At least one Wisconsin-born player appeared in the first All Star Game. Several others have had multiple appearances. Yet another had a poster commemorating his selection as an All Star distributed after he had been traded.
Al Simmons, born in Milwaukee, played in the 1933 debut of the All Star Game, and also appeared in the 1934-35 games. Simmons was on of the most feared righthanded hitters of his era. He had a lifetime average of .334, drove in more than 100 runs in 11 seasons and had 165 RBI in 1930.
When you move into the 1940s and 50s, several players from Wisconsin had multiple All Star appearances. Ken Keltner, a third baseman for Cleveland and a Milwaukee native, made seven All Star appearances. He is best known for making two great fielding plays that helped end Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak.
Andy Pafko, who was born in Boyceville, appeared five times in the All Star Game. Pafko played with the Cubs, Dodgers and Braves in the 40s and 50s.
Harvey Kuenn might be best known as the manager of the 1982 American League champion Brewers, but he was an All Star 1953-60. Kuenn appeared in the ASG in his first season in 1953, when he also was selected Rookie of the Year in the American League while with Detroit.
Kuenn also led the lead in hitting with a .353 average in 1959 and led the AL in hits four times.
{INSERT_RELATED}Oshkosh native Billy Hoeft was an All Star in 1955, when he went 16-7 for the Tigers. Hoeft had a 20-14 record in 1956, but did not make the All Star team that season.
Later in the 1950s, two Wisconsin players made All Star teams while members of the New York Yankees. Pitcher Ryne Duren, a native of Cazenovia, made the All Star team in 1958-59 and '61 while a workhorse reliever for the Bronx Bombers.
Tony Kubek, a Milwaukee native, made the team as a shortstop from the Yankees during those same years.
In more recent years, Racine pitcher Shane Rawley made the 1986 National League All Star team while going 11-7 with the Phillies.
Infielder Mark Grudzielanek, a Milwaukee area native, made the NL team while with the Expos in 1996.
Eau Claire native Brad Radke was a selection in 1998 as a Twin. Bob Wickman, who was born in Green Bay, was the only Wisconsin born player to ever make the All Star team as a Brewer in 2000.
Ironically, before the Brewers gave out an All Star poster of Wickman, he was traded to Cleveland as part of the deal that brought Richie Sexson to Milwaukee.
Gregg Hoffmann is a veteran journalist and author of "Down in the Valley: The History of Milwaukee County Stadium." Hoffmann also is the prime author of "Milwaukee's Mid-summer Dream," which is available via OnMilwaukee.com and the Milwaukee Brewers. A story by Hoffmann on Milwaukee baseball history also will appear in the official 2002 All Star Game program. See the final All Star advance BCR Monday.
