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
Date	July 13, 1971[1]
Venue	Tiger Stadium[1]
City	Detroit
Managers	Sparky Anderson[2] (CIN) Earl Weaver[2] (BAL)
MVP	Frank Robinson[3] (BAL)
Attendance	53,559[1]
Ceremonial first pitch	Charlie Gehringer
Television	NBC
TV announcers	Curt Gowdy andTony Kubek
Radio	NBC
Radio announcers	Jim Simpson andSandy Koufax
← 1970 Major League Baseball All-Star Game 1972 →

The1971 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the 42nd edition, was played on Tuesday, July 13.^[1][4] The all-stars from theAmerican League and theNational League faced each other atTiger Stadium, home of theDetroit Tigers, and the home team AL won 6–4.^[1][5]

This was the third time that the Tigers had hosted the All-Star Game (1941,1951); the same venue was previously known asBriggs 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 the event returned to Detroit 34 years later in2005, it was atComerica Park, the Tigers' home since2000.

It was the American League's first win since thesecond game of 1962, and was their last until1983. Over the twenty game stretch from1963–1982, the AL was 1–19 (.050), the worst run for either league in the history of the exhibition.

The National League roster included fifteen futureHall of Fame players and coaches, denoted initalics.^[3][6]

The American League squad featured eleven futureHall of Fame players and coaches, denoted initalics.^[3][6]

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

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 theNBA, earning assignment to everyNBA 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 anNBA 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.

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 starterVida Blue in the top of the second inning.Willie Stargell was hit by a pitch to lead off. With one out, 23-year-old catcherJohnny Bench hit a two-runhome 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. WithDock Ellis still pitching,Luis Aparicio singled to center to lead off the inning, andReggie 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 basemanJoe Torre.Carl Yastrzemski flied out to left field, held up in the wind and caught by shortstopBud Harrelson. With two outs,Frank Robinson hit a two-run home run to right to give the AL a 4–3 lead, thenNorm Cash was caught looking.^[1][12]

In the bottom of the sixth,Cubs' pitcherFerguson Jenkins gave up a first pitch single to center byAl Kaline of the hometownTigers. 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, lefthanderMickey Lolich of the Tigers caughtBobby Bonds looking, but next up wasRoberto Clemente (1934–1972); in his final All-Star Gameat-bat, he launched a 3–1 pitch to the upper deck in deep right center,^[1][12] followed by weak ground outs byLee May andRon Santo. In the ninth, Lolich retired the side in order (Lou Brock,Don Kessinger, Bench) for a six-outsave.

Vida Blue was credited with thewin. Dock Ellis was credited with theloss. Hometown favorite Mickey Lolich was credited with thesave, 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 futureHall 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 inCooperstown

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 catcherThurman 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.

• 1971 All-Star Game summary
• 1971 All-Star Game box score
• 1971 All-Star Game play-by-play
• 1971 All-Star Game results @mlb.com

• 1971 Major League Baseball season
• Major League Baseball All-Star Game
• 1971 in Detroit
• Baseball competitions in Detroit
• 1971 in sports in Michigan
• July 1971 sports events in the United States

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from November 2013