Call to the pen
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All Star Game Ends in a Tie in Extra Innings

By David Hill

Apr 21, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Outside view of Miller Park prior to the game between the St. Louis Cardinals abnd Milwaukee Brewers. Cincinnati won 16-10. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Outside view of Miller Park prior to the game between the St. Louis Cardinals abnd Milwaukee Brewers. Cincinnati won 16-10. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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If ever there was a moment where the MLB and Bud Selig were mercilessly mocked, it was when the All Star Game ended in a time. That unforgettable disaster happened on this day back in 2002.

“This time, it counts!” We all remember that unfortunate tagline, when the greatest exhibition in sports, the MLB All Star Game, began to ‘count’ towards the postseason. Now, the All Star Game decides home field advantage in the World Series, because we all want the token All Stars from terrible teams potentially determining who takes home the championship.

That travesty of a decision was borne from another complete disaster. It was on this day, back in 2002, that the All Star Game ended in a 7-7 tie after 11 innings, when both managers ran out of pitchers during their attempts to get everyone into the game. Bud Selig was booed roundly, and mocked mercilessly for the generally clueless reaction to the news that no one was left to pitch.

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It was an unfortunate end to a great game. The American League, down 5-2 entering the top of the seventh, scored four runs in that inning, highlighted by Paul Konerko‘s two run double to put the AL on top. The National League took the lead right back in the bottom of the inning, when Lance Berkman‘s two run single gave them the one run advantage.

The American League tied the game back up in the top of the eighth, as Omar Vizquel‘s one out triple scored Robert Fick (seriously, Robert Fick made an All Star team?) to tie the game. Robb Nen did a great job to strand Vizquel at third to preserve the tie, but that would lead to the situation that Selig and the MLB found after the eleventh inning.

The travesty that was the 73rd All Star Game also ended without an MVP being named. This was the first season that the award was named for Ted Williams, and no one would go home with the trophy, even though there were several players worthy of the honors. It was just a bad day all around for the MLB.

Next: Harsher penalties for PED users?

But hey, the game counts now, so we won’t have to deal with that again!

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