The 10 most impactful Milwaukee Brewers showings in All-Star game history

Tonight, Brewers stars Christian Yelich and William Contreras will be starters in the 2024 MLB All-Star game. In anticipation of this event, we're taking a look at the top 10 most decisive Brewers performances from previous Midsummer Classics. Our standard of measurement is Win Probability Added, which is a calculation of the contribution toward victory of each player’s performance.

For those not familiar with Win Probability Added, it reduces what each player did – outs, hits and game situation --  into a number representing the decisiveness of the player’s contribution on a scale where 0 equals neutral, -1.0 equals a train wreck, and +1.0 equals utter decisiveness. In exhibitions such as All Star Games, where 25 or more players play a role for each team, values are often very fractional, meaning that a score as low as +.100 can be very good. 

#10: C Ted Simmons, 1981

The 1981 game, played Aug. 9 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, was of course most noteworthy for its role in ending the game’s first mid-season player strike. Simmons, one of three Brewers players in uniform, entered the game in the bottom of the sixth inning as a pinch hitter for Willie Randolph. The American League led 3-2 at the time, having scored twice that inning. Simmons’ base hit, off Burt Hooton, scored Carlton Fisk with the fourth – and as it turned out final – AL run. Unfortunately, the National League rallied with three runs in the seventh and eighth innings to win the game 5-4. Simmons Win Probability Added: +.102

#9: P Ben Sheets, 2008

NL manager Clint Hurdle nominated Sheets as his starting pitcher for the game played July 15 at Yankee Stadium. Sheets issued two walks and gave up an infield hit to Derek Jeter, but did not allow a run to score, leaving with the game a scoreless tie. The NL eventually lost 4-3 in 15 innings. Sheets Win Probability Added: +.103

#8: P Dan Plesac, 1987

The 1987 game, played July 14 at Oakland Alameda County Stadium, was scoreless as Plesac entered to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning. With the outcome potentially hanging on every pitch, Plesac set down Bo Diaz, Dale Murphy and Hubie Brooks without incident. The game continued scoreless into the 13th inning when the NL finally pushed across a pair of runs for a 2-0 victory. Plesac Win Probability Added, +.108

#7: OF Ryan Braun, 2012

The starting left fielder for Tony LaRussa’s NL team, Braun doubled in the first inning off Justin Verlander to drive home Melky Cabrera, then scored on Pablo Sandoval’s triple. He flied out in the second, but in the fourth inning added a line drive triple to right field against Matt Harrison before retiring for the evening. The NL won 8-0. Braun Win Probability Added: +.110

#6: 1B Prince Fielder, 2009

Although playing behind starter Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard, Fielder was one of manager Charlie Manuel’s first calls off the bench for the game played July 14 at Busch Stadium. He got the call with two outs and Yadier Molina on second base in a 2-2 tie game. Facing AL starter Roy Halladay, Fielder lined an 0-2 pitch into the seats on one hop for a ground rule double to give the NL a 3-2 lead. It was, however, the last run the NL would score with the AL stars coming back to win 4-3.  Fielder Win Probability Added: +.137

#5: 2B Fernando Vina, 1998

The NL stars trailed 8-6 when Vina came up as a pinch hitter for pitcher Ugueth Urbina in the bottom of the sixth inning July 7 at Denver’s Coors Field. With one out, he lined a single into left field off Rolando Arrojo, advancing to second before the inning ended. Vina stayed in to play second base and walked in the eighth inning, helping set up the NL’s seventh run. It wasn’t enough; the AL won 13-8. Vina Win Probability Added: +.137

#4: P Lary Sorenson, 1978

Sorensen was one of three Brewers selected to represent the American League at the 1978 game played July 11 at San Diego’s Jack Murphy Stadium. Manager Billy Martin summoned him to the mound to open the fourth inning of what at the time was a 3-3 tie. He allowed an opening single to Larry Bowa, then set down the next nine NL stars he faced to preserve the tie through the sixth inning. When Sorensen was lifted, however, the NL stars scored four times against his successors to win 7-3. Sorensen Win Probability Added: +.184

#3: P Teddy Higuera, 1986

AL manager Dick Howser summoned Higuera to take over for starter Roger Clemens in the fourth inning, the AL stars holding a 2-0 lead. He survived a fifth inning scrape when Darryl Strawberry singled and Mike Schmidt walked, getting Dale Murphy and Hubie Brooks to end the threat. The AL eventually won 3-2, Higuera’s shutout stint standing today as the most impactful by a Brewers pitcher in All-Star Game history. Higuera Win Probability Added: +.189

#2: 1B Prince Fielder, 2012

Elected as the NL starter at first base, Fielder lined out to end the first inning. But when he stood in against C.J. Wilson in the fourth inning, fellow NL stars Carlos Beltran and Matt Kemp were at first and second, having both reached on singles. Fielder worked the count to 2-2, then launched a fly ball deep into the right field seats at Chase Field. The NL went on to win 5-1 and Fielder was voted the game’s MVP. Fielder Win Probability Added: +.230

#1: C Jonathan Lucroy, 2014

Chosen as the starting catcher, Lucroy was one of four Brewers named to the NL roster for the July 15 game at Target Field. In the second inning, his double off AL starter Jon Lester scored Chase Utley, who moments earlier had doubled home the game’s first run. Two innings later, the NL trailed 3-2 when Lucroy returned to the plate, this time facing Chris Sale with Dee Strange-Gordon at first. He worked the count to 3-1, then lined a double that tallied Strange-Gordon with the tying run. Lucroy was lifted after that at bat, and the NL never scored again, losing 5-3.  Lucroy Win Probability Added: +.245