On July 24, 1911, a forerunner to the modern All-Star Game was played at Cleveland's League Park to raise money for the family of Addie Joss - one of baseball's all-time great pitchers.

Joss had died in Cleveland of tubercular meningitis earlier that year. American League players formed a team to play an exhibition game against the Cleveland Naps (later the Indians).

Joss debuted with the Cleveland Blues (predecessor to the Naps) in 1902. He led the AL with five shutouts that year and won at least 20 games a season from 1905 to 1908.

In October 1908, Joss pitched a perfect game in one of baseball's greatest pitching duels, against Chicago's Big Ed Walsh. Two years later he pitched another no-hitter, also against the White Sox.

During his nine-year career, Joss completed 234 of his 260 starts. His lifetime ERA was 1.88 - second only to Walsh's 1.82.

In the benefit game, the All-Stars beat the Naps 5-3 and raised $12,931 for Joss's family.

Rebecca Goodman

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com