These Were the Worst All-Star Game Performances in MLB History

25-year-old Shane McClanahan struggled mightily in his MLB All-Star Game debut – serving up hard contact to each of the first 5 National League hitters.

A superstar-caliber double play turned by a couple of AL Central middle infielders held the National League to just 2 first-inning runs, avoiding disaster for the young McClanahan and allowing the American League to later win the game.

 

I can watch this all day.

No one can watch that play just once! The behind-the-back flip from Gimenez was perfect – like a quarterback leading his receiver in stride on a slant.

You know Anderson was not expecting to receive the ball in that fashion … but do you think he cared? Nothing can phase this guy. He snagged it out of the air with his glove and transitioned it into his right hand for a classic Anderson flip over to first.

The sidearm toss was a bit off, allowing Little Vlad to also get in on the fun. All 3 of the defenders in this play made non-standard movements to turn an absolute one-hop missile from Manny Machado into a beautiful 2 outs that will get replayed a few million times across the Western hemisphere.

Were it not for this circus play, Dusty Baker may have had to pull McClanahan in the first inning. He wasn’t missing any bats.

Failing to record 3 outs as the All-Star game’s starting pitcher and trudging back to the dugout early is the ultimate walk of shame. It could have left McClanahan doubting whether he belonged on the big stage.

If McClanahan goes on to do wonderful things in his career – we can look back at this All-Star Game turn by these AL Central hot dogs as the play that preserved the lefty’s confidence and kept McClanahan off the list of worst all-time ASG performances.

Ranking the Worst All-Star Game Pitching Performances in MLB History

McClanahan struggled Tuesday night but was bailed out by some tremendous defense – allowing just 2 runs and 1 homer. Official losing pitcher Tony Gonsolin was the real anti-star of the 92nd ASG.

Tony Gonsolin of the hometown Dodgers was the only National League pitcher to allow runs in Tuesday’s 92nd All-Star Game. He surrendered back-to-back blasts to Giancarlo Stanton (the game’s MVP) and Byron Buxton – putting him on the hook for the loss with 3 earned runs in 1 inning pitched.

4 hits – 2 of them homers – and 3 earned runs allowed is an awful ASG outing but it doesn’t hold a candle to the following 4 all-time horrible ASG pitching performances.

Roger Clemens Allows 2 HR in 2004

Roger Clemens started the 2004 All-Star Game for the National League in his new home Minute Maid Park in Houston. He had one of the worst first innings in ASG history.

Starting pitchers usually got to throw 2 innings in those days but Clemens lasted just one – surrendering a pair of 3-run home runs to the American League All-Stars.

His former teammate – Manny Ramirez – tagged him first, opening up a 3-0 lead for the AL.

The bottom of the order then repopulated the bases for the 8-hitter Alfonso Soriano. Clemens and Soriano had been fierce rivals the season prior when The Rocket was pitching for Boston and Soriano was hitting toward the top of the Yankees lineup.

Soriano added another facet to the rivalry with the second 3-run shot of the inning – ballooning the lead to 6-0.

The American League starting pitcher (batting ninth for the AL) – Mark Mulder – then stepped up. This was unique as Mulder got to bat in the All-Star Game before he threw his first pitch. Even in 2004, pitchers seldom were given ASG at-bats.

Mulder never took the bat off his shoulder, allowing Clemens to easily retire him for a sympathetic 3rd out of the inning.

Clemens’ final line was 5 hits and 6 runs allowed (3 earned) through 1 inning pitched – getting stuck with the loss as the AL went on to win 9-4.

Jim Palmer Gets Lit Up in 1977

Jim Palmer of the Orioles was given the honor of starting on the mound for the American League in 1977. His record-setting performance was a memorable one … nightmarish to be exact.

The leadoff hitter for the National League – Joe Morgan – took Palmer deep to right field to open the game.

Oh well. It happens. Just settle down and go to work.

Palmer then came back with a strikeout. All appeared to be well. This is the moment when Palmer’s start turned from mediocre to absolutely atrocious. 

2 consecutive hits scored a 2nd run – making it 2-0 with Greg Luzinski at the dish with a man on. Luzinki then deposited a Palmer offering into the right field bleachers – increasing the first-inning lead to 4-0 NL.

Palmer was able to escape the 1st inning without further damage and trotted back out for his 2nd inning of work – facing Dave Concepcion, the pitcher Don Sutton, and then the top of the NL lineup.

Palmer couldn’t throw a strike to Concepcion and lost him on balls. Sutton sac bunted Concepcion over to second to set up Joe Morgan with a RISP and one down.

Thinking Palmer would be slow to the plate, Concepcion attempted a steal of 3rd but was gunned down by the catcher Carlton Fisk. A Joe Morgan lineout ended the 2nd.

Oh wow, not too bad. This isn’t historically bad, right?

