All-Stars Headed to Cleveland 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.

Thirty-one of the 75 All-Stars named to date to the July 9 Mid-Summer Classic in Cleveland are represented in Cooperstown by artifacts in the Hall of Fame’s collection. The Museum’s unparalleled archive features more than 40,000 three-dimensional artifacts, each telling a memorable story from the National Pastime’s history.

Members of the 2019 All-Star Game roster with artifacts in the Museum’s collection include:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Jose Abreu (White Sox) – Bat used during April of 2014 when he recorded 10 home runs and drove in 32 runs, setting new records for a rookie; jersey worn on Sept. 23, 2017, against the Royals when he joined Joe DiMaggio and Albert Pujols as the only players to reach both 25 homers and 100 RBI in each of their first four seasons appearing the in major leagues.

Mookie Betts (Red Sox) – Home jersey worn on Sept. 13, 2016, against the Baltimore Orioles.

Xander Bogaerts (Red Sox) – Batting gloves used during 2013 World Series.

Alex Bregman (Astros) – Fielding glove used during the 2017 World Series.

Aroldis Chapman (Yankees) – Cincinnati Reds cap worn on July 11, 2014, against the Pittsburgh Pirates when he recorded his 40th straight appearance with a strikeout, establishing a new MLB record; Cincinnati Reds cap worn on April 10, 2015, when he recorded his 115th MLB save, setting a new record for Cuban-born MLB players.

Gerrit Cole (Astros) – Pittsburgh Pirates cap worn on Sept. 9, 2013, when the Pirates won their 82nd game of the year, securing their first winning season since 1992.

Joey Gallo (Rangers) – Bat used during 2014 Futures Game and batting gloves from May 8, 2019, when he hit his 100th career home run.

Francisco Lindor (Indians) – Spikes worn for road games during the 2016 Postseason, including the 2016 World Series Games 3, 4 and 5.

J.D. Martinez (Red Sox) – Bat used during the Arizona Diamondbacks game on Sept. 4, 2017, against the Los Angeles Dodgers when he hit four home runs.

Charlie Morton (Rays) – Astros cap worn during Game 7 of the 2017 World Series when he allowed just two hits over the final four innings to pick up the victory.

Hunter Pence (Rangers) – Bat from Game 2 of the 2012 World Series and bat from Game 6 of the 2014 World Series, both with the Giants.

Jorge Polanco (Twins) – Spikes worn during his cycle on April 5, 2019.

Gary Sanchez (Yankees) – Jersey worn during Players Weekend of 2017.

Marcus Stroman (Blue Jays) – Cap worn during the 2017 World Baseball Classic for Team USA.

Mike Trout (Angels) – Cap and spikes worn during the 2012 season en route to AL Rookie of the Year Award; spikes worn when he hit for the cycle, May 21, 2013; cap worn during 2014 All-Star Game when he was named MVP; bat used during 2015 All-Star Game when he was named MVP.

Justin Verlander (Astros) – Ball used and autographed during his no-hitter game for the Detroit Tigers against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 12, 2007; game used baseball from no-hitter against Toronto Blue Jays on May 7, 2011; Detroit Tigers road uniform shirt worn on Aug. 27, 2011, while winning his 20th game of the 2011 season; Astros road jersey worn in Game 6 of the 2017 World Series.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Ronald Acuña (Braves) – Bat used on Oct. 7, 2018, during the NLDS when he became the youngest player to hit a grand slam in Postseason history.

Javier Baez (Cubs) – Jersey worn for Team Puerto Rico during the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Cody Bellinger (Dodgers) – Jersey worn during 2017 season.

Charlie Blackmon (Rockies) – “Stars and Stripes” themed socks worn on July 4, 2017.

Kris Bryant (Cubs) – Jersey worn during 2017 season.

Freddie Freeman (Braves) – Helmet and batting gloves worn on June 15, 2016, when he hit for the cycle in a 13-inning game against the Cincinnati Reds at Turner Field.

Zack Greinke (Diamondbacks) – Royals road jersey worn on Sept. 27, 2009, when he earned his 16th victory of the season en route to the AL Cy Young Award.

Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers) – Jersey worn in 2011 and spikes worn in 2013 (both during Cy Young Award-winning seasons) and a baseball from his June 18, 2014, no-hitter.

Jeff McNeil (Mets) – Bat used during 2018 season that features no traditional knob.

Mike Moustakas (Brewers) – Bat used with Kansas City Royals during 2015 World Series.

Anthony Rendon (Nationals) – Jersey worn on April 30, 2017, when he went 6-for-6 at the plate.

Hyun-Jin Ryu (Dodgers) – Jersey worn during Game 2 of 2018 World Series.

Max Scherzer (Nationals) – Tigers jersey from Sept. 20, 2013, when he recorded his 20th win of the season; Nationals cap worn during his May 11, 2016, no-hitter against the Tigers.

Trevor Story (Rockies) – Batting gloves and helmet used for all three games of the opening series, April 4-6, 2016, against the Arizona Diamondbacks when he hit two home runs on Opening Day, becoming the first ever player to make his major league debut on Opening Day and hit two home runs. Story hit a home run in each of the three games of the series, becoming the first player ever to hit a home run in his first three games of his career.

Christian Yelich (Brewers) – Marlins cap worn during game at Fort Bragg on July 3, 2016, against the Atlanta Braves.

Several coaches and managers at the All-Star Game are also represented in the Museum collection, including:

Alex Cora (Red Sox) – A World Series sweatshirt worn during the 2018 Fall Classic when Cora led the Red Sox to the championship.

Terry Francona (Indians) – A World Series pullover from the 2007 Fall Classic when Francona led the Red Sox to the championship.

Dave Roberts (Dodgers) – Spikes worn in Game 4 of the 2004 American League Championship Series when his key stolen base for the Red Sox helped extend the game.

For fans in Cleveland, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has artifacts on display as part of the indoor portion of Play Ball Park, a baseball festival put on by Major League Baseball. Play Ball Park takes place inside and outside the Huntington Convention Center through Tuesday, July 9. The outside activities will be free to all fans, while the indoor activities will be ticketed.