All-Stars Headed to Kansas City Already Have a Place in Cooperstown

COOPERSTOWN, NY – When the Major League Baseball All-Star Game debuted on July 6, 1933 in Chicago, the National Baseball Hall of Fame was not yet a part of the American lexicon.

But over the next nine decades, the connection between All-Stars and the Hall of Fame has become a yearly summer celebration for the National Pastime.

More than 45 percent the 68 All-Stars named to the July 10 Mid-Summer Classic in Kansas City, Mo., are represented in Cooperstown by artifacts in the Hall of Fame’s permanent collection. The Museum’s unparalleled archive features nearly 40,000 three-dimensional artifacts, each telling a memorable story from the National Pastime’s glorious history.

Members of the 2012 All-Star Game roster with artifacts in the Museum’s collection include:

American League
Adrian Beltre (Rangers) – Bat used to hit grand slam on May 21, 2000; Team Dominican Republic jersey from 2006 World Baseball Classic; Jersey from Game 4 of 2011 ALDS
Billy Butler (Royals) – Cap from Sept, 26, 2009 game when he hit his 50th double of the season
Miguel Cabrera (Tigers) – Batting helmet from Team Venezuela from the 2009 World Baseball Classic
Robinson Cano (Yankees) – Bat used when he became one of three Yankees to hit grand slams in an Aug. 25, 2011 game
Yu Darvish (Rangers) – Spikes from 2009 World Baseball Classic
Prince Fielder (Tigers) – Jersey from 2011 All-Star Game; bat used by Fielder when he became the youngest player to hit 50 home runs in a season in 2007
Curtis Granderson (Yankees) – Jersey from 2007 season and a 2011 bat
Josh Hamilton (Rangers) – Bat used when he hit four home runs in a game on May 8, 2012
Felix Hernandez (Mariners) – Cap from Team Venezuela at 2009 World Baseball Classic
Derek Jeter (Yankees) – Yankees shortstop has more than a dozen artifacts in the collection, including his batting helmet and gloves from his 3,000th hit on July 9, 2011
Ian Kinsler (Rangers) – Bat from his 6-for-6 game on April 15, 2009
Joe Mauer (Twins) – Bat and jersey from the 2009 season, when he won his third AL batting title
David Ortiz (Red Sox) – 2004 Red Sox home World Series jersey; batting helmet used in 2005 when he set the single-season home run record for a designated hitter; and spikes from when he set the all-time home run record for a DH on Sept. 15, 2009
CC Sabathia (Yankees) – Spikes worn at first game at new Yankee Stadium on April 16, 2009
Justin Verlander (Tigers) – Ball from 2007 no-hitter; ball from 2011 no-hitter; and jersey from 20th win on Aug. 27, 2011
Jered Weaver (Angels) – Ball from June 20, 2009 when brothers Jered and Jeff Weaver opposed each other on mound; ball and jersey from May 2, 2012 no-hitter

National League
Carlos Beltran (Cardinals) – Jersey from 2004 postseason; cap worn while with Team Puerto Rico in the 2009 World Baseball Classic
Melky Cabrera (Giants) – Batting helmet from when he hit for the cycle on Aug. 2, 2009
Matt Cain (Giants) – Ball, cap, spikes, first base and dirt from the pitching mound from his June 13, 2012 perfect game
David Freese (Cardinals) – Game-worn jersey and bat from his Game 6 walk-off home run in the 2011 World Series
Rafael Furcal (Cardinals) – Cap from his unassisted triple play on Aug. 10, 2003
Cole Hamels (Phillies) – 2008 World Series jersey
Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers) – Jersey from his 2011 Cy Young Award season
Craig Kimbrel (Braves) – Spikes from his rookie record 41st save in 2011
Jonathan Papelbon (Phillies) – Glove from the 2007 season
Buster Posey (Giants) – Catcher’s mask and spikes from the 2010 World Series
Giancarlo Stanton (Marlins) – Batting helmet from the final “Florida” Marlins game on Sept. 28, 2011
Stephen Strasburg (Nationals) – Cap worn in his big league debut on June 8, 2010
Dan Uggla (Braves) – Bat from 2008 when he became one of four Marlins with at least 25 home runs
Joey Votto (Reds) – Bat from his May 13, 2012 walk-off grand slam as part of a three-homer game
David Wright (Mets) – Bat from Team USA from the 2009 World Baseball Classic

Class of 2012 Hall of Fame members Barry Larkin and Ron Santo each left an indelible mark on the All-Star Game in their stellar big league careers. Larkin was named to 12 All-Star Games (only Luis Aparicio, Derek Jeter, Cal Ripken Jr. and Ozzie Smith have been selected to more All-Star Games as shortstops), while Santo made nine All-Star appearances. The Class of 2012 will be enshrined July 20-23 during Hall of Fame Weekend in Cooperstown, with the Induction Ceremony scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET on July 22.

The connection between the All-Star Game and Cooperstown may best be summed up in one game: The 1934 contest at the Polo Grounds in New York. Counting players, managers and umpires, 31 future Hall of Famers took the field that day – the single game in baseball history that featured the most future Hall of Famers.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is open seven days a week year round, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The Museum observes regular hours of 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. from Labor Day until Memorial Day Weekend. From Memorial Day Weekend through the day before Labor Day, the Museum observes summer hours of 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Ticket prices are $19.50 for adults (13 and over), $12 for seniors (65 and over) and for those holding current memberships in the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and AMVets organizations, and $7 for juniors (ages 7-12). Members are always admitted free of charge and there is no charge for children 6 years of age or younger.  For more information, visit our Web site at baseballhall.org or call 888-HALL-OF-FAME (888-425-5633) or 607-547-7200.