History of All-Star Games in Philadelphia

April 16th, 2019

Philadelphia will be hosting the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in 2026 for the fifth time, and first since 1996. Of those five, four have been hosted by the Phillies, and one by the Philadelphia Athletics, in ‘43. The National League has won each of the three All-Star Games hosted by the Phillies, and the American League won the edition hosted by the AL club, the Athletics.

The last time the Phillies hosted the All-Star game, Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins were both 3 years old.

Here’s a look at the history of All-Star Games in Philadelphia:

1996, Veterans Stadium -- NL 6, AL 0
Emotions were the name of the game in this one, with Norristown, Pa., native Mike Piazza taking home MVP honors. Piazza went 2-for-3 with a home run off Charles Nagy and a double. Ken Caminiti also homered for the National League squad. John Smoltz got the NL started with two scoreless innings in an eventual shutout. It was the first time the AL had been shut out in the All-Star Game since 1987. It was also Ozzie Smith’s final All-Star Game and his 15th appearance.

1976, Veterans Stadium -- NL 7, AL 1
The NL reigned supreme in this one, scoring seven runs to the AL’s lone run on a Fred Lynn home run off Tom Seaver. George Foster and Cesar Cedeno homered for the NL, and Ken Griffey Sr. and Steve Garvey added RBIs, too. Foster was named MVP, hitting a three-run home run in the third off Catfish Hunter. Mark Fidrych started for the AL in the midst of his Rookie of the Year-winning campaign.

1952, Shibe Park -- NL 3, AL 2 (5 innings)
The 1952 game holds the distinction of being the only rain-shortened All-Star Game since the games began in ‘33. Jackie Robinson homered off Vic Raschi in the first inning to give the NL a 1-0 lead. Hank Sauer added a homer in the fourth inning off Bob Lemon, which ended up providing the decisive runs. The game represented the first career selection for 20-year-old Mickey Mantle and 46-year-old Satchel Paige -- at opposite ends of the age spectrum -- but neither appeared in the game.

1943, Shibe Park -- AL 5, NL 3
This game was the first All-Star Game to be held at night. The rosters were lacking their usual luster due to the war effort, but there was still star power. It was Stan Musial’s first of 24 consecutive All-Star appearances, and he arrived in style, knocking in a run in the first inning. Bobby Doerr had three RBIs for the AL on one swing -- a three-run home run off Mort Cooper in the second inning.