1997 ALL-STAR GAME
The 1997 Mid-West Winter League All-Star Game was held on Saturday Night, November 8th, 1997 in the home of the Chicago Demolition.
“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. 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!”
After bouncing back in the 1996 edition, the National League looked to continue leading the decade in all-star game wins. Before the 1997 game American League manager George Skiles said that no matter what the N.L. throws at them this year they will find a way to get one back. It isn’t often a manager outright guarantees a victory but the confidence is due to Greg Maddux starting the game for 3rd time in 4 years. When he started in 94 and 95 the AL pulled out victories. He is a good luck charm. The N.L. is countering again with Randy Johnson who started in the 94 and 95 games as well. A pattern is being established in the league and when it’s Maddux vs. Johnson in an AS game, the AL shows up.
However, it was the N.L. to strike first on an RBI double from AS game mainstay Ken Griffey Jr. to make it 1-0 in the 1st. In these battles, Johnson hasn’t been able to have or maintain a lead but this year the team pulls it off. Not without any drama though. In the bottom half of the inning after getting John Valentin and Edgar Martinez out quickly, Barry Bonds reached on an error by Vinny Castilla. This brought the cleanup hitter Alex Rodriguez up and Johnson hit him! First inning and A-Rod needs to be pulled due to terrible pain in his left elbow. The AL did not want to get Rodriguez out this early, but Walt Weiss stepped in to run. Johnson gets yanked from the game, the 2nd time in 3 AS game starts that he does not get out of the 1st inning. Jeff Shaw came in and got Jeff Bagwell out to end the threat.
The top half of the 2nd saw the next run of the game as David Justice ripped one that kept carrying for a home run off Darryl Kile. 2-0 N.L.. The inning ended with the N.L. sending Vinny Castilla home on a Craig Biggio hit, Tim Salmon had other plans and gunned Castilla down.
Mike Sirotka pitched the 3rd for the AL, got 2 quick outs, and then ended up loading the bases on an error, hit-and-run single, and a walk. Although Justice went yard in the last inning, Juan Gonzalez came in to pinch hit for him with 2 away. The AL countered with Alex Fernandez and Gonzalez placed one out to right field where Griffey scored. On the play, Piazza tries to score and for the 2nd inning in a row, a runner gets thrown out at the plate, this time thanks to Bonds. 3-0 N.L. going into the bottom of the 3rd.
The game changed in the bottom half as Bobby Jones took over on the mound for the N.L. The first AL hit of the game comes on a leadoff double by Dante Bichette. Valentin followed up with a single to go 1st & 3rd no one out. Randy Myers came trotting out of the bullpen as Jones got 0 outs. A walk to Martinez brings up Bonds who laced a single to right. 3-1 N.L. bases still loaded. Weiss followed with a sac fly for the first out of the inning, the game is now 3-2. Myers got the 2nd out when Bagwell popped one up and an infield fly was called. For the 2nd time in the inning, the N.L. loads the bases on a walk as Salmon worked the count well. The N.L. decided to turn to their 3rd pitcher of the inning as Antonio Osuna was asked to face Ivan Rodriguez. Pudge lined one for a 2-run single and the score is flipped 4-3 AL. Larry Walker kept the rallying going with a single of his own that scored Salmon. 5-3 and the 3rd ends that way.
Bottom 4 the AL got a little insurance as Bagwell gets a RBI sac fly to make it 6-3. The N.L. got back in the game in the top of the 6th with a Juan Gonzalez 2-run home run off Roger Clemens. 6-5 AL and the 7 spot in the N.L. lineup now has 2 home runs! Maybe the magic will lie there to get a win.
Two steps forward but how about three steps back? That is exactly what happened in this one as the AL put up a 3 spot in the bottom half of the inning to get up 9-5. A Jeff Kent single and Martinez walk brought up Bonds. He stays in and hits a shot down the line for a double. 7-5! Bonds have had a big day at the plate and in the field. Walt Weiss takes a crack and opens up the game with a 2-run double getting us to that 9-5 AL lead. Weiss was thrown to the wolves with A-Rod getting hurt and he has proved his worth.
In the bottom of the 8th, the AL put this game on ICE with another 3 spot. When this team scores, it is usually in bunches. The N.L. was down to their final pitcher Todd Jones and he just had to wear it. Bonds walked, Weiss walked and then Galarraga got an RBI double. Paul O’Neill walks to load the bases up. The final 2 runs came in on a Sandy Alomar Jr. double that followed the O’Neill walk. 12-5. The stories have been written. Guarantees can happen, Skiles called it. Greg Maddux continues to be the AL starter to bring all the good luck. Maddux vs. Johnson part 3, team Maddux victory. Maddux 3 Johnson 0. Whatever way you want to put it. At this point, the AL should just give Maddux the MVP for existing. But, it goes to someone who actually makes an impact in the game. This 
year, Barry Bonds takes home the honors with 2 hits, 2 RBI, 3 runs scored, an outfield assist, and a walk.
FINAL SCORE: American League 12 – National League 5
All-TIME RECORD: American League 21 – National League 7
1997 ALL-STAR GAME MVP – Barry Bonds – 2 for 4 with 3 Runs Scored & 2 RBIs in the game.
