Baseball has always been more than just a game. As John S. Bowman and Joel Zoss stated in The Pictorial History of Baseball “As part of the fabric of American culture, baseball is the common social ground between strangers, a world of possibilities and of chance, where ‘it’s never over till it’s over.'”
It is an American tradition rich in legends, folklore and history, a never-ending story where every game is a new nine-inning chapter and every player has the chance to be the hero. Through the years, every franchise has had its share of superstar players that stand out above the rest. They are the ones that bring the fans out to the ballpark and only one game brings them all together at once, The All-Star Game.
The first Major League All-Star Game was played on July 6, 1933 at Comiskey Park in Chicago. It was initiated at the insistence of Arch Ward, a sports editor for the Chicago Tribune, to coincide with the celebration of Chicago’s Century of Progress Exposition. For over seventy-three years, the “Midsummer Classic” has remained a fan favorite showcasing the top talent in baseball.
All-Star teams were originally selected by the managers and the fans for the 1933 and 1934 games. From 1935 through 1946, managers selected the entire team for each league. From 1947 to 1957, fans chose the team’s starters and the manager chose the pitchers and the remaining players. From 1958 through 1969, managers, players, and coaches made the All-Star Team selections. In 1970, the vote again returned to the fans for the selection of the starters for each team and remains there today.
On July 14, 1970, At Riverfront Stadium Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds scores the winning run of the All Star Game after crashing into Ray Fosse of the Cleveland Indians. Rose’s run, which comes on a single by Jim Hickman, gives the National League a 5-4 win in 12 innings. The collision leaves Fosse…
Rico Carty, the National League’s leading hitter, becomes the first player voted to play in the All-Star Game as a write-in candidate. The Braves outfielder’s name was left off the ballot that was drawn up by managers and general managers before the start of spring training.
Willie McCovey hits two home runs as the National League beats the American League, 9 – 3, for its 7th straight All-Star Game win, with McCovey named All-Star MVP. Mel Stottlemyre starts for the AL when Denny McLainis late arriving from a dental appointment. An interesting sidelight is provided by Roberto Clemente’s sole turn at bat. He strikes out at the hands of “Sudden” Sam McDowell but, on the way there, one swing of the bat will furnish Larry Dierker’s most vivid memory from the game: “With all of the long balls, the one I remember most was hit by Roberto Clemente. The Great One hit it all the way into the upper deck, but it was foul. I had seen balls hit farther, but I had never seen a ball hit that far to the opposite field!”
The All-Star Game, for the first time since its inception in 1939, is rained out due to the soggy conditions at RFK Stadium caused by a torrential rain storm that pelted the nation’s capital during the day. The postponement of the 40th Midsummer Classic, which will be played tomorrow at 12:45 pm, is a disappointment to President Nixon, who had been scheduled throw the ceremonial first pitch, but will be leaving Washington to greet the returning Apollo 11 crew, scheduled to splash somewhere in the Pacific Ocean during the next twenty-four hours after their historic trip to the moon.
1969 – A gala All-Star Game banquet in Washington is one of baseball’s great events. An all-time team and all-time living team are announced. Babe Ruth is selected Greatest All-Time Player, and Joe DiMaggio, Greatest Living Player.
At Washington’s RFK Stadium, the National League scores early and often to coast to an easy 9-3 victory over the AL in the 40th All-Star Game. Cardinals southpaw Steve Carlton, the starting and winning pitcher, hits a double in the third inning off Blue Moon Odom to become the last hurler to get an extra-base hit in a Mid-Summer Classic contest.
Appropriately, pitching dominates the All-Star Game in the first All-Star Game played indoors. Willie Mays, playing in place of the injured Pete Rose, tallies an unearned run in the 1st inning against American Leaguestarter Luis Tiant to complete the scoring for the day – the first All-Star effort to end 1 – 0. Don Drysdale, Juan Marichal, Steve Carlton, Tom Seaver, Ron Reed and Jerry Koosman hold the American League to three hits.
On July 11, 1967, Tony Perez of the Cincinnati Reds hits a 15th inning home run against Jim “Catfish” Hunter of the Kansas City A’s, ending the longest All-Star Game in history. Perez’ dramatic blast gives the National League a 2-1 victory @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@
1967 – Jim Wynn becomes the first Houston player to get a hit in the All-Star Game . He singles in the ninth against Al Downing but does not score. Rusty Staub singles off Catfish Hunter in the 11th but also doesn’t score. Mike Cuellar, the third Astro All-Star, pitches two shutout innings . Finally, Tony Perez of Cincinnati homers in the 15th to give the Nationals a 2-1 win.
St. Louis hosts a hot midsummer All-Star classic. Maury Wills’ 10th-inning single scores Tim McCarver, as the National League wins, 2 – 1, in 105-degree heat. Brooks Robinson’s stellar game (3 hits, eight chances) earns him the game MVP award. Asked about the new ballpark, Casey Stengel remarks, “it holds the heat well.” On-field temperature is 113 degrees.
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