Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson will become the 26th player with Alabama baseball roots to start in the MLB All-Star Game on July 16.
Henderson won the fan vote to start for the American League.
“I’m very humbled and blessed to be the starter,” Henderson said on Wednesday night after the starting lineups for the All-Star Game had been announced. “It’s awesome being able to be able to do this in my second full year, so I’m very humbled and truly blessed. …
“I feel like it’s just kind of a testament to the hard work that not only myself has put in but just the hitting coaches, the infield coaches and just all the development stuff. And the work still continues to come, but I feel like it’s pretty cool to be acknowledged for that.”
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A former Morgan Academy star and Alabama’s Mr. Baseball for the 2019 high school season, Henderson won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2023.
The 25 previous players from Alabama high schools, colleges, industrial leagues and sandlots to start in the MLB All-Star Game combined to make 72 starts.
Willie Mays with 18 and Hank Aaron with 17 combined for almost half of those starts. Mays has more starts in center field than any other player in All-Star Game history with 18, and Aaron has more All-Star Game starts in right field than any other player with 14.
The MLB All-Star Game is set for 7 p.m. CDT July 16 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. FOX will televise the game.
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The MLB All-Star Game starters who played for Alabama high schools and colleges or entered professional baseball from the state’s industrial leagues and sandlots include:
Willie Mays, Fairfield Industrial High School: 18 in center field for the National League in 1957, 1958, 1959 (2), 1960 (2), 1961 (2), 1962 (2), 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1971 and 1972.
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Hank Aaron, Central High School in Mobile: 17, with 14 in right field for the National League in 1957, 1958, 1959 (2), 1960 (2), 1963, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1974, one in left field for the NL in 1966, one in center field for the NL in 1967 and one at first base for the NL in 1973.
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Willie McCovey, Central High School in Mobile: Four at first base for the National League in 1966, 1969, 1969 and 1971.
Leon Wagner, Tuskegee: Three in left field for the American League in 1962 (2) and 1963.
Dixie Walker, Birmingham industrial leagues: Three in right field for the National League in 1944, 1946 and 1947.
Frank Bolling, McGill Institute in Mobile, Spring Hill College: Two at second base for the National League in 1961.
Josh Donaldson, Faith Academy in Mobile, Auburn: Two at third base for the American League in 2014 and 2015.
Billy Moran, Russell County High School: Two at second base for the American League in 1962.
Jorge Posada, Calhoun Community College: Two at catcher for the American League in 2002 and 2003.
Frank Thomas, Auburn: Two at first base for the American League in 1994 and 1995.
Harry Walker, Birmingham industrial leagues: Two in center field for the National League in 1943 and 1947.
Billy Williams, Mobile County Training School: Two, with one in left field for the National League in 1964 and one in right field for the NL in 1973.
Tim Anderson, Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa: One at shortstop for the American League in 2022.
Alex Avila, Alabama: One at catcher for the American League in 2011.
Ben Chapman, Phillips High School in Birmingham: One in left field for the American League in 1933.
Luis Gonzalez, South Alabama: One in center field for the National League in 2001.
Bo Jackson, McAdory High School in McCalla, Auburn: One in left field for the American League in 1989.
Jimmy Key, Butler High School in Huntsville: One at pitcher for the American League in 1994.
Lance Johnson South Alabama: One in center field for the Natioknal League in 1996.
Cleon Jones, Mobile County Training School, Alabama A&M: One in left field for the National League in 1969.
Heinie Manush, Tuscumbia: One in left field for the American League in 1934.
Lee May, Parker High School in Birmingham: One at first base for the National League in 1972.
Amos Otis, Williamson High School in Mobile: One in center field for the American League in 1973.
Jake Peavy, St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Mobile: One at pitcher for the National League in 2007.
Early Wynn, Geneva County High School: One at pitcher for the American League in 1959.
(Two MLB All-Star games were played annually from 1959 through 1962, chiefly to raise money for the players’ pension fund.)
Henderson is the 54th player with Alabama baseball roots chosen for the MLB All-Star Game.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at@AMarkG1.