All-Star game in 1917 predates official exhibition, and it happened ‘One Day in September’ at Fenway Park

The official records show that the first All-Star Game was played in Chicago in 1933 as part of the World’s Fair. Arch Ward, sports editor of the Chicago Tribune, is credited with the idea of bringing star players to his city for an exhibition game unlike any other the game had known.

Read more Trump lets Warren’s bipartisan housing affordability bill become law

But a game played on Sept. 27, 1917, at Fenway Park looked much like the modern-day event taking place in Philadelphia on Tuesday. There was even a home run derby.

Ty Cobb, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Walter Johnson, Rabbit Maranville, and Stuffy McInnis played for an All-Star team managed by Connie Mack. They faced the Red Sox, who had Babe Ruth and Harry Hooper in the lineup.

The event was a fundraiser for the family of Tim Murnane, a Boston Globe baseball writer and well-respected former player and baseball executive who had died suddenly in February of a heart attack. A crowd of 17,119 turned out to see the Red Sox win, 2-0.

That was more than the Sox drew for all but two games that season.

It makes for an interesting book, and Scott D. Reich wrote it. “One Day In September” was released last week. It’s a baseball book that also captures life in Boston as America entered World War I.

“It was a combination of spectacle and obligation,” said Reich, who learned of the game while doing research for a different project. “It was compelling because it felt so unremarkable in that era to do a game like this. It was a natural reaction, a collective sense that they should do something for Murnane and his family.”

Murnane was the Peter Gammons of his day. His column in the Globe was a must-read, and he had connections throughout the game.

Murnane was a former Holy Cross student who played professionally from 1872-84 for different teams as an outfielder and first baseman. He joined the Boston Reds in the early years of the National League in 1876 and managed the team in 1884.

He was also president of the New England League, a minor league loop, and mixed in some sportswriting that led to a 30-year career at the Globe. He was known as the Silver King because of his hair.

At a time when Boston was a combustible mix of well-heeled Protestant Brahmins and working-class Catholics, Murnane kept them connected to their baseball team.

“The city could feel conflict and solidarity at the same time,” Reich said. “He saw baseball as character-building. … He didn’t just cover the game; he spoke to the fans about the nuances of the sport. He understood the pressures the players were feeling.”

At a time of public rallies for war bonds and other forms of civic engagement, Murnane’s passing inspired a gathering at Fenway. The respect for him was so widespread in baseball that the best players of the day traveled by overnight trains to take part.

There was a pregame throwing contest that Jackson won. Then a bunt-and-run challenge and the home run derby. Boxing champion John L. Sullivan and humorist Will Rogers were among the special guests. Fanny Brice, the comedian and actress, sold programs in the stands.

Then the players returned to their teams, and the season went on. The Sox played the St. Louis Browns the next day and drew 356 fans with Carl Mays on the mound.

It was another 16 years before the official All-Star Game was born. But the roots of that tree started to grow in Boston, and Reich captured every detail of the day.

Craig Breslow nailed the trades for Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray, and the deal for Caleb Durbin looks better every day. Kyle Harrison allowed 10 earned runs on 16 hits over 18 innings in his last four starts for the Brewers and is dealing with a sore elbow.

Milwaukee has extracted 1.9 more bWAR out of that trade so far. But that gap is closing fast with Durbin playing well and Anthony Seigler getting regular playing time.

Ranger Suarez was another good pickup, even if he will miss the All-Star Game with a groin strain. Signing Aroldis Chapman before the 2025 season also was a coup.

It’s hard not to wonder where the Red Sox would be positioned in the American League had Breslow kept going and added another hitter via agency or trade. Even with their recent surge, the Sox are still in the bottom third of the league in scoring and last in home runs.

It’s easy to suggest a healthy Roman Anthony would have changed that, but he had not even played half a major league season — and the Sox banked on him becoming a star.

Anthony had a modest .675 OPS through 30 games before he was injured this season.

These next three weeks will be interesting. Even with Anthony and Garrett Crochet nowhere close to a return from their injuries, a solid rental bat could be a difference-maker. Even somebody like Lane Thomas of the Royals could mean some extra wins.

