Quick — name the All-Star MVP from last year.
It was Melky Cabrera, who hit a two-run homer for the National League before being replaced midway through the game.
With position players often on the field for only a few innings — and pitchers making even briefer appearances — the biggest stars don't have much time to shine individually.
But a few have managed to do so. Here's a rundown of some of the top performances in All-Star history.
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CARL HUBBELL, 1934, and PEDRO MARTINEZ, 1999
The All-Star game was only in its second year when Hubbell struck out Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin in order. Whiffing those five Hall of Famers was the highlight of Hubbell's three scoreless innings, and 65 years later, Martinez put forth a decent imitation. The Boston right-hander threw two hitless innings, fanning Barry Larkin, Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Jeff Bagwell — although only the first four went down in succession.
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BOB FELLER, 1939
In the first All-Star game played at Yankee Stadium, Feller came on in the sixth with the bases loaded and one out, trying to protect a 3-1 lead for the American League. He got Arky Vaughan to hit into a double play, then breezed through the last three innings, allowing only one hit.
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TED WILLIAMS, 1941 and 1946
Take your pick. In his famous .406 season of '41, Williams gave the AL a 7-5 win with a three-run homer with two out in the bottom of the ninth. Five years later, the Splendid Splinter went 4 for 4 with two homers, four runs and five RBIs. The AL won 12-0.
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LARRY JANSEN, 1950
The NL won this one 4-3 in 14 innings, and Jansen threw five scoreless innings of relief, striking out six. The right-hander from the New York Giants blanked the AL from innings seven through 11. The following year, he earned another claim to fame when he was the winning pitcher in the playoff game decided by Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World."
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AL ROSEN, 1954
The Cleveland star opened the scoring with a three-run homer in the third and later tied the game at 7 with a two-run shot in the fifth. The AL went on to win 11-9.
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REGGIE JACKSON, 1971, and FRED LYNN, 1983
Jackson and Lynn each left his mark with one swing. Jackson's mammoth home run off a tower on the right-field roof at Tiger Stadium was awe-inspiring. Lynn's grand slam, the first in an All-Star game, highlighted the event's 50th anniversary.
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TIM RAINES, 1987
The Montreal outfielder turned the Midsummer Classic into his personal showcase after entering as a sub in the sixth inning. After hitting two singles and stealing a base, Raines finally struck the decisive blow in the 13th, hitting a two-out, two-run triple for the game's only runs.
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J.D. DREW, 2008
Drew had two hits, including a two-run homer in the seventh. The AL won 4-3 in 15 innings, and manager Terry Francona — who was also Drew's skipper with the Red Sox at the time — said the outfielder might have been asked to take the mound and pitch if the game had lasted much longer.
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