I used to really get excited about the MLB All-Star game, but the wonder faded as I got older, and the game changed. Back in the mid and late 1980, when I was just becoming a fan, the All-Star game was one of the highlights of the season. Not only was I able to see the occasional Cub — particularly Ryne Sandberg — it also provided the opportunity to see some of the American League stars who I might never see at all. I remember getting very upset at missing the beginning of one All-Star Game due to Little League practice. The manager thought I was being a great teammate when I was quickly cleaning everything up at the end of practice, but I just wanted to get on my bike and get home.
But as time has gone on, the game has meant less and less to me. Interleague play allowed me to see almost every MLB player against the Cubs, at least occasionally. And more National baseball packages and (eventually) streaming services, provided even more access. Seeing the AL Stars match up against the NL stars just doesn’t have the same cache that it used to.
Of course, I wouldn’t want to go back to only having games available on WGN and WTBS, with an NBC game of the week on Saturday. I remember visiting my grandparents, who did not have cable, and having to find out the scores of the games on the 10 o’clock news or in the newspaper the next morning. Now I have a device in my pocket that allows me to see almost any game anytime. And if I’m in a foreign country, I can at least get instant access to every pitch location and game event in the Gameday app. I would never want to give that level of access up. But the forced scarcity did make me appreciate the All-Star game much more.
Unfortunately, the excitement I used to feel was tempered by the annual poor performance, of Cubs players in the game. Seemingly, every year (and again, it was usually Ryne Sandberg), the Cubs players would do nothing.
Here are the games in the 1980s:
1984 NL Wins 3-1
Ryne Sandberg (starting 2B) 1-4, K, SB
Jody Davis (reserve C) 0-1
1985 NL Wins 6-1
Ryne Sandberg (reserve 2B) 0-1, R, BB, K
1986 AL Wins 3-2
Ryne Sandberg (starting 2B) 0-3, 2K
Jody Davis (reserve C) 1-1
1987 NL Wins 2-0 (13 innings)
Ryne Sandberg (starting 2B) 0-2
Andre Dawson (starting CF) 1-3, 2B, K
Rick Sutcliffe (relief P) 2 IP, 0 R, H, BB
Lee Smith (relief P), W, 3 IP, 2 H, 4 K
1988 AL Wins 2-1
Ryne Sandberg (starting 2B) 1-4, 2 \K
Andre Dawson (starting CF) 1-2
Rafael Palmeiro (reserve OF) 0-1, BB
Vance Law (reserve IF) defensive replacement at 2B
Shawon Dunston (reserve IF) DNP
Greg Maddux (relief P) DNP
1989 AL Wins 5-3
Ryne Sandberg (starting 2B) 0-3, 2K
Andre Dawson (reserve RF) 0-1
Rick Sutcliffe (relief P) 1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER
Mitch Williams (relief P) 1 IP, BB, K
The 1987 is particularly memorable. I a year where people thought the ball was juiced, neither team could score until the 13th inning. Lee Smith went 3 shutout innings in relief to get the win. I can’t imagine a closer going 3 innings in a World Series games, let all on an All-Star game, but there were only 8 pitchers on the team.
In 1988, 6 Cubs made the roster it but only 4 played, as both Shawon Dunston and Greg Maddux were left on the bench by Cardinals manager, Whitey Herzog. But I’m not still bitter.
Overall here are the numbers for Cubs All-Stars since 1984
18-106, 3 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 6 R, 6 RBI, and slash line of .170/.235/.377
The All-Star game is typically very pitcher-centric, but those are some bad numbers.
As mentioned above Ryne Sandberg was the main culprit, going 3-26, 1 R, 1 2B, 0 RBI, 2 BB and 9 Ks, with a slash line of .115/.179/.192. He was there 10 years in a row, starting in 9 of those games. Yuck.
But there have been some good moments:
And some historic moments:
Here is an overall batting register of Cubs All-Stars from baseball encyclopedia: https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/bat-all-star.shtml
And here is the pitching register: https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/pitch-all-star.shtml
Hopefully PCA and Kyle Tucker make some better memories for the Cubs tonight.
Cubs in 7 
Leave a comment