July means Major League Baseball takes a break and plays the All-Star Game, a tradition that began 85 years ago in Chicago.
The Phillies had two representatives, shortstop Dick Bartell and right fielder Chuck Klein, both starters for the National League in the game played in Comiskey Park on July 6, 1933. Klein batted third and got a sixth-inning single in four at-bats, the first hit by a Phillies player. 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, except in 1945. Because of World War II, no game was played that year. From 1959-62, two games were played. Four games have been played in Philadelphia, 1943 and '52 at Shibe Park; 1976 and '96 at Veteran Stadium.
Phillies All-Star facts
• 3B Mike Schmidt leads all Phillies players in All-Star Game selections, with 12.
• The most selections by a Phillies pitcher is seven, shared by RHP Robin Roberts and LHP Steve Carlton. Roberts has the most starts, with five (1950-51; 1953-55).
• LHP Curt Simmons started in 1952, making it six straight years a Phillies pitcher started for the NL.
• Seven Phillies rookies have been selected to All-Star teams: RF Del Ennis (1946), CF Richie Ashburn ('48), RHP Jack Sanford ('57), RHP Ray Culp ('63), 2B Juan Samuel ('84), RHP Tyler Green ('95) and SS Jimmy Rollins (2001)
• OF Bobby Abreu is the first Phillies player selected for the NL All-Star team by the fans in the "final vote" selection process in 2004.
• Three Phillies have been the winning pitcher: LHP Ken Raffensberger (1944), RHP Doug Jones ('94), RHP Heathcliff Slocumb ('95).
• Johnny Callison is the only Phillies player to win the All-Star Game MVP when he drilled a three-run walk-off homer at Shea Stadium in 1964, 7-4.
• In addition to Callison, three others have homered: 3B Richie Allen (1967), LF Greg Luzinski ('77), Schmidt (1981). Schmidt was the first Phillies player to get a triple ('79).
• Phillies managers have a combined 6-1 ASG record: Eddie Sawyer (1951), Gene Mauch ('65), Dallas Green ('81), Paul Owens ('84), Jim Fregosi ('94) and Charlie Manuel (2009, loss; '10, win).
• Roberts was the first Phillies pitcher to start for the NL (1950); the most recent was Roy Halladay (2011).
• The most Phillies on an All-Star team is five (1976, '79, '81, '95, 2009, '11).
• Abreu (2005) and Ryan Howard ('06) have won the Home Run Derby.