MLB Facts
Joe DiMaggio first played in an All-Star Game in 1936 as a rookie on the American League roster. This famous New York Yankee made 13 All-Star Game appearances in his 13 seasons as a pro.
Nolan Ryan is the oldest pitcher to ever win an All-Star game when he pitched for the American League in 1989 when he was 42 years old. On the other hand, Cal Ripken Jr. was 40 years old when he hit a home run during the 2001 All-Star Game making him the oldest player to hit a homer in an All-Star game. The oldest player to ever play in an All-Star Game was Satchel Paige who, in the 1953 game, was 47 years old.
In MLB records, Hank Aaron holds the record for career all-time home runs with 755 while Babe Ruth follows with 714. Threatening Babe Ruth's record is active player Barry Bonds with 703 home runs to date. Willie Mays has the fourth spot with 660 homers and in fifth place is another active player, Sammy Sosa with 588.
Pitcher Nolan Ryan struck out 5,714 batters in more than 800 games that he pitched from 1966 to 1993. It was in 1973, while playing for the California Angels; Ryan struck out the most number of batters in a season -- 383. The following season, he posted 367 strike outs. Following Ryan in the most number of strike outs is Roger Clemens with 4,492 and Randy Johnson with 4,354.
The first All-Star Game was played at 1:15 P.M. on July 6, 1933 at Chicago's Comiskey Park.
There were 47,595 fans present to see the inaugural edition of the game that brought together the very best baseball players in America.
The legendary Babe Ruth made the first homer in All-Star Game history. The crowd roared in acclamation as the first All-Star Game was won by the AL on the strength of that homer.
The largest attendance ever for an All-Star game was 72,086. It was achieved on August 9, 1981 at Municipal Stadium, Cleveland.
With 19, Don Drysdale of the NL holds the All-Star career record for Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher. He achieved this in eight games.
With 4 each, Joe Medwick (NL), Ted Williams (AL) and Carl Yastrzemski (AL) hold the All-Star record for Most Hits in a game.
The All-Star record for Most Hits by a Club in a Game is 19. This was accomplished twice by the AL on July 14, 1992 and on July 7, 1998.
With 8 each, Stan Musial and Willie Mays, both of the NL, hold the All-Star career record for Most Long Hits. They both achieved this record in 24 games.
With 2 each, five players hold the All-Star record for Most Home Runs in a Game. These are Arky Vaughan (NL), Ted Williams (AL), Al Rosen (AL), Willie McCovey (NL) and Gary Carter (NL).
The MLB Division Series Playoffs only began in 1995. The Seattle Mariners and the Cleveland Indians emerged victorious in the AL that year while the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds were the top NL teams. The Braves eventually won the World Series.
The New York Yankees became the first team ever to win a best-of-five series after losing the first two games at home. In October 2001, the Yankees defeated the Oakland Athletics in the Divisional Series after a three-game sweep that overcame an initial 0-2 card.
Before 1969, when there were no divisions, the team finishing with the best record in each league won that league's pennant and faced the other league's pennant winner in the Fall Classic. However, after the American and National Leagues were each reorganized into two divisions - the East and West - the winners in each division were then required to play each other in a best-of-five Championship Series to determine who would advance to represent their respective leagues in the coveted World Series.
The MLB League Championship Series began in 1969 as a five-game series, and expanded to a seven-game format in 1985.
The first World Series in 1903 was a best-of-nine affair arranged between the champions of the older National League (founded in 1876) and the American League. The AL's Boston Pilgrims upset the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5 games to 3.
October 17, 1987 marked the first World Series game held indoors. It was played at the Minnesota Metrodome. The Twins defeated the Cardinals, 10-1.
1992 was the first time a World Series game was played outside the USA (Canada).
At 3 years old, the Arizona Diamondbacks became the youngest expansion team to ever win a World Series. They beat the New York Yankees 3-2 in the 2001 World Series.