Power Rankings: Phillies at the All-Star Game Part II, Hitting

Over the last 85 years, the Phillies have sent 188 representatives to the MLB All-Star Game, including 118 position players and 70 pitchers. Their performances ran the gamut from terrible to outstanding, and everywhere in between.

Here, I've ranked five of the very best hitting performances using Win Probability Added. While there are other stats you could use, I like the balance between results and leverage presented by WPA, so I've set aside my opinion-based science for this exercise.

5. Richie Ashburn, 1953, WPA .140

In his third ASG appearance, Put Put pinch-hit in the fifth with the score knotted at zero. He singled, driving in Eddie Matthews, and earning the GWRBI (remember those?). The hit was his lone part in the game, as he was replaced by the next pitcher, Curt Simmons.

4. Ozzie Virgil, 1985, WPA .158

Who? Osvaldo Jose Lopez Virgil was one of two Phillies inexplicably on the NL roster in 1985, the other being Glennbo Wilson. To his credit, Virgil did enter the Break with a .817 OPS, which is not bad for a catcher. He came in to replace Terry Kennedy, and, in the fifth, with the NL up 2-1, he hit a two run single off Bert Blyleven, but was thrown out a second. Those were the go-ahead RBIs, as the NL went on to win 6-1.

3. Mike Schmidt, 1979, WPA .160

In 1979, Schmidt was seen as an elite third baseman with league-leading power, but hadn't dominated the league to the extend he would in the early '80s. '79 was his fourth ASG appearance, but the first of six consecutive seasons with an All-Star, a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger award. Boom. Schmidt would finish with two hits, including an RBI triple off Nolan Ryan. He scored two runs in the NL's 7-6 victory.

2. Johnny Callison, 1964, WPA .361

The famous one. My father's favorite player as a kid, Callison was described as the "solid man of the outfield." And so he was! Not Mickey Mantle by any means, but a dependable player. Basically the Jayson Werth of the 1960s. In 1964, leading the Phillies to what looked like a first place finish was not selected to start the ASG. He pinch-hit for teammate Jim Bunning in the bottom of the fifth with a pop fly. When his spot came up in the seventh, he flew out to deep center. But when his spot came up again, with the score tied at 4, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Callison hit a three-run walkoff homerun.

1. Mike Schmidt, 1981, WPA .480

I started this exercise fully confident that Callison's walkoff would be the winner. But, thanks to two late hits, including a two-run home run off Rollie Fingers in the eighth that would be the game-winner, Schmidt pulled well ahead. After Schmidt's homer, Nolan Ryan and Bruce Sutter would combine for two clean innings to secure the win. Worth noting is that Schmidt's AL counterpart and rival, George Brett, finished o for 3 with two strikeouts,

Also Notable

Granny Hamner, 1952

Hamner's game is notable only in that he was intentionally walked by Bob Lemon to bring up pitcher Bob Rush. Rush grounded out. This is the only intentional walk ever issued to a Phillie in the All-Star Game.

Greg Luzinski vs Jim Palmer 1977 and 1978,

In 1977, Luzinski hit a two-run home run off Jim Palmer, one of three off Palmer that day. In 1978, he singled and drew a bases-loaded walk against Palmer. Luzinski's line against Palmer: 2 for 2 with a single, HR and a walk, three RBIs. Palmer's line: baaaaad.

Pete Rose, 1982

Rose, in his penultimate ASG appearance, hit the only Sac Fly a Phillie has ever hit in the Midsummer Classic. Also, I find it astonishing that the NL's starting first baseman was OPSing .719 at the time of the game. Also worth noting: Rose appeared in four ASGs as a Phillie, and had a negative WPA in all of them.

Jimmy Rollins, 2002

Rollins went 2 for 2 in this game, with two singles, including one off future teammate Roy Halladay. He was later driven in by Todd Helton.

Chase Utley, 2014

The Man's sixth All-Jeter appearance was unfortunately overjetered by Jeterfest, but he put the NL on the jeterboard in the second, with an RBI double to Jeter, and scored on Jonathan Lucroy's jeterdouble. In the fourth, having been inspired by Jeter, he was hit by a Chris Jeter delivery, and was Jeteresquely pinch ran for by noted Jeter fan Dee Gordon, who scored on Lucroy's second Jeter of the Jeter. Jeter jeter jeter jeter jeter. Jeter jeter jeter. Jeter.