In former Royals third baseman Kevin Seitzer's mind, he was an All-Star hero. Well, at least for a fleeting moment.
In 1987, Seitzer made the American League All-Star team as a replacement for George Brett, who was injured.
Seitzer, just a rookie, didn't expect to play that night in Oakland. But he entered the game defensively in the sixth inning. And in his second at bat, he came up against legendary closer Lee Smith with the bases empty and two out in the bottom of the 10th inning with the score tied 0-0.
Seitzer dug in. Smith delivered a belt-high fastball. Seitzer turned on it and ... smack.
Seitzer drilled the ball toward the seats beyond center field. Seitzer began to trot toward first base, almost certain he had hit a game-winning homer.
The crowd, too, sensed victory and began cheering wildly.
"It was night, obviously, and you know how the ball doesn't carry at night there in Oakland," Seitzer said. "It was worse then because it was before they enclosed the stadium. But man, I hit an absolute bomb. I mean, that was the best I got. I hit it as well as I can hit a ball.
"I had about seven seconds of the most excitement I'd ever experienced in my life. But then the center fielder came over and caught it on the track. I couldn't believe it. But hey, those were a thrilling seven seconds."
The National League went on to win the game, 2-0, in 13 innings. But to this day, Seitzer is incredulous his shot didn't win it in the 10th.
"I really thought it had a chance," he said, smiling. "I really crushed it. I didn't have big pop in my bat but I knew when I hit one good like that. I usually knew when there was a good chance. I never hit any no-doubters but I hit some that had a pretty good chance and that was one of them."
Seitzer's first All-Star Game will always be special but he also remembers fondly his only other appearance – in the 1995 All-Star Game in Texas.
"I was with the Brewers then," he said. "That was at least as special as the first one because I got released twice between All-Star Games. After thinking your career is over and you end up playing in the All-Star Game two years after your second release, that's pretty special.
"It was pretty gratifying from a personal standpoint after what I had to overcome in my career."
Seitzer was released by the Royals in 1992 (on March 26, his birthday) and was picked up by the Brewers. He was granted free-agency after the 1992 season and later signed with the Oakland A's.
But the A's released him in 1993, and he signed again with Milwaukee. He proceeded to his .290, .314 and .311 over the next three seasons with Milwaukee and earned a spot in the 1995 All-Star Game.
"What I remember most about the '95 game," he said, "was that it was just after Cal Ripken had broken the consecutive games played record. We were standing out in outfield shagging balls during batting practice and I had never really talked to him much. But I had the ultimate respect for him.
"Anyway, so we were walking in from BP and there was an All-Star ball laying on the field, and it had some grass stains on it. I picked it up and I said to Cal 'In all of my years of being in the game, I've never asked for an autograph from anyone. I just don't do. But I would be honored if you would sign this ball so I could take it to my kids.' He said 'I'd love to.'
"So I stored it away and I really kind of forgot about it. But years later after my kids were in high school, we were moving and as we were moving some boxes, I found that ball again. I told my kids the story of how I got it, and both of my sons went 'Can I have it? Can I have it? Please?'
"And I just said, 'Well, we'll see who treats me the best the rest of my life.' "
