Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Kansas City Royals left fielder Bo Jackson stole the show at Anaheim Stadium on July 11, 1989, as the American League won back-to-back All-Star Games for the first time since the 1957-58.
The talented multi-sports star showed multiple baseball talents at Angels Stadium as he made a catch in the top of the first that saved two runs, homered to open the American League's first and drove in the go-ahead run in the second as the American League won 5-3.
Jackson won the Most Valuable Player of the Game award.
The Padres had three players in the 60th All-Star Game. Right fielder Tony Gwynn and catcher Benito Santiago were voted into the National League starting lineup. The third Padre was left-handed closer Mark Davis, who would become the second Padre to win the National League Cy Young Award in 1989.
Gwynn was 1-for-2 with a walk. Benito was 0-for-1. Davis had two strikeouts in a perfect seventh inning.
The game did not start off well for the eventual winners, however.
The National League scored two runs in the top of the first off American League starter Dave Stewart of the Oakland A's. And it could have been many more.
St. Louis shortstop Ozzie Smith singled to open the game, but was thrown out trying to steal second.
Gwynn then drew a walk and advanced to second on a ground out and scored on a single to center by left fielder Kevin Mitchell of San Francisco. After Cincinnati center fielder Eric Davis walked, New York Mets third baseman Howard Johnson singled home Mitchell.
With Cardinals first baseman Pedro Guerrero at the plate, Davis and Johnson negotiated a double steal, putting both in scoring position. Guerrero then hit a liner to left center that appeared to be giving the National League a 4-0 lead. But Jackson made a spectacular catch to end the inning and keep it 2-0.
The National League lead was short-lived.
Jackson opened the first with a home run off National League starter Rick Reuschel of the Giants. Boston third baseman Wade Boggs followed with a homer to get the American League even after only two hitters.
Right fielder Ruben Sierra of the Texas Rangers opened the American League second with a single off Atlanta's John Smoltz and advanced to third on a one-out single by Oakland catcher Terry Steinbach. Sierra scored when Jackson grounded out to second but beat the relay throw at first preventing an inning-ending double play. Jackson stole second but was stranded. The American League widened its lead to 5-2 with two runs in the third off Rick Sutcliffe of the Chicago Cubs.
Twins center fielder Kirby Puckett opened the inning with a single and advanced to second on a Smoltz wild pitch. Puckett scored when designated hitter Harold Baines of the Chicago White Sox grounded a single to right. Baines moved to second and third on a pair of ground outs and scored on a two-out single by Sierra.
The National League scored its third run in the top of the eighth against Jeff Russell of the Texas Rangers. Houston first baseman Glenn Davis drew a two-out walk and moved to second on a single by Mitchell. Milwaukee reliever Dan Plesac replaced Russell and gave up an RBI single to Phillies' center fielder Von Hayes. Cleveland reliever Doug Jones came on with runners on first and third and retired Montreal third baseman Tim Wallach on a liner to left to end the threat.
Jackson, who was also a running back with the Raiders of the National Football League, finished 2-for-4 with a homer, a steal and two RBIs. Sierra also had two of the American League's 12 hits. Mitchell and Pittsburgh's Bobby Bonilla had two hits for the National League.
Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers followed Stewart and allowed a hit with three strikeouts in two scoreless innings to get the win. At the age of 42, Ryan was the oldest winning pitcher in All-Star Game history.
Mark Gubicza of Kansas City and Mike Moore of Oakland followed Ryan with perfect innings. Jones worked the final 1 1/3 innings to get the save.
After Montreal's Tim Burke pitched two scoreless innings, Davis, Jay Howell of the Dodgers and Mitch Williams of the Cubs all worked a scoreless inning as the American League was shut out on three hits over the final five innings.