1992 ALL-STAR GAME
The 1992 Mid-West Winter League All-Star Game was held on Saturday, November 6th, 1992 in the home of the Winnipeg Gold Eyes.
“Special recognition is given here to Brandon Hogan & Greg “Sarge” Stauffer for taking on the past All-Star Games Project as they will be playing these out and catching up not only the MWWL but some past MWBL All-Star Games as well. Thank you very much Brandon & Sarge for helping out with these projects. I hope you enjoy the Mid-West Winter & Mid-West Baseball League as much as we have done for the past 25 Years!”
The annual All-Star Classic returns to the National League confines where the American League looks to be out to return the favor for the beatdown received in 1991. The starter for the home team was Curt Schilling who on the season carried an 18-9 record with a 2.00 ERA over 238.1 innings and the American League sent out Bob Tewksbury and his 25-3 record, 1.88 ERA and 243.2 innings of work. Both men were winners of the Cy Young on the season.
Life on the mound started out rough for Schilling as Lou Whitaker reached due to a bad throw by Curt. Barry Larkin followed it up with an infield single up the middle to put the first two on. A third batter reaches when Larry Walker gets a single, but Whitaker was held at 3rd. The American League clearly had their eyes set on a big inning with the bases loaded and no one out. But then, Schilling showed why he won the Cy Young by striking out Gary Sheffield and Joe Carter back-to-back. Now with two outs, John Kruk gives it a shot but only manages a lazy fly ball to Andy Van Slyke. What a performance by Schilling. The crowd is ON FIRE now.
Tewksbury worked through two quick outs which brought MVP Barry Bonds to the plate, and he did what he did best all year and ripped a double. He had 41 on the year so it makes sense that in the all-star game, he does the same. The Big Hurt stepped to the plate with the chance to get the N.L. on the board first. On a 1-0 pitch Thomas hits a liner out to left field where Walker was prepared for the inning-ending catch but OH NO, he drops the ball. Bonds comes around to score and it is 1-0 N.L. Tewksbury gets the 3rd out right after by striking out Darren Daulton.
Pitching came through for both squads in innings 2-5 and it was all quiet at 1-0. Both leagues were running out their top-tier starters inning after inning but in the bottom of the 6th, the A.L. called on Kevin Brown who had himself a great year with a 21-5 record and 4 shutouts to replace Roger Clemens. It felt like this game was never going to see another run. However, like Nolan Ryan in 1991, Kevin Brown could not record an out. Terry Pendleton started it off with a nice east single to left center. In an all-star game shocker, Brown then follows that up by hitting Bonds. 2 on, no outs and Mark Grace came in to pinch hit and loaded the bases up with his own base hit. Brown got the hook for Gregg Olson to try and pull a 1st-inning Curt Schilling and allow no one in. To match the change the N.L. decided it was time to bring up their bench weapon, the 1991 all-star game MVP Ken Griffey Jr. Just like he did in last year’s game, Griffey Jr. comes up big with a GRAND SLAM to open the game up 5-0 N.L. How about it? This kid can play when it matters.
The N.L. pitching continued to work the A.L. batters with ease splattering hits and walks throughout the day but going into the 9th they had the shutout intact. To make sure they got everyone to pitch John Franco opened the inning and faced just Jeff Bagwell. Got him on a quick fly out to left. To close it out, Steve Farr is the last available pitcher, and the N.L. wants the shutout badly. Danny Tartabull got himself a free pass and then for the 3rd time on the day, Brian Harper got a hit, this time a double. The N.L. in a RARE move decided to intentionally walk Dave Valle to load up the bases with only 1 out. What a surprise but they really want the shutout so keeping the double play available is what they are willing to do. And wouldn’t you know it but Delino DeSheilds grounds right to Roberto Alomar for the game-ending double play. Shut out it is! The team celebrates on the field as they put Ken Griffey Jr. on the shoulder of Thomas and Bonds. Back-to-back all-star game MVPs for The Kid.
FINAL SCORE: National League 5 – American League 0
All-TIME RECORD: American League 18 – National League 5
1992 ALL-STAR GAME MVP – Ken Griffey Jr. – 1 for 1 with a Grand Slam in the game.
