Unbreakable MLB All-Star Game records

We’re in the midst of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game festivities, and it’s gotten us thinking about some of the most notable marks in the history of the Midsummer Classic. Let’s take a trip down Memory Lane, shall we?

5. The American League's 13-year unbeaten streak

The American League has currently won seven straight All-Star games, but that pales in comparison to their run around the turn of the millennium. With the exception of the 2002 contest, which inexcusably ended in a tie, the junior circuit won every All-Star game from 1997 through 2009. This game actually boasts quite a history of impressive winning/losing streaks. For instance…

4. The National League's two decades of dominance

The senior circuit dominated the All-Star Game for more than two decades. From 1963 through 1985, the National League won all but twice. The lone exceptions came in 1971, when Frank Robinson, Harmon Killebrew, and Reggie Jackson all hit homers in a 6-4 AL win, and 1983, when the AL scored seven runs in the third inning of a 13-3 laugher (four of those runs came when MVP Fred Lynn belted a grand slam that put the game away early).

3. Charlie Gehringer's .655 on-base percentage

Six players with 12 or more plate appearances have OBP’s of .500 or better in All-Star Game play. Gehringer, though, is nearly 140 points clear of Derek Jeter, who sits second at .517. The Hall of Fame second baseman made six All-Star teams, and his .500 batting average in these contests puts him tied for that record as well. Cincinnati Reds first baseman Ted Kluszewski also hit .500, albeit in just 14 plate appearances, while Jeter sits third at .481.

2. Sandy Consuegra's 135.00 earned run average

We’re not counting those with "infinite" ERA’s, though Jason Bere and Danny Jackson both deserve dishonorable mentions for not recording an out. Consuegra at least did that, but it came with one of the ugliest pitching lines you’ll ever see. He was shelled for five runs on five hits in just one-third of an inning during the 1954 game, which came in the midst of a stellar campaign where the Cuban native went 16-3 for the Chicago White Sox.

1. Willie Mays' 75 career at-bats

This may not sound unbreakable, but think about it. Willie Mays played in 18 All-Star Games. A quick look at Baseball Reference confirms that no active player has more than 21 at-bats ahead of the game’s 2021 renewal (that’s Albert Pujols, by the way, and Mike Trout is next-closest with 17).

Generally speaking, if you make the game, you might get to hit two or three times. To break Mays’ record, someone would need to not just make more than 20 All-Star teams, but play almost the entire game each time. That’s not happening, and that’s why "The Say Hey Kid" tops our list.