All-Star Game Insider: Twins who made an impact as All-Stars

June 30, 2014 at 4:42PM
FORT MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 19: Justin Morneau (33) of the Minnesota Twins poses during Photo Day on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Robbie Rogers/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Justin Morneau ORG XMIT: 159448017
FORT MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 19: Justin Morneau (33) of the Minnesota Twins poses during Photo Day on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Robbie Rogers/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Justin Morneau ORG XMIT: 159448017 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Harmon Killebrew deserved to have his own section of All-Star Game highlights the last time we did this. But a Twins player has been listed in an All-Star Game boxscore more than 100 times since the team moved to Minneapolis in 1961. Killer wasn't the only Twin to kill it at the Midsummer Classic. Many Twins have had their moments in the game, and if you want to cheat you can count Justin Morneau winning the Home Run Derby in 2008 if you want.So here's a list of Twins players who didn't just show up at the All-Star Game but showed off.

Camilo Pascual, 1961: This game ended in a 1-1 tie, but Pascual pitched the final three innings for the AL. No hits, one walk. And he struck out John Roseboro twice, Eddie Mathews and Ernie Banks.

Rod Carew, 1978: The AL took this one on the chin, a 7-3 loss at Sad Diego. Carew, however, led off the game with a triple, then scored on George Brett's double. In the third, Carew tripled again and scored on Brett's sacrifice fly. The 1-2 punch wasn't enough.

Frank Viola, 1988: With Tom Kelly managing the AL team, Viola played sweet music for two scoreless innings — four ground-ball outs, one fly-ball out, and he got Ryne Sandberg looking at strike three. Future Twin Terry Steinbach homered and hit a sacrifice fly as the AL won 2-1. Steinbach was named MVP.

Kirby Puckett, 1993: This game, played at Camden Yards, was known for Cito Gaston not using Oriole Mike Mussina in the game. But Puck was named MVP. He homered off Terry Mulholland in the second inning and drove in Ken Griffey Jr. with a single in the fifth. The AL won 9-3 but was booed off the field because of the Mussina snub.

Johan Santana, 2007: The AL won 5-4 with Santana pitching a scoreless seventh, striking out Carlos Lee and Alfonso Soriano.

Justin Morneau, 2008: This was the 15-inning marathon at Yankee Stadium. Morneau entered the game in the sixth and went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored — including the winning run in the 15th, when Michael Young hit a sacrifice fly off Brad Lidge. Throw in the Home Run Derby title, and No. 33 had a big All-Star week.


Camilo Pascual Minnesota Twins pitcher. 1964 handout photo ORG XMIT: MIN2014030311041632
Camilo Pascual Minnesota Twins pitcher. 1964 handout photo ORG XMIT: MIN2014030311041632 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Minnesota Twins infielder Rod Carew shown in 1978. (AP Photo) ORG XMIT: APHS126446 ORG XMIT: MIN1403242238160374 ORG XMIT: MIN1406210105172056
Minnesota Twins infielder Rod Carew shown in 1978. (AP Photo) ORG XMIT: APHS126446 ORG XMIT: MIN1403242238160374 ORG XMIT: MIN1406210105172056 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Frank Viola, pitcher, 1987 Minnesota Twins pro baseball. File photo courtesy of the Minnesota Twins. ORG XMIT: MIN2013122410432214
Frank Viola, pitcher, 1987 Minnesota Twins pro baseball. File photo courtesy of the Minnesota Twins. ORG XMIT: MIN2013122410432214 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
FILE-- Top row from left: Chicago White Sox First baseman Frank Thomas; Cleveland Indians second baseman Carlos Baerga; New York Yankees third baseman Wade Boggs; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr., Bottom row from left: Seattle Mariners outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., Cleveland Indians outfielder Albert Belle; Minnesota Twins outfielder Kirby Puckett and Texas Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez were elected to start for the American League team in the 1995 ALL-Star Game. (AP Photo/file) ORG XMI
FILE-- Top row from left: Chicago White Sox First baseman Frank Thomas; Cleveland Indians second baseman Carlos Baerga; New York Yankees third baseman Wade Boggs; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr., Bottom row from left: Seattle Mariners outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., Cleveland Indians outfielder Albert Belle; Minnesota Twins outfielder Kirby Puckett and Texas Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez were elected to start for the American League team in the 1995 ALL-Star Game. (AP Photo/file) ORG XMIT: MIN2014062819084199 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
** FILE ** Minnesota Twins' Johan Santana delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees in the first inning of their baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, in this July 4, 2007 file photo. The Minnesota Twins reached a tentative agreement Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008, to trade Johan Santana to the New York Mets. After months of deliberation, the Twins agreed to send the two-time Cy Young Award winner to the Mets for outfielder Carlos Gomez, and pitchers Phil Humber, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulve
** FILE ** Minnesota Twins' Johan Santana delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees in the first inning of their baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, in this July 4, 2007 file photo. The Minnesota Twins reached a tentative agreement Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008, to trade Johan Santana to the New York Mets. After months of deliberation, the Twins agreed to send the two-time Cy Young Award winner to the Mets for outfielder Carlos Gomez, and pitchers Phil Humber, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulvey, a person familiar with the deal said. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, file) ORG XMIT: NY162 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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