Who Was Too Drunk to Pitch in the 2002 All-Star Game?

Peter Gammons has an interesting blind item in his ESPN blog (Insider status req.):

The reason the 2002 All-Star Game ended up tied was that a pitcher on one of the two teams was imbibing in the clubhouse and was not in condition to pitch, hence the game ended.

We're not sure who Gammons could be referring to. We checked the AL and NL rosters against the boxscore, and every pitcher on both teams pitched.

Then-Mariner Freddy Garcia finished the game for the AL. Garcia was a notorious carouser, but he threw two scoreless innings and struck out three in that game. Vicente Padilla finished the game for the NL--he also threw two scoreless innings.

Gammons doesn't specify whether it was one of these guys, or another pitcher--maybe one that might have been able to come back into the game to pitch had he not been drinking?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@seattlest.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Seth in News on March 25, 2007 10:16 PM

Comments [rss]

bozo

I am well aware that the All-Star game is not a real game. To compare it to an exibition game is quite disingenuous though. It's in the last 10-15 years that the game has not been played as competitively as it was historically. But they ALWAYS followed the rules until the 2002 game. And they've followed them since. Furthermore, yes, I know it's a recipe for an injury to put a pitcher back in after he's been taken out, and cooled down.

My point was, and is, that Seth doesn't appear to know baseball very well.

Joe

The rules say games don't end in a tie, either, but that one did. Ever seen a spring training game where one player gets to bat in every inning, because he needs the work? The All Star game is an exhibition game, so they can do any damn thing they want. And Selig was sitting in the stands, so when they wanted to end it in a tie they went up and asked him and he said "ok." If they'd gone up into the stands and asked him if they could put another pitcher in, he could've ok'd it too. Not that it mattered, because "this one counts" or not, it wasn't a real game. No all-star game is.

Now, they wouldn't have put a pitcher back in the game but not because it was "against the rules." They wouldn't have done it because everyone is afraid that's a recipe for an injury, and the one thing the coach in the all-star game doesn't want is having to answer to every other team for abusing a player, especially an all-star pitcher. And especially in a game that doesn't matter.

bozo

I'm pretty damn certain that once any player is removed from a game, he is not alowed back in. Under any circumstances. Don't you know the rules Seth?

Kevin

Yeah - I don't remember it great, but I thought Padilla never got in the game. He was the first guy I thought of...

Shaun

Gammons is a moron.

Bobat

Before he left Philly, there were rampant rumors that Padilla was a big time boozer. Didn't he have a drunk driving arrest after he was traded to Texas?