History repeats itself - twice

by Phil Wood

For the second straight year a Nationals' reliever gets the win in the All-Star Game - and for the second time in history, a Washington pitcher gets the "W" in the All-Star Game without retiring a hitter.

You already know about Matt Capps' win last year, but Capps struck out David Ortiz, the only hitter he faced. Last night Tyler Clippard gave up a base hit to Adrian Beltre, but left fielder Hunter Pence threw out the runner trying to score on the play to end the inning.

In 1954, in Cleveland, the American League called upon Washington left-hander Dean Stone with two outs in the top of the eighth inning and the National League up 9-8. With runners on first and third, Stone looked in at the batter, Brooklyn's Duke Snider. Before he could deliver a pitch, however, the runner on third, Red Schoendienst of the Cardinals, broke for home. Stone stepped off the rubber and threw the ball to catcher Yogi Berra (who played the whole game) who made the tag. Inning over, and Stone didn't throw a pitch. The American League came back with three in the bottom of the eighth - Cleveland's Larry Doby batted for Stone and homered to tie the game - and Stone got the win when Virgil Trucks retired the National League in the top of the ninth.

1954 was Stone's best year in the big leagues. He won 12 games, and the All-Star win was surely a high point. He was 29-39 for his career which included stops with the Red Sox, Cardinals, Colt 45's, White Sox and Orioles. He's 80 years old and lives in Silvis, Ill., and I'm betting his phone has rung a few times since last night.