This post was originally going to be entitled "All-Time Great Brewers All Star Performances." Unfortunately, there haven't been many great, or even good, All Star performances in Milwaukee uniforms. No Brewers All Star has ever had more than one hit in the game, and only nine have managed one. The pitching side is little better, though there have been some notable performances by Brewers hurlers.
The following are my picks for the best performances by Brewers in the All-Star game. As with any list of mediocre accomplishments, inclusion and exclusion are debatable. You may want to include players who started the game, regardless of performance, but I prefer to name players who actually had some success in the game:
- Lary Sorensen, 1978 - 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
It took nearly a decade for a Brewers pitcher to take the mound in an All Star Game, but it was worth the wait. Pitching in San Diego Stadium, Sorensen held the NL All Stars scoreless for three innings, the best performance by a Brewer in any All Star game. An infield single by Larry Bowa was the only blemish on his record. Unfortunately, the AL squad would lose 7-3 when Goose Gossage melted down in the eighth.
- Ted Simmons, 1981 - 1-1, RBI
With runners on the corners in the sixth inning in Cleveland, Simmons pinch hit for Willie Randolph against Burt Hooton. Simmons came through with a single to right field and collected the first Brewers RBI in the Midsummer Classic. His reward for singling was to be immediately replaced by pinch runner Frank White.
- Robin Yount, 1983 - 0-3, BB, K
This one isn't a good performance, merely a notable one. By virtue of being the only shortstop on the AL team, Yount turned in a rare All Star feat of playing all nine innings.
- Teddy Higuera, 1986 - 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Higuera followed Roger Clemens' three perfect innings with three scoreless frames of his own. Darryl Strawberry singled and Mike Schmidt walked in the fifth, but Higuera retired every other batter he faced. Under normal rules, Higuera would have been eligible for the win, but the All Star criteria gave it to Clemens.
- Paul Molitor, 1991 - 0-0
Molitor led the league by reaching base three times via catcher's interference in 1991, so it was only fitting he reached that way in the All Star game. In the seventh inning, Molitor pinch hit for Wade Boggs and was interfered with by a first-time All Star named Craig Biggio. Molitor finished the game at third base as the AL squad won 4-2.
- Jeromy Burnitz, 1999 - 1-2, 2B, R
Burnitz started the 1999 game in left field. In the third inning, he doubled down the right field line off David Cone. He scored the only NL run on Barry Larkin's single later in the inning. In the fourth inning, he came up with two outs and the bases loaded. Unfortunately, he grounded out to first base to end the inning. He then moved to right field but was replaced before batting again. His bases-loaded groundout would be costly as the NL club lost 4-1.
- Ben Sheets, 2008 - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 3 K
Sheets was the first Brewers hurler to start the All Star game, and he did not disappoint. He uncharacteristically walked two batters in two innings, but made up for it with three strikeouts and only one hit allowed. Fellow Brewers All Stars Corey Hart and Ryan Braun went 0-6 with three strikeouts as the NL fell 4-3 in 15 innings.
- Prince Fielder, 2009 - 1-1, 2B, RBI
Be honest, when Prince Fielder doubled in his only appearance of last year's game, you didn't know it gave him one of the better All Star games in team history. With Yadier Molina standing on second base, Fielder pinch hit for starter Tim Lincecum and laced a ground-rule double, giving the NL the lead. Alas, it did not stand up and the NL squad once again lost 4-3.
With two position players in the starting lineup for the first time since 1983, hopefully the Brewers can finally have a player with more than one hit in the Midsummer Classic. Failing that, let's hope they do something to make this list look better next July.