A few other observations on the Red Sox:

▪ It’s curious that Anthony was sent to Fort Myers to do his rehab work. According to interim manager Chad Tracy, it was to “get away from all he’s doing” and focus on getting healthy.

“The other stuff being just the day-to-day of being at Fenway, he’s going to get asked questions about it constantly,” Tracy said.

Anthony was not being asked about it constantly by the media because he was rarely in the clubhouse when we had access. The few times he has been asked, he has been polite and forthright.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa commented a few weeks ago that the atmosphere at home games was detrimental. Now Tracy is suggesting the “day-to-day” at Fenway is somehow getting in the way of Anthony’s recovery.

▪ Baseball teams tend not to mess with what’s working, so the Sox have been playing Afroman songs after victories in recent weeks.

The 51-year-old rapper had his biggest hit with “Because I Got High” in 2001. He was an independent presidential candidate in 2024 and plans to run again in ′28. The Sox like his 2022 comeback hit “Lemon Pound Cake.”

Read more Host of ratings and viewership data show this World Cup to be a winner across the United States

▪ Chapman has had a France scarf hanging in his locker during the World Cup and even brings it on the road. Is the Cuban Missile a fan of Les Bleus?

Turns out he’s not. The Sox wore jerseys from World Cup teams during a recent road trip, and Chapman picked France so he would fit in with his teammates.

The question had to be asked. Can he name any of the French players?

“They have that one guy,” he said, presumably referring to Kylian Mbappé. “But that’s all I know.”

▪ Contreras has some purchases to make before the All-Star Game.

The first baseman said his mother, Olga, will want an AL jersey with her son’s name on the back. She also will want one for her other son, William. The Milwaukee catcher is on the National League roster.

“She has them at her house for people to see when they come over,” Willson said.

So which jersey will she wear for the game?

“She will wear one, and my father will wear the other one,” he said. “I hope she wears mine.”

▪ Nate Eaton was suspended Tuesday and Wednesday when the Red Sox were in Chicago. But there he was, getting some work in at Rate Field before a game against the White Sox.

What gives?

A suspended player can be at the ballpark before the game to receive treatment from the medical staff and participate in baseball activities. But the player cannot be in the clubhouse or dugout before the game.

The player’s choices are to return to the hotel or watch the game from the stands. If the player wants to stay at the park, the team usually finds a suite or an unused broadcast booth.

When Justin Verlander announced Wednesday that he would retire at season’s end, it increased my appreciation for Tom Brady.

Back in 2019, I sat with Verlander for an extended interview at Fenway Park. He was 36 at the time and said he wanted to pitch at a high level well into his 40s, citing Brady’s success late in his career as motivation.

“You’ve got the perfect example of what’s possible here in Boston,” Verlander said.

You can make a good case that the 43-year-old, three-time Cy Young Award winner accomplished at least part of that goal.

He was 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA as a 39-year-old with the 2022 Astros. He also won Game 5 of the World Series, holding the Phillies to one run over five innings at Citizens Bank Park. The Astros clinched in Game 6.

Since turning 40, Verlander is 22-26 with a 4.03 ERA and has earned $109.4 million. But he also missed approximately 40 starts over those four seasons due to injuries.

Verlander made one start for the Tigers this season, allowing five earned runs against the Diamondbacks on March 30. He has been out since with a strained left hamstring.

Brady threw for three touchdowns in Super Bowl LV for the Buccaneers at age 43 and finished second in MVP voting the following season. He also started 17 games at 45 and threw for 25 touchdowns.

Verlander has been good, but he didn’t exit the way Brady did.

But Verlander sure got his retirement announcement correct. Major League Baseball announced early Wednesday afternoon that Verlander was a “Legend Pick” for the AL All-Star team even though he will be unable to pitch.

Verlander then posted on Instagram some 26 minutes later that he had decided to retire after the season.

“I wanted the game to tell me when it was time. Over the last several months I’ve realized that time has come,” he wrote.

The legacy will take care of itself. Verlander is sure to be a first-ballot selection to the Hall of Fame and could challenge Tom Seaver’s 98.8 percent for the highest percentage among starters.

Verlander is 266-159 with a 3.33 ERA and 3,554 strikeouts (eighth all-time). His 82.3 bWAR is 24th all-time, more than Bob Gibson (81.7) and Clayton Kershaw(78.1).

