July means Major League Baseball takes a break and plays the All-Star Game, a tradition that began 92 years ago in Chicago.
Four games have been played in Philadelphia: 1943 and 1952 at Shibe Park; 1976 and 1996 at Veteran Stadium. The 2026 game will be played at Citizens Bank Park.
The Midsummer Classic has been played every year but 1945 (World War II) and 2020 (COVID pandemic). From 1959 through 1962, two games were played.
The Phillies had two representatives, SS Dick Bartell and RF Chuck Klein, both starters for the National League in the first game played in Comiskey Park on July 6, 1933. 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.
Mike Schmidt leads all Phillies in selections with 12. Most by a pitcher is seven, shared by Robin Roberts and Steve Carlton.
Roberts has the most starts, 5 (1950-51; 1953-55). Teammate Curt Simmons started in 1952, making it six straight years.
Other starters include Simmons (1957), Terry Mulholland (1993), Curt Schilling (1999) and Roy Halladay (2011).
Seven rookies have been selected: 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)
Three have been the winning pitcher, LHP Ken Raffensberger (1944), RHP Doug Jones (1994), RHP Heathcliff Slocumb (1995).
Save: Craig Kimbrell (2023).
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, 7-4 NL win.
In addition to Callison, four others have homered: 3B Richie Allen (1967), LF Greg Luzinski (1977), 3B Mike Schmidt (1981) and J.T. Realmuto (2-21). Schmidt was the first Phillies player to get a triple (1979).
Managers have a combined 7-1 record: Eddie Sawyer (1951), Gene Mauch (1965), Dallas Green (1981), Paul Owens (1984), Jim Fregosi (1994) and Rob Thomson (2023), 1-0 each. Charlie Manuel was 1-1 (4-3 L in 2009; 3-1 W in 2010).
First pitcher to start for the NL, RHP Robin Roberts (1950); last one, Roy Halladay (2011).
Most Phillies on an All-Star team, 8 (2024). Five, six times (1976, 1979, 1981, 1995, 2009, 2011).
Home Run Derby: Jim Thome (2004), Bobby Abreu (2005+), 2006 Ryan Howard (2006+), Howard (2007), Chase Utley (2008), Howard (2009), Rhys Hoskins (2018), Kyle Schwarber (2022) and Alec Bohm (2024).
+ Winner
Starters
“Firsts”
C Jimmie Wilson, 1935
1B Pete Rose, 1981
2B Emil Verban, 1947
SS Dick Bartell, 1933
3B Pinky Whitney, 1936
LF Del Ennis, 1955
CF Harry Walker, 1947
RF Chuck Klein, 1933
P Robin Roberts, 1950
DH Ryan Howard, 2010
“Lasts”
C J.T. Realmuto, 2021
1B Bryce Harper, 2024
2B Chase Utley, 2014
SS Trea Turner, 2024
3B Alec Bohm, 2024
LF Raúl Ibañez, 2009
CF Shane Victorino, 2009
RF Bobby Abreu, 2005
P Roy Halladay, 2011
DH Ryan Howard, 2010
DH Bryce Harper (2022): couldn’t start because of an injury