climactic as the Fenway crowd remained mesmerized by Pedro’s fire. The American League won, 4-1.
1. Briggs Stadium, 1941: Williams Walkoff
With the American League down 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth, Ted Williams came up to the plate with two men on and he bashed a three-run walkoff home run to lead the American League to a 7-5 victory. Clutch. Historic. Never to be forgotten.