Orioles in the All-Star Game over the Past Decade

Sep 28, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jim Johnson (43) throws in the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles defeated the Red Sox 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

2012 – Kansas City – NL 8, AL 0

Orioles – Jim Johnson (P), Adam Jones (OF), Matt Wieters (C)

With three representatives at the game, it was the first time in seven years that more than the obligatory single rep was at the game for the Orioles. Clearly, the franchise was turning a significant corner.

Matt Wieters was beginning to be recognized as among the best, if not the very best, of the defensive catchers in the game of baseball. Along with that fact, though not the highest-hitting catcher, he was at the top of the list of those catchers hitting home runs. Wieters went to the All-Star game with a .247 average with 14 doubles and 12 home runs.

For Adam Jones it was his second All-Star Game, and first since 2009. At the time of the break and through 85 games, Jones was batting .289 with 19 doubles and 20 homes runs (OPS of .864).

Jim Johnson had established himself as the Orioles’ closer and was in the midst of a career season. At the break he was 1-0 with 26 saves and only one blown save! Having pitched 37.1 innings, his ERA was 1.21, and the batting average against was .151. No wonder we liked him so much in those days.

None of the Orioles started in what was a NL wipeout. Wieters caught the latter half of the game and was 0-for-2 and Adam Jones was hitless in his one appearance. Jim Johnson pitched a perfect eighth inning with a strikeout.