Heroes -- just for one day

May 17, 2013

It's everyone's dream to make it to The Show. For some guys, once they make it, they can stick for well over a decade. For others, their dream might only last one night.

Believe it or not, there are 982 people who played exactly one game in the Major Leagues. Some of them were simply career minor leaguers who got one night of glory. Some of them were star prospects never able to fulfill their potential due to an unfortunate injury.

Here's our one-game All Star team.

P -- Chris Saenz

Saenz's played his only Major League game on April 24, 2004, taking the mound for the Brewers in their afternoon game against the Cardinals. His performance was absolutely stellar. He went six innings, allowing only two hits while striking out seven batters.

Immediately following the game, Saenz returned to his Double-A squad, where he received elbow surgery -- ultimately causing him to struggle with his control and never match his start against the Cards.

C -- Aubrey Epps

Nicknamed "Yo-Yo," Epps' game occured on September 29, 1935 -- the day before President Franklin Delano Roosevelt dedicated the Hoover Dam. Epps caught for the Pirates in the second game of a double-header against the Reds. The game was the last one of the Pirates season, and for that reason, they let Yo-Yo try his hand a catcher.

Epps tripled en route to a 3-4, three RBI day. His career was cut short due to complications from a tonsillectomy, which left him unable to compete.

1B -- Tom Pratt

Pratt's career on the A's isn't the most spectacluar, accruing only two hits in six at-bats, but the dearth of first basemen in the pool worked in his favor. He's one of the only single-game players to have six at-bats in his game, which is in itself notable.

The game, by the by, was played between the Philadelphia Athletics and New York Mutuals -- in 1871.

2B -- Jerry Lynn

Here's my favorite player, due to his skills on offense and defense. The one-time member of the 1937 Washington Senators had a great night behind the plate, going 2-3 with a double, but he had an even better night on defense -- helping to turn two double plays and recording put-outs or assists on each of his seven chances.

Lynn was a mainstay in the various independent leagues but was only able to crack the Majors for that one, glorious game.

3B -- Ray Jansen

Jansen, on the other hand, should have been a DH. In his lone appearance with the St. Louis Browns in 1910, Jansen went 4-5. Unfortunately, he was also responsible for three errors