In a move both AL manager Billy Martin and Jim Palmer alike would come to regret – the starting pitcher headed back out to begin his 3rd inning of work – already allowing 4 runs on 4 hits.

The first batter of the 3rd inning was Steve Garvey who greeted a weary Palmer with a solo shot to left-center field. The lead was now 5-0 NL. 

Jim Palmer had just allowed his 3rd home run of the day. Martin had no choice but to come pull him immediately. To this day, Jim Palmer remains the only pitcher to ever allow 3 home runs in the All-Star Game.

Tom Glavine Gets Singled to Death in 1992

Tom Glavine earned the start on the mound for the National League in the 1992 All-Star Game. What ensued was one of the highest-scoring ASGs in MLB history – the gasoline for the fire provided by Glavine himself.

The best-pitched at-bat of the game for Glavine was probably his very first in which he induced a groundout from leadoff hitter Roberto Alomar.

The guy controlling the outs on the scoreboard could have taken a nap after that because it would be a while until Glavine retired another hitter.

Wade Boggs singled. Kirby Puckett followed suit with a single of his own. Joe Carter then lined a hard single to center field – loading the bases for a prime (and fully juiced) Mark McGwire.

A Big Mac single up the middle plated 2 runs and gave the National League an early 2-0 advantage. This was the 4th straight hit for the NL and they were hardly done.

With runners on first and second, Cal Ripken Jr. ripped a single into right field – scoring Carter and sending McGwire to third. Ripken was tagged out advancing to 2nd base for the 2nd out of the inning. This made 5 straight hits off Glavine (and 3 runs).

Up stepped Ken Griffey Jr. with McGwire on 3rd and 2 out. Griffey laced a single into center scoring Big Mac, giving the AL a 4-0 lead, and making it 6 straight hits off Glavine.

Roberto’s brother Sandy Alomar (the 8 hitter) was up next. He too slashed a single into left field – making it 7 consecutive hits off the future Hall of Famer.

Mercifully, the American League pitcher Kevin Brown was in the 9 spot. Glavine struck him out with ease to put an end to the awful half inning in which the Braves star allowed 4 runs on 7 straight singles.

National League manager (and Glavine’s own manager) Bobby Cox decided to let Glavine head back out for the 2nd inning to face the top of the lineup a second time.

Things didn’t go particularly well this time around, either. Hits from Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter (both singles) plated the 5th run for the American League – forcing Cox to finally pull his main man with 2 outs in the 2nd inning.

The final line for Tom Glavine reads 1.2 innings, 9 hits (all singles), and 5 earned runs. He bore the loss in a wild 13-6 game.

Atlee Hammaker Gets Slammed in 1983

The worst all-time pitching performance in ASG history has to go to Atlee Hammaker of the Giants in 1983.

This game was played during an era of National League dominance – with the AL winning just 2 of the past 20 exhibitions. This changed in major fashion as the AL dominated 13-3 in this one, putting it out of reach early with a 7-run 3rd inning.

Hammaker did not start the game, Mario Soto did. Soto pitched 2 innings allowing 2 unearned runs. Hammaker’s National League was trailing 2-1 when he took the mound in the bottom of the 3rd – ready to face the likes of Jim Rice, George Brett, and Ted Simmons.

Rice immediately greeted Hammaker with a loud home run to left field. Make it 3-1 AL but don’t fall in love with that score because it’s about to change again.

George Brett then launched a ball off the center field wall in Comiskey Park – narrowly missing back-to-back jacks but legging out a triple instead.

Hammaker induced a weak popout from Simmons but then lost the next battle to Dave Winfield who singled up the middle, scoring Brett.

Manny Trillo followed suit with a one-bagger, putting 2 runners on for Doug DeCinces who flew out. That’s 2 runs in this inning, still 2 on, and 2 out for the American League against Hammaker.

A Rod Carew single scored Dave Winfield. Both runners advanced on the throw to put a couple ducks on the pond for Robin Yount with 2 down.

National League manager (and now Hall of Famer) Whitey Herzog made some great calls in his career, but the following move was certainly not one of them. Herzog elected to utilize the free base and intentionally walk the dangerous Robin Yount – loading the bases for the (supposedly) less threatening Fred Lynn.

In one unprecedented stroke, Lynn promptly unloaded the bases with a moon shot home run to right field – the first (and only) grand slam in MLB All-Star Game history.

Now a 9-1 lead for the AL, Herzog had to come get Hammaker out of there. The lefty’s final line reads 0.2 innings pitched with 7 earned runs on 6 hits including the Lynn grand slam.

Because Hammaker entered the game with his team behind, he could not receive the loss – although he certainly deserved it far more than poor Mario Soto who didn’t allow an earned run.

This was the only All-Star Game Atlee Hammaker was selected to in his 12-year career, and it was unfortunately the worst ASG pitching performance the game has ever seen.

