A Fantasy All-Star Lineup from the Past

The votes are in. The All-Star lineups are being massaged and ready for Yankee Stadium. It looks like it's going to be an exciting weekend throughout the New York area.

The midsummer hype also made me think back about the All-Star games of the past. I remember a time before FOX where you voted for the fielding starters and let the managers pick at least one representative from each team in their respective league to round out the roster. That was it!

Think about this prompted me to search for an All-Star lineup that reflected my love for the game during my lifetime.

This was a tough lineup to fulfill. My core years for baseball ranged from 1972 onward to today. Though I did create the criteria that all of the below should not on any active roster as a player. Some of them are broadcasters, coaches, managers, scouts and executives. There are a couple of them who are no longer with us on this Earth.

There may be no surprises to these lineups. Then again, you may rediscover an old name you may have forgotten over time. Feel free to comment to argue, suggest or even reminisce over these fellas.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
1B - Willie Stargell: A true leader on the field and off.
2B - Joe Morgan: The prototypical second baseman of my era.
3B - Mike Schmidt: On the corner or at bat, there's no compromise when he's out on the field.
SS - Ozzie Smith: Forget the backflips, it's the enthusiasm of the game backed up with some of the best shortstop work in my lifetime.
C - Johnny Bench: Best. Catcher. Ever.
OF - Hank Aaron, Dave Parker and Dusty Baker: In one decade, these three brought excitement into the Stern household with nothing short of amazing performances.
STARTING PITCHER - Tom Seaver: The original "Tom Terriffic." A legend? Perhaps. Simply, he became the first big pitcher that blipped on my radar in the NL.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
1B - Rod Carew: His batting grip was unorthodox, but it worked for a career average of .328.
2B - Frank White: It is puzzling why we often forget about the perennial Kansas City Royals second baseman. In his day, he was the prototypical second baseman in the American League. You can argue for Paul Molitor, Willie Randolph or Bobby Grich, but you can never argue against Frank White's excellence in the middle.
3B - TIE: Brooks Robinson, Craig Nettles and George Brett: In this corner, you can't simply pick just one. All three equally stamped their ticket to immortality with amazing performances at bat and on the field.
SS - Cal Ripken, Jr.: Iron man. Gentleman.
C - Carlton Fisk: Pudge always inspires people to do their best no matter situation they are in.
DH - Reggie Jackson: He is the baddest dude ever to play the game of baseball. His bat talks louder than the exhaust notes of anything in his car collection.
OF - Jim Rice, Rickey Henderson and Kirby Puckett: Power, speed and complete heroism...if that's not a proper combination in an American League outfield, then what is?
STARTING PITCHER - Dave Stewart: Give him credit where credit is due. He came from mediocrity and was almost shown the door to the game to one of the most feared starting pitchers in the American League. The "death stare" was just enough to strike you out.

Yeah, yeah...we're talking mainly the 1970's and 1980's. No one can argue the quality of the game at the time, but for me...that's where it all began. Including some of my favorite All-Star games I've ever seen.

I'll post more of that later.