These All-Star Picks Made No Sense Then. They Make Less Sense Now.

Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael Schatz

Throughout baseball history, some All-Star selections have left fans and analysts scratching their heads. From players chosen based on team representation requirements to those picked during brief hot streaks, these selections represent some of the most questionable choices in MLB All-Star Game history.

1. Ken Harvey – Kansas City Royals’ Questionable All-Star (2004)

Ken Harvey’s 2004 All-Star selection epitomized the flaws in the selection process. With just a .274 batting average and 10 home runs at the break, Harvey made the team solely because the Royals needed a representative. His career would last just four seasons, ending with only 39 total home runs, making his selection one of the most perplexing in recent memory.

2. Ron Coomer – Minnesota’s Hometown Hero Mistake (1999)

Ron Coomer’s All-Star selection came with modest numbers: a .282 average, 7 home runs, and 37 RBIs. The hometown Minnesota connection likely played a role in his selection, as the game was hosted by the Twins. Better candidates like John Jaha (28 home runs) were overlooked, making this selection particularly controversial.

3. Mike Williams – The 6.44 ERA All-Star (2003)

Mike Williams made baseball history as one of the worst statistical All-Stars ever, sporting a shocking 6.44 ERA at the break. His selection was based purely on save totals (25), despite his terrible performance. He was out of baseball the following year, highlighting how save statistics can mislead in evaluating relief pitchers.

4. Mark Redman – Royals’ Representative Gone Wrong (2006)

Mark Redman’s 5.27 ERA and losing record somehow earned him an All-Star spot, purely because the Royals needed representation. He finished the season even worse, with a 5.71 ERA. Rising star Justin Verlander was left off the roster to accommodate this questionable selection, showing how the one-player-per-team rule can hurt the game’s quality.

5. Sandy Alomar Jr. – The .200 Batting All-Star (1991)

Despite batting just .200 with 2 home runs, Sandy Alomar Jr. made the All-Star team based purely on name recognition. Playing only 51 games that season due to injuries, his selection ignored current performance in favor of reputation, setting a concerning precedent for All-Star voting.

6. Roberto Hernández – Tampa Bay’s Token All-Star (1999)

With a bloated 5.73 ERA at the break, Hernández made the team solely as Tampa Bay’s mandatory representative. Better relievers like Mike Jackson (1.70 ERA) and Jeff Zimmerman (0.86 ERA) were snubbed, exemplifying how team representation rules can lead to inferior selections.

7. Scott Cooper – Boston’s Back-to-Back Blunder (1993, 1994)

Scott Cooper’s consecutive All-Star appearances came despite never hitting above .282 or driving in more than 63 runs in a season. His selections came at the expense of superior third basemen like Robin Ventura and Wade Boggs, making these choices particularly controversial in baseball circles.

8. Bryan LaHair – The One-Month Wonder (2012)

Bryan LaHair rode a hot April (.390 average) to an All-Star selection, but was already cooling off by July. He finished the season batting .259 with 16 home runs and was playing in Japan the next year. His selection serves as a cautionary tale about making decisions based on small sample sizes.

9. John Hudek – The Rookie Mistake (1994)

With just 26 innings pitched as a rookie, Hudek made the All-Star team based on a small sample of success. While his 2.42 ERA looked impressive, his selection over established relievers proved premature. His six-year career never reached those early heights again.

10. Lance Carter – Devil Rays’ Desperate Choice (2003)

Lance Carter’s 4.05 ERA didn’t merit All-Star consideration, but being the Devil Rays’ closer was enough. His selection over more deserving relievers highlighted the flaws in team representation requirements. Carter finished his career with a 4.89 ERA and was out of MLB by 2006.

11. Roger Pavlik – The All-Star Game Starter Debacle (1996)

Pavlik not only made the team with a 5.19 ERA but actually started the All-Star Game due to other pitchers’ injuries. His 15-8 record masked his poor performance, as he benefited from excellent run support. This remains one of the worst starting pitcher selections in All-Star history.

12. Alfredo Griffin – The Accidental All-Star (1984)

Griffin made the team while batting .241 with zero home runs and 14 RBIs. The story goes that he was already in Minneapolis as Cal Ripken Jr.’s guest and was added to the roster when Alan Trammell got injured. This convenience-based selection remains one of the most unusual in All-Star Game history.