PG All-American Classic History Index
SAN DIEGO – The 14th annual Perfect Game All-American Classic will be played Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016 at Petco Park in downtown San Diego, with the broadcast scheduled for 5:00 p.m. (PDT); the East vs. West all-star Classic will be televised live on the MLB Network and broadcast live on MLB Network Radio.
This year’s Classic showcases the extraordinary talents of 52 of amateur baseball’s most highly regarded prospects from the national high school graduating class of 2017. The prospects will arrive in San Diego on Thursday, Aug. 11, from 15 states, Puerto Rico and Canada and enjoy three days of both baseball and non-baseball activities leading up to Sunday afternoon’s game.
The first Perfect Game All-American Classic was played in August 2003 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Fla.; Maryland right-hander Nick Adenhart made the start for the East Team while Texas righty Homer Bailey took the ball for the West Team.
More than 550 players have followed in their footsteps over the past 13 years, and as the list that follows this introduction so vividly illustrates, many of the Classic’s distinguished alumni have reached the highest rungs on the Major League Baseball ladder.
There are, however, numbers that supersede those representing all the on-field successes. This marks the ninth straight year beautiful Petco Park, the home of the San Diego Padres, will host the PG All-American Classic and the 11th time in 12 years beautiful San Diego has served as the host city (the game was held at Tony Gwynn Stadium at San Diego State University in 2006-07).
Perfect Game’s San Diego experience has led to a mutually rewarding relationship with Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, and through individual fund-raising efforts by the PG All-Americans themselves and with all proceeds generated by the Classic going to Rady, the event has raised more than $900,000 for pediatric cancer research and treatment over the past decade.
That is, indeed, the most impressive number associated with the Perfect Game All-American Classic. On the baseball side of the ledger, what follows is another look at the Classic, by the numbers …
• 558 total participants (2003-2015, 13 years)
• 128 MLB players
• 180 first-round draft picks
• 506 total draft picks
• 2 NFL first-round draft picks (Kyle Long 20th overall in 2013, Jameis Winston No. 1 overall in 2015)
• 42 U.S. states represented (plus Canada, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic)
No. 1 overall picks in the MLB Draft: 8
Matt Bush, 2004 (Padres)
Justin Upton, 2005 (Diamondbacks)
Tim Beckham, 2008 (Rays)
Bryce Harper, 2010 (Nationals)
Gerrit Cole, 2011 (Pirates)
Carlos Correa, 2012 (Astros)
Brady Aiken, 2014 (Astros)
Mickey Moniak, 2016 (Phillies)
Major League Baseball Most Valuable Players: 3
Buster Posey, National League, 2012
Andrew McCutchen, National League, 2013
Bryce Harper, National League, 2015
Major League Baseball Rookies of the Year: 6
Buster Posey, National League, 2010
Jeremy Hellickson, American League, 2011
Bryce Harper, National League, 2012
Jose Fernandez, National League, 2013
Kris Bryant, National League, 2015
Carlos Correa, American League, 2015
Major League Baseball All-Stars: 44 (appearances in parenthesis)
Andrew McCutchen (5)
Madison Bumgarner (4)
Bryce Harper (4)
Buster Posey (4)
Dellin Betances (3)
Justin Upton (3)
Kris Bryant (2)
Jose Fernandez (2)
Freddie Freeman (2)
Gio Gonzalez (2)
Gerrit Cole (1)
Dexter Fowler (1)
Yasmani Grandal (1)
Sonny Gray (1)
Eric Hosmer (1)
D.J. LeMahieu (1)
Francisco Lindor (1)
Addison Russell (1)
Aaron Sanchez (1)
Corey Seager (1)
Chris Tillman (1)
Jordan Walden (1)
Jason Heyward (1)
First PG All-American All-Star: Justin Upton, 2009
Major League Baseball All-Star MVP: 1
Eric Hosmer, 2016
Major League Baseball World Series MVP: 1
Madison Bumgarner, 2014 (also won the NLCS MVP the same year)
Batting Champion: 1
Buster Posey, National League, 2012
Comeback Player of the Year: 1
Buster Posey, National League, 2012
Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners (number in parenthesis): 9
Jason Heyward (3)
Eric Hosmer (3)
Andrew McCutchen (1)
D.J. LeMahieu (1)
Jeremy Hellickson (1)
Silver Sluggers (number in parenthesis): 13
Andrew McCutchen (4)
Buster Posey (3)
Justin Upton (2)
Madison Bumgarner (2)
Neil Walker (1)
Bryce Harper (1)
Golden Spikes Award winners: 4
Buster Posey, 2008 (Florida State)
Bryce Harper, 2010 (Southern Nevada)
Mike Zunino, 2012 (Florida)
Kris Bryant, 2013 (San Diego)
Locations: 5
2003: Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers, Fla.
2004: Ripken Stadium, Aberdeen, Md.
2005: Ripken Stadium, Aberdeen, Md.
2006: Tony Gwynn Stadium (San Diego State)
2007: Tony Gwynn Stadium (San Diego State)
2008: Dodger Stadium
2009-present: Petco Park
Quick hits
• 99 mph – event’s peak fastball velocity (Tyler Kolek in 2013)
• 442 feet – the distance Joey Gallo’s home run traveled in 2011
• 7 – number of players to hit a home run in the Classic (Matt Bush, Chris Nelson, Ike Davis, Robert Stock, John Tolisano, Tyler Marlette, Gallo)
• 2 – number of players to hit a home run in the Classic at Petco (Marlette, Gallo)
• 4 hits – Andrew McCutchen (in 2004)
• 3 RBI – Tim Beckham, Chris Nelson, Kyle Skipworth, Josh Vitters
• 3 runs scored – Chris Nelson
• 4 stolen bases – Jason Heyward
• 5 strikeouts – Nick Adenhart, Jay Rainville, Mark Rogers and Jacob Turner (Adenhart did so in 3 innings, the others in 2)