Red Sox All-Stars who you may have forgotten were All-Stars

Over the years, the Red Sox have sent some of the greatest names in baseball to the All-Star Game.  Legends like Ted Williams, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, and Mookie Betts.  But sprinkled throughout franchise history are a handful of players who made just one trip to the Midsummer Classic in a Red Sox uniform.

Some were rising stars who peaked early.  Others were veterans who put together one magical season.  All of them made significant contributions to the franchise, even if only briefly.  Here’s a look at 12 one-time Red Sox All-Stars you may have forgotten were ever chosen.

Jerry Moses (1970)

The youngest player in baseball when he debuted at age 18, Moses was the Red Sox’ starting catcher in 1970 and earned his lone All-Star selection that same year.  He hit .263 with just six home runs for the entire season, but was good enough to represent Boston in the midsummer classic as part of a trio that included Carl Yastrzemski and Tony Conigliaro.

Bill Campbell (1977)

Nicknamed “Soup”, Campbell was one of the early examples of a true bullpen workhorse.  In his All-Star year with Boston, he led the American League in appearances (69) and saves (31) while posting a 2.96 ERA.  That 1977 season earned him both an All-Star selection and Fireman of the Year honors, the only time in his career that he’d receive such accolades.

Tom Burgmeier (1980)

A left-handed reliever with a rubber arm, Burgmeier had one of his best seasons in 1980, racking up 24 saves and a 2.00 ERA in 70 appearances.  He was Boston’s lone representative at the All-Star Game that year, a forgettable summer otherwise for the team.

Mark Clear (1982)

Another bullpen specialist from the early 80’s, Clear had a dominant stretch in 1982, recording 14 saves and 109 strikeouts in just 86.2 innings.  He had electric stuff and was part of a sneaky-good Red Sox relief corps for a brief time.

Erik Hanson (1995)

A steady rotation piece during Boston’s AL East title run in ’95, Hanson posted a 15-5 record with a 4.24 ERA.  His All-Star selection surprised many at the time, but he was one of the more dependable arms on a team that needed stability after the strike-shortened 1994 season.

Jose Offerman (1999)

Before earning the nickname “Awfulman” by the end of his Red Sox career in 2002, Offerman spent a season as one of Boston’s best talents alongside Nomar Garciaparra and Pedro Martinez.  Signed to be a table-setter at the top of the lineup, he delivered in his first season with the Sox, batting .294 with 45 stolen bases 27 doubles and a .391 OBP.  His speed and contact hitting earned him an All-Star appearance and helped lead the team to the postseason.  Following the ’99 campaign, he hit just .255 over the remainder of his tenure before being dealt to the Mariners at the ’02 deadline.

Carl Everett (2000)

The most memorable moments from Everett’s Red Sox tenure include headbutting an umpire and stating that dinosaurs weren’t real.  Before the controversy, there was production.  He was a monster in 2000: 34 home runs, 108 RBI’s, and a .300 average.  His power and intensity fueled Boston’s offense, and he earned his only All-Star appearance that summer.

Ugueth Urbina (2002)

The fiery closer racked up 40 saves in 2002 with a 3.00 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 60 innings.  He was named an All-Star and provided some much-needed stability at the back end of the bullpen before being traded in 2003 to make room for Byung-Hyun Kim, who was not nearly as effective.

Shea Hillenbrand (2002)

A solid hitter with some pop, Hillenbrand hit .293 with 18 home runs in the first half of 2002, earning him an All-Star selection at third base.  He was later traded to the Diamondbacks for Byung-Hyun Kim in 2003 and never quite reached that same level again, but his lone All-Star nod is forever a part of Sox trivia.  His departure made way for Bill Mueller, who won the batting title in ’03 and had some of the most timely hits of the historic 2004 season.

Matt Clement (2005)

Clement came to Boston with high expectations and delivered early on.  He was 10-2 with a 3.85 ERA at the break and looked like a reliable front-end starter.  But a line drive to the head later that season derailed his career, and his All-Star appearance became a forgotten footnote in Red Sox lore.

Mark Loretta (2006)

A dependable second baseman with a veteran presence, Loretta hit .285 in 2006 and joined David Ortiz as the Red Sox’ only two All-Stars.  It was a transitional year for the Sox, and his steady play was one of the few bright spots.  A walk-off homer on Patriots Day was undoubtedly the highlight.

J.D. Drew (2008)

Aside from the famous grand slam in Game 7 of the 2007 ALCS, J.D. Drew’s game-winning homer in the 2008 All-Star Game (earning him MVP honors) was probably the most memorable hit of his Red Sox career.  Unfortunately, it would be the third-to-last time he would go deep that year.  He was hitting .302 with 17 homers and 55 RBI’s at the break, but only played in 28 of the final 71 games in the second half due to a herniated disc.  This would be the only All-Star appearance of his 14-year career.

Brock Holt (2015)

The ultimate utility man, Holt made the All-Star team not for eye-popping stats, but for his ability to play all over the field and contribute wherever needed.  His .280 average, clutch hitting, and defensive versatility made him a fan favorite, and in 2015, an unlikely All-Star.  The only representative for the Red Sox in a season in which they finished last in the AL East.

Steven Wright (2016)

Wright’s knuckleball was dancing in the first half of 2016, and he was quietly one of the best pitchers in the American League.  He would injure his shoulder later in the year while running the bases in an interleague game, and he was never the same.  He spent six years in the minors before making his Major League debut in 2013 at age 28, so he was already north of 30 by the time he found his stride in his lone All-Star season.

Mitch Moreland (2018)

Mitchy Two Bags was a fan favorite on the 2018 World Series champions, but many forget that he was actually good enough to make his only All-Star team that year alongside more prominent names like Chris Sale, Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez, and Craig Kimbrel.  In 71 games before the break, he slashed .288/.358/.525 with 11 home runs, 15 doubles, and 43 RBI’s.

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