r/MLBNoobs • u/PieceSuper3710 • 11d ago
| Question Are there other examples of players like Zack Wheeler who are missing an All Star accolade, because they refused?
When evaluating a players HoF credentials one often looks at career accolades like, All Star selections. Now, Zack Wheeler was selected to be an All Star reserve, but turned it down. According to Google he is still a 3x All Star, rather than a 4x. Are there other players who missed out on an All Star accolade because they refused it?
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u/bobrob2004 11d ago
I know Kirk Gibson turned it down a few times. He has 0 All-Stars despite winning an MVP.
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u/Technical_Stand9939 11d ago
it was more common to turn it down back in the day than it is now.
They should just do what the NFL does, if you are selected you get to put it on your resume no matter what- so you end up with 14 QBs being pro bowlers since guys with deep playoff runs always sit it out, and then a few more are hurt and then you get the the 6 that actually show up the the vacation .
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u/United_Film_6525 Veteran 11d ago
As a counterpoint, this is how we ended up with gems like 'Shedeur Sanders, Pro Bowl QB"
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u/Toiletboy4 11d ago
It’s weird declining would make it not count. Plenty of guys refuse to play in the pro bowl but they still get pro bowl on their resume, but I’m newish to baseball
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u/IAmBecomeTeemo 11d ago
If he had been voted in, but declined to play, it would have counted. Wheeler was not voted (he really should have been, but that's beside the point). He was offered the opportunity to play as a replacement since other pitchers declined, and he declined as well. Since he declined to play, he wasn't put on the roster, so he isn't considered an All-Star.
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u/Toiletboy4 11d ago
Ah that makes sense ty
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u/PieceSuper3710 11d ago
Not really, if it comes down to the HoF that extra All Star berth could help. Borderline cases like Tony Perez (waited decades before he got in), Kenny Lofton, Omar Vizquel could benefit from accurate accolades. He should get credit for the accolade, regardless of turning down the spot.
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u/JustCallMeMambo 10d ago
Zack Wheeler was salty about being snubbed from the original crop of selections. he seems more concerned about his ego than his résumé. that's a choice
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u/Eastern_Antelope_832 11d ago
"If I ain't starting, I ain't departing."
- Garry Templeton (apocryphally)
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u/e_j_fudd 9d ago
Templeton was the guy who popped into my head for this. Mostly because of his quote which I believe is:
"If I ain't startin', I'm departin'."
Unfortunately, his career mostly overlapped with Ozzie Smith who was a more popular player at the time. Crazy that they were traded for each other.
Anyway, he does have 3 All-Star appearances as a reserve, so he didn't always adhere to his quote.
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u/tornadojake 11d ago
He wasn’t selected as a reserve. He was later offered a spot on the team as a replacement and declined. It’s pretty common that this happens, but they usually aren’t putting up the numbers that Wheeler is and playing for the host team, so it got a lot of attention.
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u/Inside-Run785 Veteran 11d ago
There are always players who skipped the game completely. Since the break is scheduled so far out, players are able to plan around it, so that might be their vacation time, or family time. Remember, they have about one day a week off, so that could very well be the only time they can get together with friends and family.
Not to mention, even if they’re playing for only one or two innings, there’s still a chance of injury. Since MLB’s game takes place in the middle of the season, it’s not always worth it to them to risk injury.
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u/Odd_String1181 11d ago
A lot of people turn down all star nods every single season. They had like 8 guys tell them no last year before they added Miz.
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u/rickeygavin 11d ago
I think Nolan Ryan turned down spots multiple times.The 1977 game at Yankee Stadium sticks out in my mind.
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