Ranking the Worst All-Star Game Position Player Performances in MLB History

Aaron Judge may have whiffed twice in the 2022 game but his struggles at the plate pale in comparison to his franchise-mate second baseman Bobby Richardson.

Bobby Richardson Makes a Lot of Outs in 1963

1963 is the year and the All-Star lineups were stacked. The NL featured names such as Willie Mays and Hank Aaron while the AL boasted talent such as Al Kaline and Nellie Fox.

Richardson gifted the NL a free run in the 5th inning – booting a ball which later allowed Tommy Davis to score unearned.

The Yankee middle infielder received a golden opportunity to avenge his error in the bottom of the 6th inning. Down a run, Richardson stepped up with runners on the corners and 1 out.

An RBI-hit would erase his 1-run error and swing the momentum back in his league’s favor. Instead, Richardson bounced into a 6-4-3 double play – ending the inning.

Baseball Reference cites the American League losing 21% of win equity on account of Richardson’s double play ball.

Fast forward to the bottom of the 9th. The American League trails 5-3 but is attempting to mount a rally against Don Drysdale.

A Brooks Robinson single with 1 out brings Bobby Richardson to the plate for a 2nd time. One last perfect chance to make everyone forget about his poor play up until this point.

Richardson bounces into his second DP of the day – this one the 3-6-3 variety. Game over.

No Bright Spot for Dan Uggla in 2008

The year is 2008 and Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla receives a spot as an All-Star reserve for the National League.

The game plays on … and on … and on well into the New York night – spanning 15 innings with very little scoring.

This gave the reserves many more at-bats than is typical (more than the starters, even) – as the starters generally get pulled after 3-5 innings in the All-Star game.

The power-hitting 2nd baseman Dan Uggla got to bat 4 times in this game with many opportunities to break the tie – and failed miserably each time.

His first chance came in the top of the 8th in a 2-2 game versus Boston’s Jonathan Papelbon. Uggla struck out.

In the 10th inning, with the score tied 3-3, Mariano Rivera was on the bump for his 2nd inning of work and surrendered back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners with just 1 down for Uggla.

A simple fly ball would put the National League in the lead. Mo ensured this would not happen – inducing the 4-6-3 inning-ending DP off Uggla’s bat – lowering the National League’s win equity by 33%.

Uggla received 2 more at-bats in the later innings and whiffed both times – giving him a hat trick of Ks to go along with his GIDP.

As if his offensive struggles were not enough, Uggla committed a record 3 errors at 2nd base. 3 errors!

This alone should be enough to distinguish Dan Uggla’s 2008 game as the worst ASG performance ever, but astonishingly, none of Uggla’s errors hurt the team. The AL scored 0 runs because of them.

Uggla narrowly avoids playing the worst All-Star Game ever and instead is a very close 2nd.

Joe DiMaggio With a Real Clunker in 1936

The year is 1936 and Joe DiMaggio is an unproven, 21-year-0ld rookie. The kid is hitting well over .300 at the break with some power and speed so he gets the vote to start in right field for the dominant American League – despite grumblings from the older guard.

The first All-Star Game was in 1933. The 1936 game would be the 4th contest between the American and National Leagues. The AL won each of the first 3 and was expected to win in 1936 as well.

With the National League already leading 3-0 in the 5th inning, DiMaggio failed to cleanly field a routine single to right field. This allowed Billy Herman to advance to 2nd base – later scoring unearned on a Joe Medwick single – making the score 4-0 NL.

Not going down quietly, the American League mounted a fierce rally in the top of the 7th. Lou Gehrig led off the inning with a home run. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Luke Appling who drove in 2 with a single of his own – making the score 4-3 NL.

A Charlie Gehringer walk reloaded the bases for the young DiMaggio. 0 for 3 with that crucial error up until this point, the 21-year-old found himself with an excellent opportunity to put his AL squad back on top.

DiMaggio lined out softly to the shortstop – killing the rally and extending his miserable day.

We go to the 9th inning with the score unchanged. Lon Warneke was the pitcher in DiMaggio’s 7th inning at-bat and he’s still on the mound now – going for the 7-out save.

A 2-out double by Charlie Gehringer brings up Joe DiMaggio for his 5th at-bat of the contest.

Many were upset DiMaggio received the right field start in the first place. He then directly contributed to his team’s 1-run deficit with that 5th inning error. He later leaves ducks on the pond in the 7th when his team needed a big knock.

Now, with the tying run in scoring position, DiMaggio has an opportunity to put all the negativity behind him with a clutch hit. Remember, we (in 2022) know things are going to be okay for DiMaggio down the road, but this moment is everything for the kid – a chance to prove himself.

(Not so) Joltin’ Joe popped out to second base – ending the game. It was the first All-Star Game victory for the National League – an embarrassment for the AL. And much of the blame rested on the 21-year-old shoulders of Joe DiMaggio.

One of the best players in MLB history turned in the worst All-Star Game performance.