Somebody Was Too Blasted To Pitch In A Meaningless Game

So you remember that whole All-Star game travesty from five years ago — yes, it has been five years now, which is kind of amazing — when they had to call the All-Star Game a tie because everyone was out of pitchers? (That game is the reason the American League has freaking home-field advantage every year now.)

Well, in one of those odd scoops Peter Gammons likes to throw in his columns every once in a while just to keep us on our toes — our favorite is the one from a few years ago when he talked about the educated but racist pitcher most people assumed was Mike Mussina — apparently the reason they canceled the game is because the guy who was supposed to pitch was drunk. (Link via Seattlest)

The reason the 2002 All-Star Game ended up tied was that a pitcher on one of the two teams was imbibing in the clubhouse and was not in condition to pitch, hence the game ended.

Every pitcher on both teams did make it in the game that year, so we're not sure exactly what he's referring to; was there one guy who had been slated to come back in but was too busy doing Jager shots? If that's the case, we're just going to assume it was Schilling.

Who Was Too Drunk To Pitch In The 2002 All-Star Game? [Seattlest]