If Verlander returns from his injury and wins three more games, he’ll edge past Jim Palmer.

Verlander’s pending retirement also offers a reminder that Randy Johnson’s place as the last 300-game winner might be secure forever. Even 200 victories seem unlikely with how carefully starting pitchers are used now.

Verlander and soon-to-be 42-year-old Max Scherzer (222) are the active leaders, with 35-year-old Gerrit Cole (156) behind them.

Maybe there’s a 10-year-old out there somewhere with a golden arm. For now, appreciate Verlander and Scherzer while you still can.

Mookie Betts played his 794th game for the Dodgers on Wednesday, matching his number with the Red Sox. He had 42.5 bWAR for the Sox and 34.2 for the Dodgers … Here’s how much baseball has changed: Ted Williams faced 447 pitchers during his 19 years in the majors. That included standing in against Bob Feller, Early Wynn, Bob Lemon, and Virgil Trucks 143 or more times. James Wood, the impressive 23-year-old lefty slugger of the Nationals, has already faced 468 pitchers since making his debut midway through the 2024 season. David Peterson is the only pitcher Wood has faced more than 15 times. Williams would have found a way to get on base in any environment. But for Wood and his contemporaries, the challenges become harder every year … Seven umpires have accepted voluntary buyouts and will retire at the end of the season. Among them are CB Bucknor, Laz Diaz, and Brian O’Nora, who all started in a full-time role in 1999. Diaz worked the 2007 World Series and had the plate for Game 2. Lance Barksdale, Andy Fletcher, Marvin Hudson, and Tony Randazzo are also retiring. Bucknor has not been able to do games since April 1 after he took a foul ball off the facemask … Bryce Harper profanely told Rob Manfred to get out of the clubhouse last year when the commissioner met with the Phillies and the topic turned to MLB’s desire for a salary cap. But Manfred nevertheless used his “Legend Pick” to place Harper on the All-Star team this season after he fell short in the player and fan balloting. So all is forgiven? “No,” Harper told reporters. “I’m just grateful for the opportunity.” … Twins owner Tom Pohlad invited the team’s beat writers to his suite at Target Field before Thursday’s game against the Guardians for what was described as an informal conversation. The team is trying to improve its messaging to fans … Phil Regan, who played 13 seasons in the majors and then coached at different levels from 1973-2020, died on Wednesday at 89. Dodgers teammate Sandy Koufax dubbed Regan “The Vulture” because of how often he picked up victories when pitching in relief. He appeared in 551 games from 1960-72, then immediately started coaching at Grand Valley State near his home in Michigan. Regan had positions with the Cubs, Dodgers, Indians, Orioles, Mariners, Mets, and Tigers, as well as with a variety of winter league teams and Team USA at the 2000 Olympics. He also managed the Orioles for 144 games in 1995. In all, his career in pro or college baseball lasted 64 years … A Boston Braves fan emailed a reminder that Tuesday is the 80th anniversary of Hall of Famer Warren Spahn earning the first of his 363 career victories. Pitching for the Braves, the 25-year-old Spahn allowed one run over nine innings in the first game of a doubleheader, a 4-1 victory against the Pirates that took 2:03 at Forbes Field. Spahn also went 1 for 2 with two sacrifices. He earned his last victory in 1965 in another complete game in the back end of a doubleheader, this one for the Giants against the Cubs at Candlestick Park, and also was 1 for 3 with a sacrifice in a 9-2 victory. Never say never in baseball, but it’s hard to imagine a modern-day pitcher getting his first career victory with a complete game and ending his career the same way … Happy birthday to Greg Litton, who turns 62 on Monday. The infielder appeared in 11 games for the 1994 Red Sox. Litton was the 10th pick of the 1984 draft by the Giants. He was one of only eight players to make it to the majors from the first round. Litton made his debut in 1989 and was 3 for 6 in the earthquake-delayed World Series with a home run. He signed with the Mariners for the 1993 season, then joined the Sox just before the start of ’94. He was 2 for 21 for the Sox, and returned to Seattle for the 1995 season but did not get called up from Triple-A and retired after that season. He turned to politics in Florida, but lost three primary elections.

Read more The horribly familiar story behind the whole Graham Platner debacle