Wikipedia

1971 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

The 1971 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the 42nd edition, was played on Tuesday, July 13.[1][4] The all-stars from the American League and the National League faced each other at Tiger Stadium, home of the Detroit Tigers, and the home team AL won 6–4.[1][5]

1971 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
National League 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 5 0
American League 0 0 4 0 0 2 0 0 X 6 7 0
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 (1941, 1951); the same venue was previously known as Briggs Stadium. It was the second All-Star Game played at night, the first in prime-time in an American League park, and the last in Tiger Stadium. When it returned 34 years later in 2005, it was at Comerica Park, the Tigers' home since 2000.

It was the American League's first win since the second game of 1962, and was their last until 1983. Over the twenty game stretch from 1963–1982, the AL was 1–19 (.050), the worst run for either league in the history of the exhibition.

National League roster

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The National League roster included fifteen future Hall of Fame players and coaches, denoted in italics.[3][6]

Elected starters

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Position Player Team Notes
C Johnny Bench Cincinnati Reds
1B Willie McCovey San Francisco Giants
2B Glenn Beckert Chicago Cubs
3B Joe Torre St. Louis Cardinals
SS Bud Harrelson New York Mets
OF Hank Aaron Atlanta Braves
OF Willie Mays San Francisco Giants
OF Willie Stargell Pittsburgh Pirates

Pitchers

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Throws Pitcher Team Notes
LH Steve Carlton St. Louis Cardinals did not pitch
RH Clay Carroll Cincinnati Reds
RH Larry Dierker Houston Astros injured
RH Dock Ellis Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher
RH Ferguson Jenkins Chicago Cubs
RH Juan Marichal San Francisco Giants
RH Tom Seaver New York Mets did not pitch
RH Don Wilson Houston Astros
RH Rick Wise Philadelphia Phillies did not pitch

Reserve position players

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Position Player Team Notes
C Manny Sanguillén Pittsburgh Pirates did not play
1B Nate Colbert San Diego Padres
1B Lee May Cincinnati Reds
2B Félix Millán Atlanta Braves
3B Ron Santo Chicago Cubs
SS Don Kessinger Chicago Cubs
OF Bobby Bonds San Francisco Giants
OF Lou Brock St. Louis Cardinals
OF Roberto Clemente Pittsburgh Pirates
OF Willie Davis Los Angeles Dodgers
OF Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds
OF Rusty Staub Montreal Expos did not play

Coaching staff

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Position Manager Team
Manager Sparky Anderson Cincinnati Reds
Coach Walter Alston Los Angeles Dodgers
Coach Preston Gómez San Diego Padres
Coach Danny Murtaugh Pittsburgh Pirates

American League roster

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The American League squad featured eleven future Hall of Fame players and coaches, denoted in italics.[3][6]

Elected Starters

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Position Player Team Notes
C Ray Fosse Cleveland Indians injured
1B Boog Powell Baltimore Orioles did not play
2B Rod Carew Minnesota Twins
3B Brooks Robinson Baltimore Orioles
SS Luis Aparicio Boston Red Sox
OF Tony Oliva Minnesota Twins injured
OF Frank Robinson Baltimore Orioles
OF Carl Yastrzemski Boston Red Sox

Pitchers

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Throws Pitcher Team Notes
LH Vida Blue Oakland Athletics starting pitcher
LH Mike Cuellar Baltimore Orioles
LH Mickey Lolich Detroit Tigers
LH Sam McDowell Cleveland Indians injured
RH Andy Messersmith California Angels did not pitch
RH Jim Palmer Baltimore Orioles
RH Marty Pattin Milwaukee Brewers did not pitch
RH Jim Perry Minnesota Twins did not pitch
RH Sonny Siebert Boston Red Sox did not pitch
LH Wilbur Wood Chicago White Sox did not pitch

