Major League Baseball: What Are the Top 10 Pitching Matchups in MLB All-Star Game History?
The MLB All-Star Game has consistently been a highlight of the summer sporting calendar, bringing together the biggest stars of the game for an unforgettable night each July. With many legends stepping onto the field for this Midsummer Classic, the matchups on the mound have produced some truly epic confrontations over the years bonus 365 login register philippines. It’s not uncommon to see Cy Young Award winners and future Hall of Famers starting the All-Star Game, allowing them to face off against some of the era’s finest hitters for a thrilling inning or two.
In 2025, Tarik Skubal (AL) and Paul Skenes (NL) will take the mound, both making strong cases for their respective league’s Cy Young award. As they join the ranks of legendary pitchers who have started the All-Star Game, let’s look back at the 10 best pitching matchups in the history of this classic event.
10 Best Pitching Matchups in MLB All-Star Game History
10. 1961: Whitey Ford vs Warren Spahn
Whitey Ford was a crucial player for the New York Yankees during the late 1950s and early 1960s. The 1961 All-Star Game featured a head-to-head clash between that year’s eventual American League Cy Young winner and a former National League Cy Young winner. Ford, the ace of the Yankees during their championship years, led all of baseball with 25 wins and 283 innings pitched that season, finishing with a 3.21 ERA. Spahn, the 1957 NL Cy Young recipient, topped the NL in ERA (3.02) and complete games (21).
9. 2021: Shohei Ohtani vs Max Scherzer
Shohei Ohtani’s first All-Star Game was a memorable one, as he served as both the American League’s starting pitcher and leadoff hitter, remaining as the designated hitter thereafter. He recorded an impressive 3 lg s777.18 ERA that year, while the three-time Cy Young winner, Max Scherzer, achieved an MLB-leading 0. philippines864 WHIP in 2021 and finished third in the NL Cy Young voting.
8. 2009: Roy Halladay vs Tim Lincecum
Roy Halladay pitched in the 2009 All-Star Game during his final year with the Blue Jays. Halladay was among the top pitchers of the 2000s, while Lincecum was in his prime. 777pub.com. In 2009, Halladay finished in the top five of AL Cy Young voting for the fourth consecutive year, boasting a 2.79 ERA and leading MLB in complete games. Lincecum, meanwhile, secured his second consecutive NL Cy Young award that season, leading the league in strikeouts for the third straight year.
7. 1972: Jim Palmer vs Bob Gibson
In the 1972 All-Star Game, Jim Palmer was just beginning to hit his stride while Bob Gibson’s career was nearing its end. Palmer, an ace for the Baltimore Orioles, would capture his first of three AL Cy Young awards the following year. The 1972 game marked Gibson’s final All-Star appearance.
6. 2017-18: Chris Sale vs Max Scherzer
Chris Sale and Max Scherzer made headlines by starting in back-to-back All-Star Games, a feat not accomplished since 1939-40. At this time, Sale was a perennial top-five Cy Young candidate, while Scherzer had just collected his third Cy Young award the previous season.
5 okebet888 com. 1999: Pedro Martinez vs Curt Schilling
Before becoming teammates on the Boston Red Sox in 2004, Pedro Martinez and Curt Schilling faced off in the ’99 All-Star Game at Fenway Park. Martinez delivered one of the most memorable performances, striking out the first four batters he faced, including big names like Barry Larkin and Sammy Sosa. He was named All-Star Game MVP, while Schilling earned one of his six career All-Star nods.
4. 1970: Jim Palmer vs Tom Seaver
In 1970, Jim Palmer began his Hall of Fame ascent, while Tom Seaver had already established himself as a top pitcher in the National League, having won his first Cy Young award just a season earlier. Palmer logged an astounding 305 innings that year with a 2.71 ERA, while Seaver recorded an NL-leading 2.82 ERA.
3. 1979: Nolan Ryan vs Steve Carlton
The 1979 All-Star Game featured a matchup of legendary pitchers Nolan Ryan and Steve Carlton. Ryan, renowned for his strikeout record and no-hitters, was pitted against Carlton, a four-time NL Cy Young winner who dominated throughout the 1970s and ’80s.
2. 2001: Roger Clemens vs Randy Johnson
Just a few months before their teams clashed in the World Series, Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson faced off in the 2001 All-Star Game. Clemens snagged one of his seven Cy Youngs that year with an impressive 20-3 record and a 3.51 ERA, while Johnson also received the NL Cy Young, marking his third consecutive win and fourth straight overall.
1. 1997: Randy Johnson vs Greg Maddux
The late 1990s and early 2000s saw Randy Johnson in his prime, while Greg Maddux was experiencing a historic run, having won four straight NL Cy Young awards from 1992-95. Both pitchers set a fierce competitive tone for the game, which ended with the American League triumphing 3-1.
Honorable Mentions
- 1962: Jim Bunning vs Don Drysdale
- 1977: Jim Palmer vs Don Sutton
- 1986: Roger Clemens vs Dwight Gooden
- 1991: Jack Morris vs Tom Glavine
- 2012: Justin Verlander vs Matt Cain
Ready to discuss these remarkable pitching matchups? What do you think?
