Continuing our countdown of the ten greatest Ranger performances in All Star Game history, we now move on to the #6 Ranger performance: Ruben Sierra, in the 1992 All Star Game
Ruben Sierra was named as a reserve outfielder for the American League in the 1992 All Star Game, played on July 14, 1992, at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. Teammate Kevin Brown was the starting pitcher for the A.L., and Pudge Rodriguez was on the team as the A.L.'s backup catcher.
This was Sierra's third time being named to the All Star team, and he had a .306/.340/.491 line in the first half of the season. However, there was tension between the Rangers and Sierra, as Sierra was entering his walk year, and had rejected a long term contract extension from the Rangers.
Sierra entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, technically replacing Roger Clemens (who had entered the game in the 4th inning and was batting third as part of a double switch) in the lineup, although he was replacing Joe Carter as the A.L. right fielder.
Batting in the top of the sixth, Sierra came up to the plate against Cardinals righthander (and future Ranger starter) Bob Tewksbury. Tewksbury, who would end up finishing third in the N.L. Cy Young balloting, had a one-two-three top of the fifth, but was being knocked around in the sixth. Ken Griffey, Jr., led off the inning with a double to right, and then after a pair of ground outs, Carlos Baerga and Robin Ventura each also doubled. Up 8-0, with a runner on second and two outs, Sierra homered off of Tewksbury, giving the A.L. a 10-0 lead.
Sierra got one more plate appearance in this game, against Doug Jones, with two on and none out in the 8th. Sierra grounded into a force play, ultimately coming around to score later in the inning on double by Yankee outfielder (and future Ranger) Roberto Kelly.*
* Roberto Kelly, All Star? He only had a .272/.322/.384 line, good for a 98 OPS+, but he stole 28 bases and was a centerfielder. Besides, the Yankees weren't that good that season, winning just 76 games under Buck Showalter, and he was the token Yankee pick. Seriously, though...go look at the '92 Yankee roster, and marvel at the collection of mediocrities they were running out.
While this was one of the greatest Ranger All Star performances, Sierra wasn't a Ranger for much longer. Just seven weeks later, on August 31, 1992, the Rangers made a huge deadline deal with the Oakland A's, shipping Sierra, Jeff Russell (also a free agent at season's end), and Bobby Witt to Oakland for Jose Canseco.