The 1988 All-Star Game had a record setting thirty-two players, ten of which were also playing their last, who had never appeared in a Midsummer Classic before this game. The unlikeliest of All-Stars, a player with a less time than his backup, had the biggest performance of any player there in his All-Star debut. The Oakland Athletics t catcher Terry Steinbach homered and hit a sacrifice fly, lifting the American League to Victory. Steinbach led off the inning with a homer against Dwight Gooden. The liner just eluded Darryl Strawberry, who said the ball popped out of his glove as he tried to pull it back over the fence. Steinbach next hit was even more crucial. The American League loaded the bases against Bob Knepper on a double by Dave Winfield, a walk to Cal Ripken, Jr. and a short single by Mark McGwire. Steinbach followed with a towering fly to left that came within ten feet of becoming the second grand slam in All-Star history.

He is the only player to hit a home run in both his first at-bat in the majors and in his first at-bat in an All-Star Game. Steinbach third inning home run actually hit the glove of Darryl Strawberry before going over the wall for a four-bagger. Dennis Eckersley, the ace reliever of the era period, threw a perfect ninth inning to shut down the National League and his second career Midsummer Classic save. This Midsummer Classic was the final All-Star Game appearance for three future Hall of Fame players: George Brett, Gary Carter and Dave Winfield. Frank Viola set the tempo for American League pitchers by retiring all six batters he faced. The National League managed only five singles off the seven hitters who followed him: Roger Clements, Mark Gubicza, Dave Stieb, Jeff Russell, Doug Jones, Dan Plesac and Dennis Eckersley. Many fans and the league were pleased as the National and American League traded the last four All-Star victories breaking the monotony of the previous decades of dominance by one side or the other. Terry Steinbach received the Most Valuable Player Award. The American League won 2-1.