Reserve position players

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Position Player Team Notes
C Dave Duncan Oakland Athletics did not play
C Bill Freehan Detroit Tigers started for Fosse
C Thurman Munson New York Yankees
1B Norm Cash Detroit Tigers started for Powell
2B Cookie Rojas Kansas City Royals
3B Harmon Killebrew Minnesota Twins
3B Bill Melton Chicago White Sox did not play
OF Don Buford Baltimore Orioles
OF Frank Howard Washington Senators
OF Reggie Jackson Oakland Athletics
OF Al Kaline Detroit Tigers
OF Bobby Murcer New York Yankees started for Oliva
OF Amos Otis Kansas City Royals

Coaching staff

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Position Manager Team
Manager Earl Weaver Baltimore Orioles
Coach Billy Hunter Baltimore Orioles
Coach Billy Martin Detroit Tigers

Starting lineups

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

National League American League
Order Player Team Position Order Player Team Position
1 Willie Mays San Francisco Giants CF 1 Rod Carew Minnesota Twins 2B
2 Hank Aaron Atlanta Braves RF 2 Bobby Murcer New York Yankees CF
3 Joe Torre St. Louis Cardinals 3B 3 Carl Yastrzemski Boston Red Sox LF
4 Willie Stargell Pittsburgh Pirates LF 4 Frank Robinson Baltimore Orioles RF
5 Willie McCovey San Francisco Giants 1B 5 Norm Cash Detroit Tigers 1B
6 Johnny Bench Cincinnati Reds C 6 Brooks Robinson Baltimore Orioles 3B
7 Glenn Beckert Chicago Cubs 2B 7 Bill Freehan Detroit Tigers C
8 Bud Harrelson New York Mets SS 8 Luis Aparicio Boston Red Sox SS
9 Dock Ellis Pittsburgh Pirates P 9 Vida Blue Oakland Athletics P

Umpires

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Jake O'Donnell retired from umpiring after the 1971 season, after only three years on the job, but went 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 to 1998, 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.

Position Umpire[7]
Home Plate Frank Umont (AL)
First Base Paul Pryor (NL)
Second Base Jake O'Donnell (AL)
Third Base Doug Harvey (NL)
Left Field Don Denkinger (AL)
Right Field Nick Colosi (NL)

Scoring summary

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With a gusty wind blowing to right,[8] all ten runs were scored on home runs, three for each side.[9][10][11]

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][12] 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][12]

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 flied 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][12]

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][12] 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][12] 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

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Tuesday, July 13, 1971 7:15 pm (EST) at Tiger Stadium in Detroit, Michigan
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
National League 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 5 0
American League 0 0 4 0 0 2 0 0 X 6 7 0
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

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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.[7]

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.[6] 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.[6]

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.[13]

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

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.[14]

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.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Total Baseball, 5th ed., 1997, Viking Press, Thorn, John et al. ed, p. 253
  2. ^ a b All-Time All-Star Managers, mlb.com; accessed 20 September 2008
  3. ^ a b c d 1971 All-Star Game, baseball-almanac.com; accessed 21 September 2008
  4. ^ "Blue won't get short changed on All-Star luck due to dimes". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). Associated Press. July 13, 1971. p. 19.
  5. ^ Loomis, Tom (July 14, 1971). "Tiger stadium just home run haven". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). p. 19.
  6. ^ a b c d All-Star Game Results-1971, mlb.com; accessed 20 September 2008
  7. ^ a b 1971 All-Star Game Box Score, baseball-almanac.com; accessed 21 September 2008
  8. ^ Sullwold, Chet (July 14, 1971). "Wind blew, and the balls flew!". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). p. 42.
  9. ^ Loomis, Tom (July 14, 1971). "Tiger Stadium just home run haven". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). p. 42.
  10. ^ "Reggie Jackson's shocker sparks AL's All-Star win". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. July 14, 1971. p. 1E.
  11. ^ "AL out-homers NL in All-Star contest". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. July 14, 1971. p. 14.
  12. ^ a b c d e 1971 All-Star Game Play-by-Play, @baseball-almanac.com; accessed 21 September 2008
  13. ^ All-Star Game Results-1972, mlb.com; accessed 20 September 2008
  14. ^ Tim Kurkjian (July 19, 2021). "'All your baseball cards came to life': The night, 50 years ago, when 22 Hall of Famers played in an All-Star Game for the ages". ESPN. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
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