Mets All-Star history: The 1980s

Picking up on a series started back in the summer on the decade-by-decade look at Met All-Star history.

1980
7/8 Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
NL 4-AL 2

The Mets started what would be their most successful decade still mired in the late 1970s haze, though things would soon turn the corner. In any event, 1980 would see yet another All-Star Game appearance by catcher John Stearns, the only Met rep, who would enter the game in the 4th, replacing Johnny Bench and grounded out in his lone at-bat.

1981
8/9 Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland
NL 5-AL 4

The All-Star Game was the first game to be held after the end of the 1981 strike, and future Met Gary Carter would be the MVP. However Mets third baseman Joel Youngblood would be the lone Met representative, pinch-hitting for Fernando Valenzuela in the 2nd. Youngblood popped out, and former, and future, Met Tom Seaver replaced him in the lineup.

1982
7/13 Olympic Stadium, Montreal
NL 4-AL 1

Stearns would make his final appearance, and again as the lone Met rep, in 1982. He would get into the game in the top of the ninth, replacing Tony Pena behind the plate, and would not get a plate appearance.

1983
7/6 Comiskey Park, Chicago
AL 13-NL 3

Closer Jesse Orosco was in midst of his finest season, and would make the All-Star Game as the lone Met rep. Orosco would come on in the 7th to replace Pascual Perez who had given up 3 runs in the inning, and would strike out Ben Oglivie to end the frame. Lee Smith would start the 8th for the NL.

1984
7/10 Candlestick Park, San Francisco
NL 7-AL 2

For the first time in quite a while the Mets would send more than a couple of players to an All-Star Game. Darryl Strawberry would make the first of many starts as a fan-voted outfielder, while Keith Hernandez, Dwight Gooden and Orosco would be added by manager Paul Owens. While Gary Carter would earn his second MVP award, Gooden was the pitching star of the game. In the top of the 5th Gooden came in and struck out the side, continuing a run of six consecutive strikeouts by NL pitchers starting with Fernando Valenzuela in the 4th. Gooden also pitched the 6th and allowed just one hit in his outing. Strawberry would go 1-2, Hernandez struck out in his lone at-bat and Orosco did not enter the game.

1985
7/16 Metrodome, Minneapolis
NL 6-AL 1

After quite a run as an All-Star catcher for the Expos, Carter was selected by the fans to the All-Star Game in his first season as a Met, Strawberry would also join The Kid as an All-Star starter. However Carter was scratched due to a knee injury. Strawberry would go 1-2 with a walk and hit-by-pitch and score two runs on his night. Gooden and Ron Darling were also selected, Darling as a last minute addition for Joaquin Andujar. Neither pitcher was used, Gooden’s excuse was that he pitched two days prior to the game and therefore unavailable to pitch in the game.

1986
July 15th Astrodome, Houston
AL 3-NL 2

In midst of the most dominating season in Met history, the team would send five players to the Mid-Summer Classic in Houston. Strawberry and Carter, this time Carter was able to play, and Hernandez were all elected starters by the fans, and skipper Whitey Herzog selected Gooden and Sid Fernandez to the pitching staff, as well as adding Davey Johnson to his coaching staff. This time Gooden couldn’t avoid pitching, as he was tabbed the NL starter by Herzog, however Gooden would give up two runs in his three innings of work, and get the loss. Fernandez would also get into the game in the 8th, and while pitching an inning of scoreless relief, walked the first two batters, but then struck out the next three, including Jim Rice and Don Mattingly, to wiggle out of the inning. Hitting-wise, Strawberry would get the lone hit by the three Met starters.

1987
7/14 Oakland-Coliseum, Oakland
NL 2-NL 0 (13 innings)

Johnson was the skipper of the 1987 NL Squad, but only chose two of his Mets, Hernandez and Fernandez to join fan-voted starters Carter and Strawberry. Carter walked in his lone plate appearance, Strawberry went 0-2 and Hernandez would go 1-2 in his final All-Star Game appearance. Fernandez would earn the save in the bottom of the 13th after the NL took a 2-0 lead in the top half, walking one and striking out one.

1988
7/12 Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati
AL 2-NL 1

Strawberry and Carter were once again fan-voted starters, Carter though for the final time. Gooden would again start the game for the NL, and again would be saddled with the loss, after giving up a run in his three innings of work. David Cone was the other Met rep, and he would strike out one in his lone scoreless inning of work in the 5th. Carter would get a hit in three at-bats in his final All-Star Game, and Strawberry went 1-for-4.

1989
7/11 Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim
AL 5-NL 3

The Mets would wind up the decade with a unique set of All-Star representatives. Strawberry was once again selected an NL starting outfielder by the fans, but would be a scratch due to a toe injury. While at third base, legendary Phillie Mike Schimdt would be elected the starter for his final time, Schmidt had announced his retirement back in May and declined to perform even if voted as the starter, though he did attend the game and do the introductions. He would be replaced on the roster, and in the starting lineup, by Howard Johnson. Johnson would drive in former Met Kevin Mitchell with the game’s first run in the first, but it would be his lone hit in three at-bats.