1971 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

The 1971 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the 42nd such game, was played on July 13, 1971.[1] The all-stars from the American League and the National League faced each other at Tiger Stadium, home of the Detroit Tigers. The American League won by a score of 6–4.[1]

1971 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
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National League021000010450
American League00400200X670
DateJuly 13, 1971[1]
VenueTiger Stadium[1]
CityDetroit
Managers
MVPFrank Robinson[3] (BAL)
Attendance53,559[1]
Ceremonial first pitchCharlie Gehringer
TelevisionNBC
TV announcersCurt Gowdy and Tony Kubek
RadioNBC
Radio announcersJim Simpson and Sandy Koufax

This was the third time that the Tigers had hosted the All-Star Game (at the previous two in 1941 and 1951, Tiger Stadium had been called Briggs Stadium). This would be the last time Tiger Stadium hosted the All-Star Game, as when it returned to Detroit in 2005, the Tigers had moved to their new home at Comerica Park.

This was the first American League win since the second All-Star Game of 1962, and would be their last until the 54th All-Star Game in 1983. Over the twenty game stretch from 1963–1982, the American League would go 1–19; the worst stretch for either league in the history of the exhibition.

National League roster

The National League roster included 15 future Hall of Fame players and coaches, denoted in italics.[3][4]

Elected starters

PositionPlayerTeamNotes
CJohnny BenchCincinnati Reds
1BWillie McCoveySan Francisco Giants
2BGlenn BeckertChicago Cubs
3BJoe TorreSt. Louis Cardinals
SSBud HarrelsonNew York Mets
OFHank AaronAtlanta Braves
OFWillie MaysSan Francisco Giants
OFWillie StargellPittsburgh Pirates

Pitchers

ThrowsPitcherTeamNotes
LHSteve CarltonSt. Louis Cardinalsdid not pitch
RHClay CarrollCincinnati Reds
RHLarry DierkerHouston Astrosinjured
RHDock EllisPittsburgh Piratesstarting pitcher
RHFerguson JenkinsChicago Cubs
RHJuan MarichalSan Francisco Giants
RHTom SeaverNew York Metsdid not pitch
RHDon WilsonHouston Astros
RHRick WisePhiladelphia Philliesdid not pitch

Reserve position players

PositionPlayerTeamNotes
CManny SanguillénPittsburgh Piratesdid not play
1BNate ColbertSan Diego Padres
1BLee MayCincinnati Reds
2BFélix MillánAtlanta Braves
3BRon SantoChicago Cubs
SSDon KessingerChicago Cubs
OFBobby BondsSan Francisco Giants
OFLou BrockSt. Louis Cardinals
OFRoberto ClementePittsburgh Pirates
OFWillie DavisLos Angeles Dodgers
OFPete RoseCincinnati Reds
OFRusty StaubMontréal Exposdid not play

Coaching staff

PositionManagerTeam
ManagerSparky AndersonCincinnati Reds
CoachWalter AlstonLos Angeles Dodgers
CoachPreston GómezSan Diego Padres
CoachDanny MurtaughPittsburgh Pirates

American League roster

The American League squad featured ten future Hall of Fame players and coaches, denoted in italics.[3][4]

Elected Starters

PositionPlayerTeamNotes
CRay FosseCleveland Indiansinjured
1BBoog PowellBaltimore Oriolesdid not play
2BRod CarewMinnesota Twins
3BBrooks RobinsonBaltimore Orioles
SSLuis AparicioBoston Red Sox
OFTony OlivaMinnesota Twinsinjured
OFFrank RobinsonBaltimore Orioles
OFCarl YastrzemskiBoston Red Sox

Pitchers

ThrowsPitcherTeamNotes
LHVida BlueOakland Athleticsstarting pitcher
LHMike CuellarBaltimore Orioles
LHMickey LolichDetroit Tigers
LHSam McDowellCleveland Indiansinjured
RHAndy MessersmithCalifornia Angelsdid not pitch
RHJim PalmerBaltimore Orioles
RHMarty PattinMilwaukee Brewersdid not pitch
RHJim PerryMinnesota Twinsdid not pitch
RHSonny SiebertBoston Red Soxdid not pitch
LHWilbur WoodChicago White Soxdid not pitch

Reserve position players

PositionPlayerTeamNotes
CDave DuncanOakland Athleticsdid not play
CBill FreehanDetroit Tigersstarted for Fosse
1BNorm CashDetroit Tigersstarted for Powell
2BCookie RojasKansas City Royals
3BHarmon KillebrewMinnesota Twins
3BBill MeltonChicago White Soxdid not play
OFDon BufordBaltimore Orioles
OFFrank HowardWashington Senators
OFReggie JacksonOakland Athletics
OFAl KalineDetroit Tigers
OFBobby MurcerNew York Yankeesstarted for Oliva
OFAmos OtisKansas City Royals

Coaching staff

PositionManagerTeam
ManagerEarl WeaverBaltimore Orioles
CoachBilly HunterBaltimore Orioles
CoachBilly MartinDetroit Tigers

Starting lineups

While the starters were elected by the fans, the batting orders and starting pitchers were selected by the managers.[3]

