4 worst Reds All-Stars of all time

If a player is selected for the MLB All-Star Game either by the fans or the baseball establishment, it stands to reason that they’ve done something to merit the nod. (Unless, of course, you’re Jacob Misiorowski, according to some.)

However, in retrospect some All-Stars seem less deserving than others or have downright disappointing seasons following the Midsummer Classic. Here are four of the worst Cincinnati Reds All-Star selections in history.

4 worst Reds All-Stars of all time

Leo Cárdenas, Reds shortstop (1968)

The Reds shortstop was already a three-time All-Star by the time he earned a spot on the 1968 squad. The first trio of selections were certainly earned as Leo Cárdenas put up 7.9 bWAR from 1964-66. In 1968, however, he was struggling. His first-half OPS was a mere .480.

The Reds traded Cárdenas to the Minnesota Twins following the 1968 season, and he experienced a career resurgence. He finished 12th in MVP voting in 1969, and he twice made the postseason with Minnesota.

Tommy Helms, Reds second baseman (1967)

The reigning NL Rookie of the Year, Tommy Helms, who died earlier this year, was likely recognized more for his glove than his bat when he earned a spot on the 1967 All-Star roster. Heading into the All-Star break, Helms had just a .253/.283/.335 line. He nearly missed the All-Star Game because he was called into duty as a Marine Corps Reserves member, but he got a furlough to participate in the festivities in Anaheim.

Not only was Helms’ season as a whole a disappointment (0.3 bWAR), he also underperformed in the All-Star Game. Entering as a pinch-hitter after teammate Tony Pérez broke a tie with a homer in the 15th, Helms had an opportunity to further bury the AL. Tim McCarver stood at first with one out, but Helms hit into a double play to end the inning. He was replaced before he could flash the leather that earned him the nod in the first place.

Grady Hatton, Reds second baseman (1952)

Following World War II, Grady Hatton, a U.S. Army Air Forces vet, was one of the premiere major leaguers. Without playing a single game in the minors, the infielder jumped straight to the Reds and put up a 127 OPS+ in his first year. 

Hatton manned the hot corner on a string of disappointing Cincinnati teams in the late 1940s, but in 1952, he moved to second base. Strangely, Hatton was the sole Reds All-Star representative while four of his teammates finished in the Top 25 of MVP voting. Hatton didn’t even appear in the All-Star Game as the starting lineup played all nine innings.

Johnny Vander Meer, Reds starting pitcher (1939)

Reds lefty Johnny Vander Meer was already known for his back-to-back no-hitters in 1938, and perhaps that memory is part of the reason for his selection to the 1939 All-Star team. Vander Meer was at least keeping his head above water during the first half of the season. He had been ill during spring training but still managed a 4.20 ERA during the first half.

Vander Meer, who had pitched three scoreless innings as the starter of the 1938 All-Star Game, didn’t even make it to the mound the following year. Shortly thereafter, he slipped on the mound in Pittsburgh and suffered an injury that limited him to just 28 ⅔ innings. Luckily, he bounced back in 1941 and led the NL in strikeouts three times with two more All-Star nods.

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