Two Phillies have been named the Most Valuable Player in All-Star Games, Johnny Callison (1964) and Kyle Schwarber (2025). Each hit a game-ending home run. Circumstances were as different as day and night. OK, so Callison’s historic homer came in the day while Schwarber’s happened at night. Differences beyond that.
While the first ASG was 1933, the MVP Award wasn’t added until 1962, a year in which two games were played. Maury Wills was the initial winner. Leon Wagner, the second. Callison was the fourth.
In 2002, the award was named in honor of Ted Williams, a 19-time All-Star with the Red Sox.
1964
Callison, Chris Short and Jim Bunning were the Phillies All-Stars for the July 7 game at Shea Stadium.
After Bunning’s 2-inning stint, Callison pinch-hit for him in the bottom of the 5th (infield pop-up). Callison finished the game in the 9-hole, playing right field. Facing the Red Sox’ fire-balling right-hander, Dick “The Monster” Radatz, in the 7th inning he flew out to deep centerfield, just missing on a fast ball.
With the American League leading, 4-3, in the top of the ninth, Radatz batted and struck out. Yes, a reliever batted in an All-Star Game.
Bottom of 9th, Willie Mays drew an 11-pitch walk, stole second and scored the tying run on a bloop hit by Orlando Cepeda. A throwing error allowed Cepeda to reach third where he was replaced by Curt Flood.
Radatz retired Ken Boyer on an infield pop and walked Johnny Edwards intentionally before striking out pinch hitter Hank Aaron. One more out before extra innings.
Up stepped Callison, using a lighter bat from Billy Williams. Radatz’ first pitch was a high fast ball. Callison got this one. It landed in the right field seats for a 3-run, game-winning home run. Gigantic home plate celebration followed.
2025
July 15, Truist Field, Atlanta, was the scene of an All-Star first…a Home Run Derby-like swing-off to settle a tie.
Down 6-0, the American League rallied from the largest deficit ever for a 6-6 tie after 9 innings. In the last Basic Agreement MLB and the Union agreed (March 2022) to a 6-player swing-off format. Each league would select three players, each getting three swings. It was never needed until this Tuesday night in Atlanta.
The 95th classic had an electrifying ending. The NL outhomered the AL, 4-3, for a 7-6 win.
Trailing, 3-1, Schwarber put on a display for the ages, dramatically hitting home runs on each of his allotted three swings.
“It was awesome,” Schwarber said. “The guys were really into it. They were yelling, screaming, cheering me on every swing. When that last one goes over, they were all pumped. It was a lot of fun.”
The Phillies slugger had entered the game as a pinch-hitter for DH Shoei Ohtani in the bottom of the fifth innings. Schwarber had three at-bats, deep fly ball to center, a walk and line drive to third.
His swing-off heroics earned him the Ted Williams Award as the Most Valuable Player.
No All-Star Game had ever ended like this. No MLB game had a similar ending. No one had been an MVP by going hitless in the game.
The game also featured the first automated ball-strike (ABS) system challenges in All-Star Game history.