In the 1985 All-Star game, the American League started seven future Hall of Famers: Rickey Henderson (CF), George Brett (3B), Eddie Murray (1B), Cal Ripken (SS), Dave Winfield (RF), Jim Rice (LF), and Carlton Fisk (C). This is the most Hall of Famers ever in a starting lineup for an All-Star Game, not including Veterans Committee inductees. Three more, Wade Boggs, Paul Molitor, and Bert Blyleven appeared later in the game for the American League. The National League had five future Hall of Famers in Tony Gwynn, Ozzie Smith, Ryne Sandberg, Goose Gossage and Nolan Ryan appearing in the game. Gary Carter was an All-Star also but did not play. That makes 16 Hall of Famers gracing the Metrodome turf and 15 of them playing.
As I have mentioned in this blog previously, the first MLB game I ever attended was the 1965 All-Star game at Met Stadium and I got to see 15 future Hall of Famers play that day when the AL had Brooks Robinson, Harmon Killebrew, Al Kaline playing and Mickey Mantle and Carl Yastrzemski named to the team but not playing due to injury. The NL has 12 future Hall of Famers at the Met that day, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Willie Stargell, Ernie Banks, Juan Marichal, Ron Santo, Roberto Clemente, Frank Robinson, Billy Williams, Don Drysdale, Bob Gibson, and Sandy Koufax and they all played that day. Something I will never forget.
If the Minnesota Twins are awarded the 2014 All-Star game and if you get a chance to attend that game, don’t pass it up, who knows what future Hall of Famers you will get to see that day. Just saying………