The "Joss Game" All-Stars

"On Friday, April 14, 1911, the baseball world was stunned by the news that Addie Joss, star pitcher for Cleveland, had died. The 31-year-old had succumbed to meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain. Charles Somers, the owner of the Cleveland team, wanted to put together a benefit game for the Joss family. These games were a long-standing tradition in baseball, but Somers was calling for the greatest benefit ever seen, with some of the greatest players. On Monday, July 24th, they gathered to play and raised well over $13,000 for Lillian Joss. They are: back row (left to right): Bobby Wallace, Frank Baker, Joe Wood, Walter Johnson, Hal Chase, Clyde Milan, Russ Ford, Eddie Collins. Front row: Germany Schaefer, Tris Speaker, Sam Crawford, Jimmy McAleer, Ty Cobb, (his trunk got lost), Gabby Street, and Paddy Livingston."
Baseball Library

All-Star roots trace back to Naugatuck
"When baseball’s greatest stars gather in Anaheim for what they call the Midsummer Classic, broadcasters and print journalists will tell you that this is baseball’s 81st All-Star Game. They will also tell you that the first game was played in 1933 in Chicago. They will be wrong on both counts. And they surely won’t tell you about Naugatuck’s connection to one of the earliest All-Star-style games ever played. More on that in a bit. With the help of ace historians at the Society for American Baseball Research, we learned that the first time baseball stars gathered to play a game was July 24, 1911. The game was held in Cleveland in memory of, and to benefit the family of, one of the greatest pitchers that no one’s heard of, Addie Joss. Joss died at age 31 from tubercular meningitis. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978 by a vote from the Veterans Committee, Joss is the only player in Cooperstown to have played less than 10 years."
Off the Record

Addie Joss All-Star Game
"Addie Joss was one of the great pitchers in baseball history. On April 14, 1911, Addie Joss died suddenly from an attack of tubercular meningitis at age 31. Addie was so well thought of that a benefit all star game was set up to raise money for his widow and children. The game, which took place at Cleveland's League Park on July 24, 1911, was between Addie's Cleveland Naps and the American League All Stars. The all star line up was a group of the games greatest including: Ty Cobb, Home Run Baker, Smoky Joe Wood, Walter 'Big Train' Johnson, Hal Chase, Eddie Collins, Germany Schaefer, Tris Speaker, Sam Crawford and several other. The Naps had some legends on their side too, including Nap Lajoie, Cy Young and Shoeless Joe Jackson. The All Stars won 5-3 that day and the Addie Joss Benefit Game raised $12,914.00 for the Joss family."
Baseball Almanac