It’s been nine years since Lance Berkman got a base hit in an All-Star Game. For a while, it appeared that hit would earn him an all-star Most Valuable Player Award.
Berkman is the first Cardinals outfielder since Jim Edmonds in 2005 to be elected an All-Star Game starter. When Berkman plays in this year’s Midsummer Classic July 12 in Phoenix, he’ll be seeking his first all-star hit since 2002.
The American League had won five consecutive All-Star Games and was leading the National League, 6-5, in the seventh inning of the 2002 game at Milwaukee. With two out and Damian Miller of the Diamondbacks on second and Mike Lowell of the Marlins on third, Berkman faced Mariners reliever Kazuhiro Sasaki.
Berkman, then an Astros outfielder who was leading the major leagues in home runs (29) and RBI (81), lined a single to center field, scoring both runners and giving the NL a 7-6 lead.
It appeared the timely hit would break the AL’s victory streak and give the NL a win at one of its home ballparks. But Omar Vizquel of the Indians smacked an RBI-triple off Robb Nen of the Giants in the eighth, tying the score.
When the game was declared a tie after 11 innings because substitutions had depleted the teams of enough players, the unsatisfactory ending became the story and Berkman’s key hit was an afterthought. Boxscore
In five All-Star Games, Berkman has two hits in nine at-bats.
He and the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols made their all-star debuts in the same inning.
In the 2001 Midsummer Classic at Seattle, Berkman and Pujols both entered the game in the fifth. Berkman replaced Luis Gonzalez of the Diamondbacks in center field. Pujols substituted for Chipper Jones of the Braves and played third base.
In their first all-star plate appearances, Berkman singled against Paul Quantrill of the Blue Jays in the sixth; Pujols drew a walk against Jeff Nelson of the Mariners in the seventh. Boxscore
