Baseball’s best players gathered in Philadelphia for the 67th All-Star Game on July 9, 1996. 62,270 fans at Veterans Stadium were treated to a memorable night of stargazing. The National League won, 6-0, their last victory until 2010.
The ceremonial first pitches were delivered by Robin Roberts, Steve Carlton, Richie Ashburn, Mike Schmidt and Jim Bunning. Never before have the Phillies had five Hall of Fame legends on a field at the same time. Combined they had 44 All-Star honors.
Future Hall of Famer, shortstop Ozzie Smith, made his 15th and last All-Star classic appearance. “Oz-zie, Oz-zie, Oz-zie” chanted the fans as he came to bat for the first time after entering the game in the sixth inning.
Iron man Cal Ripken Jr, in the midst of playing in 2,239 consecutive games, sustained a broken nose during a pre-game A.L. team photo. While stepping on the platform, White Sox reliever Roberto Hernandez lost his balance. His left elbow smashed into Ripken’s nose, sending him to the artificial turf. Thanks to Phillies team physician, Dr. Phillip Marone, Ripken was able to start. “He kind of pinched it, popped it and put it back in place,” said Ripken. The gauze Dr. Marone put in the nose could be seen during the game, the only sign of a broken nose.
"I don't think it was ever that straight, but it's straighter than it was a half-hour ago," Ripken joked before the game. “But I reserve the right to use it as a crutch when I make an error or swing and miss.”
Norristown native, catcher Mike Piazza, was named the Most Valuable Player. In three at-bats, he drove in two runs on a double and long home run, a 445-foot blast into the left field seats leading off the second inning. He also homered in his last at-bat in the 1995 ASG. The last player to do that was Gary Carter in 1981.
Before the game he caught a ceremonial first ball from Schmidt, his childhood hero. “I grew up watching him from the seats behind third base, dreaming of emulating him as a Major League player. To have him write on the ball, ‘wishing you the best … I think you’re the best,’ and then to hit a home run and become the MVP is just indescribable,” Pizza was quoted in SABR’s game story by Andrew Harner.
In the 1993 World Series between the Phillies and Blue Jays, Joe Carter hit the walk-off homer to win the Fall Classic. Philly fans remembered and gave him rousing boos when introduced.
Reliever Ricky Bottalico was the Phils’ lone representative. He pitched a scoreless fifth inning, striking out his first batter, Ivan Rodriquez.
He was one of 14 pitchers in the game who set an ASG record by combining for no walks.
It was the last All-Star Game to be played in the cookie-cutter, multiple-sport stadiums of that era.
The day before featured a celebrity softball game, All-Star batting practice and a home run derby won by San Francisco’s Barry Bonds.
Showcasing the City
Bill Giles, who began the tradition of a large party the night before the Midsummer Classic when Philadelphia hosted the 1976 game, did it again. This time thousands were treated to a party at Penn’s Landing, complete with a giant aerial fireworks show over the Delaware River.