Fame can be fleeting. It can also be painful.
The 1989 All-Stars have a variety of aches and pains, and some of last season's squad haven't even played a game this year.Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda picked four starters and five relievers for the National League pitching staff. It looks like he'll be using the phone a lot on Tuesday night.
Houston's Mike Scott, 14-5, started against Montreal on Sunday in the Astrodome and sustained a slight leg muscle pull.
Lasorda's Dodgers are in fifth place in the NL West, 11 games behind San Francisco. On Sunday, he tried to pull out all the stops to beat Chicago and used All-Star Orel Hershiser in relief. So, don't count on Hershiser for more than an inning on Tuesday against the American League.
That will leave it up to San Francisco's 40-year-old Rick Reuschel and Atlanta's John Smoltz, 22.
The relievers are Tim Burke, Mark Davis, John Franco, Jay Howell and Mitch Williams.
Two of the outfielders voted to this year's starting squad will miss the game because of injuries.
Darryl Strawberry of the Mets is recovering from a broken toe and Oakland's Jose Canseco, the AL MVP, has not played a game this season because of a wrist injury.
Dave Winfield of the New York Yankees was an All-Star last season but has been sidelined all of 1989 after back surgery.
Last year's All-Star Game was played at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium and the hometown hero was Reds third baseman Chris Sabo. Right now, Sabo is on the disabled list with an ankle injury.
Last season, Atlanta first baseman Gerald Perry contended for the NL batting title and was an All-Star. This year, he has been plagued by injuries and a year-long batting slump.
St. Louis center fielder Willie McGee was another victim of the All-Star hex this season, out since June 4 with a rib-cage injury.
Potential All-Stars like Keith Hernandez, Andy Van Slyke, John Tudor, Ellis Burks, Alan Trammell, George Brett, Kent Hrbek, Jack Morris, Andre Dawson, and Kirk Gibson have all been sidelinded for extended periods this year.
Tony La Russa's AL pitching staff seems to have a big edge this year - in talent and health. Starters Nolan Ryan, Mark Gubicza, Mike Moore, Dave Stewart, Chuck Finley and Greg Swindell are rested and healthy.
In the bullpen, the AL has Mike Henneman, Doug Jones, Jeff Russell and Dan Plesac.