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Nick Soulis · 07-24-2025, 11:37 PM

Season 8
All Star Break

Excellence Project Season 8: All-Star Weekend Preview
Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, PA
Midseason, 2025 (Season 8)

It's Time for the Midsummer Classic!
The stars are shining bright over Pittsburgh as the Excellence Project's Season 8 All-Star Weekend takes center stage. With the league’s most dominant players assembled, the time has come to settle league supremacy in front of a raucous Forbes Field crowd and millions watching worldwide. From jaw-dropping sluggers to lights-out aces, every corner of the diamond will be filled with the elite.

All-Star Game Starting Rosters

American League Starters
SP: Charles Bender (Philadelphia A's) – The ace of the AL with a 12-6 record and 5.8 WAR

C: Manny Sanguillen (Pittsburgh Pirates) – Hitting .315 with elite contact

1B: Willie Stargell (Pittsburgh Pirates) – 33 HR, .689 SLG, and a Derby favorite

2B: Eddie Collins (Philadelphia A's) – A table-setter and base-stealing menace (44 SB)

3B: Richie Hebner (Pittsburgh Pirates) – 22 HR, .603 SLG – silent but deadly

SS: Vern Stephens (St. Louis Browns) – 23 HR, a slick-fielding, slugging shortstop

LF: Milt Byrnes (St. Louis Browns) – Brings balance to the outfield with .380 OBP

CF: Al Oliver (Pittsburgh Pirates) – Consistent, reliable, and batting .314

RF: Danny Murphy (Philadelphia A's) – 20 HR and 23 SB for this dynamic weapon

National League Starters

SP: Roy Oswalt (Houston Astros) – 10 wins, sub-3 ERA, and a big-game reputation

C: Devin Mesoraco (Cincinnati Reds) – .300 AVG, 12 HR in just 233 ABs

1B: Willie McCovey (San Francisco Giants) – 27 HR, 191 wRC+, and slugging .641

2B: Rogers Hornsby (St. Louis Cardinals) – A legend with 21 HR and a .327 AVG

3B: Morgan Ensberg (Houston Astros) – 20 HR, 152 wRC+ in a breakout season

SS: Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh Pirates) – Steady glove and 19 SB for the Flying Dutchman

LF: Carlos Quentin (San Diego Padres) – Quiet power with 18 HR and solid OBP

CF: Owen Wilson (Pittsburgh Pirates) – A true MVP candidate: 22 HR, 182 wRC+, 6.4 WAR

RF: Ham Hyatt (Pittsburgh Pirates) – 20 HR, .523 SLG, and big late-inning moments

Home Run Derby Lineup
Location: Forbes Field – a pitcher's park, but these guys don’t care.

Participants:
Willie Stargell (AL) – 33 HR, fan favorite, Derby favorite

Willie McCovey (NL) – 27 HR, all-time power icon

Owen Wilson (NL) – 22 HR, one of the league’s most complete stars

Jeff Heath (AL) – 26 HR and a Ruthian .638 SLG

Vern Stephens (AL) – 23 HR from the shortstop position

Jay Buhner (AL) – 23 HR, .564 SLG and raw bat speed

Mickey Tettleton (AL) – 22 HR, moonshot master

Jim Bottomley (NL) – 22 HR, old-school muscle

Special Note: Willie vs. Willie in a potential final? The crowd is dreaming of a Stargell–McCovey showdown.

Key Storylines to Watch
⭐ Stargell’s Super Season
Willie Stargell has 33 home runs already and is chasing Dave Kingman’s Excellence Project single-season home run record of 54. Can he keep the pace, and will the Derby light a fire?

WAR of the Worlds
The AL comes in with five players over 4.0 WAR, including Bender, Collins, McInnis, Hebner, and Baker. But the NL features the all-around dominance of Owen Wilson (6.4 WAR) and McCovey (5.6 WAR), with Clemens and Pettitte anchoring the mound.

Team Influence
Pittsburgh Pirates dominate both rosters with a whopping 9 total All-Stars across both leagues. And with the game at Forbes Field, they’ll have the home crowd rocking.

Philadelphia A’s also have a strong showing with 5 players, all starters or key pitchers.

Houston Astros boast the top pitching rotation of the NL with Clemens, Oswalt, Pettitte, and Lidge.

Fan Picks and Surprises
Most Popular Pick: Willie Stargell (AL) and Willie McCovey (NL) were runaway vote-getters.

Biggest Snub?: Frank Baker (PHA) – 19 HR and 177 wRC+ but left off the starting nine.

Quiet Breakout: Jim Viox (NL) – underrated, but his .393 OBP and elite contact has scouts buzzing.

