The most memorable All-Star Game performances from Red Sox players

The most memorable All-Star Game performances from Red Sox players originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox will have three representatives at the 2024 MLB All-Star Game next week in Texas.

Rafael Devers, Tanner Houck and Jarren Duran made the American League All-Star team as reserves. It’s Devers’ third All-Star selection of his career and the first time Houck or Duran will play in the Midsummer Classic.

Next Tuesday, Devers, Houck or Duran will try to become the fifth Boston player to win the All-Star Game MVP award. If one of them achieves this feat, they will join the impressive list of Red Sox with memorable All-Star performances in the franchise’s illustrious history.

Check out this list below:

Ted Williams – 1941 and 1946

Williams’ second of his 17 All-Star appearances was his most memorable. The “Splendid Splinter” went 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and a walk. His home run was a three-run shot that resulted in two outs in the ninth inning and was the first out in All-Star Game history. Stan Musial (1955) and Johnny Callison (1964) are the only other players to hit home runs in the Midsummer Classic.

Williams’ performance helped the AL to a 7-5 victory.

Five years later, Teddy Ballgame returned from the Korean War and picked up where he left off as one of the game’s biggest hitters. He went 4-for-4 with two homers, five RBI and a walk in his fourth All-Star appearance.

His second home run was a three-run shot in the eighth inning off Joe Sewell’s eephus pitch:

The AL cruised to a 12-0 victory.

Carl Yastrzemski – 1970

Major League Baseball began handing out All-Star Game MVP awards in 1962. In 1970, Yaz became the first Red Sox player to receive the honor.

Yaz went 4-for-6 with a double, a run scored and an RBI in the 12-inning contest. His four hits remain tied for All-Star Game history.

The Hall of Famer was named the game’s MVP despite his team losing 5-4.

Roger Clemens – 1986

Clemens got off to a hot start for the American League in the ’86 All-Star Game and was stellar, striking out two NL hitters (Ryne Sandberg and Darryl Strawberry) in three perfect frames. He was named MVP of the All-Star Game following the AL’s 3-2 victory.

That wasn’t the only award won by the “Rocket” in 1986. He was named American League MVP and took home the first of his seven career Cy Young Awards.

It’s fitting that the most memorable All-Star Game performance by any Red Sox player came at Fenway Park.

Martinez started for the AL in their home stadium and was virtually unhittable. He struck out Barry Larkin, Larry Walker and Sammy Sosa in the first inning to become the first pitcher to strike out the first three batters of an All-Star Game.

He kept rolling in the second, starting the frame by striking out Mark McGwire. After Matt Williams made an error, Martinez K’d Jeff Bagwell and catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez threw out Williams, who was trying to take second base.

The AL won 4-1 and Martinez was named the game’s MVP.

Manny Ramírez – 2004

Ramirez was the starting left fielder batting at the cleanup position for the AL in 2004. He contributed to a six-run first inning with a two-run homer off National League starter Roger Clemens.

Ramirez finished 1-for-2 with the home run and two RBI. To make his outburst even sweeter for Sox fans, it came off one of the city’s biggest sports villains at the time. Even though Clemens was with the Houston Astros in 2004, he was still public enemy No. 1 in Boston after five years with the Yankees.

Ortiz hit Ramirez in the fourth inning of the 2004 All-Star Game. In that plate appearance, he worked a walk against Carlos Zambrano and scored on a triple off Alex Rodriguez. In the sixth inning, he hit a two-run bomb off Carl Pavano to extend the AL lead to 9-4, which would end up being the final score. He walked once again in the ninth against Eric Gagne.

Ortiz had several notable All-Star moments over the 10 games in his career, but ’04 was the best overall performance of the group.

JD Drew – 2008

Drew made his only All-Star appearance count. The 2007 World Series champion was named to the 2008 All-Star team as a reserve and hit a two-run home run in his first at-bat during the seventh inning.

Also worth noting: Drew’s outburst came at Yankee Stadium.

That was the difference in the AL’s 4-3 victory, which took 15 innings to decide. It remains the longest All-Star Game in the exhibition’s history.

Drew finished 2-for-4 with the home run, two RBI and a walk.