For the first time since 2013, the Phillies have two players on a National League All-Star team: catcher J.T. Realmuto and right-handed ace Zack Wheeler.
Of the 11 catchers, Realmuto becomes the fourth with multiple selections. Wheeler is the 20th different right-handed pitcher, a category dominated by Hall of Famer Robin Roberts.
Catchers
Jimmie Wilson (1935), Andy Seminick (1949), Smoky Burgess (1954), Stan Lopata (1955-56), Bob Boone (1976, 1978-79), Ozzie Virgil (1985), Lance Parrish (1988), Darren Daulton (1992-93; 1995), Mike Lieberthal (1999-2000), Carlos Ruiz (2012) and J.T. Realmuto (2019, 2021).
Right-handed starting pitchers
Bucky Walters (1937), Kirby Higby (1940), Hugh Mulcahy (1940), Cy Blanton (1941), Robin Roberts (1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956), Jack Sanford (1957), Gene Conley (1959), Art Mahaffey (1961-62), Ray Culp (1963), Jim Bunning (1964, 1966), Rick Wise (1971), Wayne Twitchell (1973), Dick Ruthven (1981), Kevin Gross (1988), Tyler Green (1995), Curt Schilling (1997, 1998, 1999), Vicente Padilla (2002), Roy Halladay (2010, 2011), Aaron Nola (2018) and Zack Wheeler (2021).
Game’s history
The first All-Star Game took place on July 6, 1933, in Chicago’s Comiskey Park.
The Phillies had two representatives, shortstop Dick Bartell and right fielder Chuck Klein, both starters. Klein batted third and got a sixth-inning single in four at-bats. Bartell was hitless in two-at bats while batting seventh. The American League won, 4-2.
The Midsummer Classic has been played every year since but two. Because of World War II, no game was played in 1945. Last year’s game was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. From 1959 through 1962, two games were played.
Four games have been played in Philadelphia, 1943 and 1952 at Shibe Park and 1976 and 1996 at Veterans Stadium. The 2026 game is scheduled for Citizens Bank Park.
Phun Phacts
• 3B Mike Schmidt leads all Phillies players in All-Star Game selections with 12. He was elected the starter in 1989, but he opted not to play as he retired that May.
• Most selections by a pitcher is seven, shared by RHP Robin Roberts and LHP Steve Carlton. Roberts has the most starts, five (1950-51; 1953-55).
• LHP Curt Simmons started in 1952, making it six straight years a Phillies pitcher started for the NL.
• First pitcher to start, RHP Robin Roberts (1950); last one, Roy Halladay (2011).
• Three Phillies have been the winning pitcher: LHP Ken Raffensberger (1944), RHP Doug Jones (1994), RHP Heathcliff Slocumb (1995).
• Seven rookies have been selected to All-Star teams: RF Del Ennis (1946), CF Richie Ashburn (1948), RHP Jack Sanford (1957), RHP Ray Culp (1963), 2B Juan Samuel (1984), RHP Tyler Green (1995) and SS Jimmy Rollins (2001).
• Johnny Callison is the only Phillies player to win the MVP when he drilled a three-run, walk-off homer at Shea Stadium in 1964 for a dramatic 7-4 win.
• In addition to Callison, three others have homered: 3B Richie Allen (1967), LF Greg Luzinski (1977) and 3B Mike Schmidt (1981). Schmidt was the first Phillies player to get a triple (1979).
• The managers have a combined 6-1 record: Eddie Sawyer (1951), Gene Mauch (1965), Dallas Green (1981), Paul Owens (1984), Jim Fregosi (1994) and Charlie Manuel (4-3 loss in 2009; 3-1 win in 2010).
• Most Phillies on an All-Star team, 5, six times (1976, 1979, 1981, 1995, 2009 and 2011).
• Bobby Abreu was the first player selected for the NL All-Star team by the fans in the "Final Vote" selection process (2004).
• Bobby Abreu (2005) and Ryan Howard (2006) have won the Home Run Derby.