07-24-2025, 11:37 PM	#97
Nick Soulis Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 4,258	Season 8 All Star Break Excellence Project Season 8: All-Star Weekend Preview Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, PA Midseason, 2025 (Season 8) It's Time for the Midsummer Classic! The stars are shining bright over Pittsburgh as the Excellence Project's Season 8 All-Star Weekend takes center stage. With the league’s most dominant players assembled, the time has come to settle league supremacy in front of a raucous Forbes Field crowd and millions watching worldwide. From jaw-dropping sluggers to lights-out aces, every corner of the diamond will be filled with the elite. All-Star Game Starting Rosters American League Starters SP: Charles Bender (Philadelphia A's) – The ace of the AL with a 12-6 record and 5.8 WAR C: Manny Sanguillen (Pittsburgh Pirates) – Hitting .315 with elite contact 1B: Willie Stargell (Pittsburgh Pirates) – 33 HR, .689 SLG, and a Derby favorite 2B: Eddie Collins (Philadelphia A's) – A table-setter and base-stealing menace (44 SB) 3B: Richie Hebner (Pittsburgh Pirates) – 22 HR, .603 SLG – silent but deadly SS: Vern Stephens (St. Louis Browns) – 23 HR, a slick-fielding, slugging shortstop LF: Milt Byrnes (St. Louis Browns) – Brings balance to the outfield with .380 OBP CF: Al Oliver (Pittsburgh Pirates) – Consistent, reliable, and batting .314 RF: Danny Murphy (Philadelphia A's) – 20 HR and 23 SB for this dynamic weapon National League Starters SP: Roy Oswalt (Houston Astros) – 10 wins, sub-3 ERA, and a big-game reputation C: Devin Mesoraco (Cincinnati Reds) – .300 AVG, 12 HR in just 233 ABs 1B: Willie McCovey (San Francisco Giants) – 27 HR, 191 wRC+, and slugging .641 2B: Rogers Hornsby (St. Louis Cardinals) – A legend with 21 HR and a .327 AVG 3B: Morgan Ensberg (Houston Astros) – 20 HR, 152 wRC+ in a breakout season SS: Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh Pirates) – Steady glove and 19 SB for the Flying Dutchman LF: Carlos Quentin (San Diego Padres) – Quiet power with 18 HR and solid OBP CF: Owen Wilson (Pittsburgh Pirates) – A true MVP candidate: 22 HR, 182 wRC+, 6.4 WAR RF: Ham Hyatt (Pittsburgh Pirates) – 20 HR, .523 SLG, and big late-inning moments Home Run Derby Lineup Location: Forbes Field – a pitcher's park, but these guys don’t care. Participants: Willie Stargell (AL) – 33 HR, fan favorite, Derby favorite Willie McCovey (NL) – 27 HR, all-time power icon Owen Wilson (NL) – 22 HR, one of the league’s most complete stars Jeff Heath (AL) – 26 HR and a Ruthian .638 SLG Vern Stephens (AL) – 23 HR from the shortstop position Jay Buhner (AL) – 23 HR, .564 SLG and raw bat speed Mickey Tettleton (AL) – 22 HR, moonshot master Jim Bottomley (NL) – 22 HR, old-school muscle Special Note: Willie vs. Willie in a potential final? The crowd is dreaming of a Stargell–McCovey showdown. Key Storylines to Watch ⭐ Stargell’s Super Season Willie Stargell has 33 home runs already and is chasing Dave Kingman’s Excellence Project single-season home run record of 54. Can he keep the pace, and will the Derby light a fire? WAR of the Worlds The AL comes in with five players over 4.0 WAR, including Bender, Collins, McInnis, Hebner, and Baker. But the NL features the all-around dominance of Owen Wilson (6.4 WAR) and McCovey (5.6 WAR), with Clemens and Pettitte anchoring the mound. Team Influence Pittsburgh Pirates dominate both rosters with a whopping 9 total All-Stars across both leagues. And with the game at Forbes Field, they’ll have the home crowd rocking. Philadelphia A’s also have a strong showing with 5 players, all starters or key pitchers. Houston Astros boast the top pitching rotation of the NL with Clemens, Oswalt, Pettitte, and Lidge. Fan Picks and Surprises Most Popular Pick: Willie Stargell (AL) and Willie McCovey (NL) were runaway vote-getters. Biggest Snub?: Frank Baker (PHA) – 19 HR and 177 wRC+ but left off the starting nine. Quiet Breakout: Jim Viox (NL) – underrated, but his .393 OBP and elite contact has scouts buzzing. Last edited by Nick Soulis; 07-25-2025 at 12:07 AM.