National LeagueAmerican League
OrderPlayerTeamPositionOrderPlayerTeamPosition
1Willie MaysSan Francisco GiantsCF1Rod CarewMinnesota Twins2B
2Hank AaronAtlanta BravesRF2Bobby MurcerNew York YankeesCF
3Joe TorreSt. Louis Cardinals3B3Carl YastrzemskiBoston Red SoxLF
4Willie StargellPittsburgh PiratesLF4Frank RobinsonBaltimore OriolesRF
5Willie McCoveySan Francisco Giants1B5Norm CashDetroit Tigers1B
6Johnny BenchCincinnati RedsC6Brooks RobinsonBaltimore Orioles3B
7Glenn BeckertChicago Cubs2B7Bill FreehanDetroit TigersC
8Bud HarrelsonNew York MetsSS8Luis AparicioBoston Red SoxSS
9Dock EllisPittsburgh PiratesP9Vida BlueOakland AthleticsP

Umpires

Jake O'Donnell retired from umpiring after the 1971 season, after only three years on the job, but would go on to work through 1995 as a referee in the NBA, earning assignment to every NBA Finals between 1972 and 1994. His work in this game makes him the only person to officiate in a Major League Baseball All-Star Game and an NBA All-Star Game.

Coincidentally, Denkinger wore uniform number 11 from 1980-98, the same number O'Donnell wore as an NBA official. The American League did not use uniform numbers for its umpires prior to 1980; the National League began using them in the 1960s.

PositionUmpire[5]
Home PlateFrank Umont (AL)
First BasePaul Pryor (NL)
Second BaseJake O'Donnell (AL)
Third BaseDoug Harvey (NL)
Left FieldDon Denkinger (AL)
Right FieldNick Colosi (NL)

Scoring summary

With a gusty wind blowing to right,[6] all ten runs were scored on home runs, three for each side.[7][8][9]

The NL opened the scoring off starter Vida Blue in the top of the second inning. Willie Stargell was hit by a pitch to lead off. With one out, 23-year-old catcher Johnny Bench hit a two-run home run into the upper deck in deep right center.[1][10] In the top of the third inning, Hank Aaron launched a two-out solo home run (his first career All-Star Game extra-base hit ) into the upper deck in right off of Blue to give the NL a 3–0 lead.[1][10]

The AL responded in the bottom of the third inning. With Dock Ellis still pitching, Luis Aparicio singled to center to lead off the inning, and Reggie Jackson pinch-hit for pitcher Blue. On a 1–2 count, Jackson crushed a two-run home run high off the light tower atop the right center field roof. Rod Carew walked, Bobby Murcer hit an infield pop fly, which drifted and was caught near first base by third baseman Joe Torre. Carl Yastrzemski flew out to left field, held up in the wind and caught by shortstop Bud Harrelson. With two outs, Frank Robinson hit a two-run home run to right to give the AL a 4–3 lead, then Norm Cash was caught looking.[1][10]

In the bottom of the sixth, Cubs' pitcher Ferguson Jenkins gave up a first pitch single to center by Al Kaline of the hometown Tigers. The next batter, Harmon Killebrew, launched the third two-run home run of the game for the American League. This one was pulled to the upper deck in left, against the wind, on a full count.[1][10] Brooks Robinson singled, but did not advance, as a fly out to center and a 4-6-3 double play ended the inning.

In the top of the eighth, lefthander Mickey Lolich of the Tigers caught Bobby Bonds looking, but next up was Roberto Clemente (1934–1972); in his final All-Star Game at-bat, he launched a 3–1 pitch to the upper deck in deep right center,[1][10] followed by weak ground outs by Lee May and Ron Santo. In the ninth, Lolich retired the side in order (Lou Brock, Don Kessinger, Bench) for a six-out save.

Line score

Tuesday, July 13, 1971 7:15 pm (EDT) at Tiger Stadium in Detroit, Michigan
Team123456789RHE
National League021000010450
American League00400200X670
WP: Vida Blue (1-0)   LP: Dock Ellis (0-1)   Sv: Mickey Lolich (1)
Home runs:
NL: Johnny Bench (1), Hank Aaron (1), Roberto Clemente (1)
AL: Reggie Jackson (1), Frank Robinson (1), Harmon Killebrew (1)

Game notes and records

Vida Blue was credited with the win. Dock Ellis was credited with the loss. Hometown favorite Mickey Lolich was credited with the save, the first official save in an MLB All-Star Game.[5]

All of the scoring came via the home run, all six home runs hit in the game and all the runs scored were by future Hall of Fame players. The six total home runs hit by both teams tied an All-Star Game record.[4] Besides the home runs, the National League got singles by Bench and Tommy Davis; the American League got singles by Murcer, Kaline, Aparicio, and Brooks Robinson. All of them, except Davis and Murcer, were eventually inducted in Cooperstown

Frank Robinson became the first player in All-Star Game history to hit home runs for both leagues over the course of his career.[1]

Reggie Jackson's home run is described as "especially memorable", as it hit one of the light standards on the roof of the stadium, credibly estimated to have landed 520 feet from home plate.[4]

Roberto Clemente would be named to the 1972 National League squad, but would be replaced due to injury. This game marked his final All-Star Game appearance.[11]

A total of 26 future Hall of Famers were present for this game: 21 players, both managers, National League coach Walt Alston, Hall of Fame umpire Doug Harvey, and future Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre.

This was the final All-Star Game in which a majority of players wore uniforms made of wool flannel. In the 1972 All-Star Game at Atlanta, only the Expos, Royals and Yankees were still wearing flannels full-time. Players from the Orioles, Pirates and Cardinals wore polyester uniforms in this All-Star Game.

Notes

References

Yankee catcher, Thurman Munson, did not hit but came in to catch in the top of the eighth inning.

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