1968
- The 1968 season is noted for a dominance in pitching, but
it was some clutch hitting that made headlines when the
Eastern League (current day National League) defeated the
Western League (American League) 4-2. The Westerners took a
2-0 lead on Ernie Banks double in the 4th, and a young
Reggie Jackson's sac fly in the 5th. In the bottom of the
5th, Henry Aaron doubled in Pete Rose to cut the lead to
2-1. In the 7th, Carl Yastrzemski's double tied the game at
2. Then with Dave McNally on the mound, the Eastern League
hit a pair of 8th inning home runs, one by Richie Allen and
the other by Johnny Bench, to take a 4-2 lead. Hoyt Wilhelm
retired Gene Alley, Donn Clendenon, and Don Buford in the
9th inning to earn the save. Allen was named the game's MVP
for his dramatic 8th inning home run. Aaron finished the day
with 3 hits in 3 at bats.
1969
- Tony Perez' home run in the bottom of the 8th, his 2nd on
the day, gave the Western League All Stars a
come-from-behind 5-4 win over the Eastern League. The
Eastern League Stars took a 1-0 lead in the 3rd on the
Louisville connection of Pete Rose (double) and Tony Oliva
(single). The lead was extended to 4-0 in the 5th. Rose
doubled in a pair, then scored the 4th run on another Oliva
single. Trailing 4-0, the Westerners got on the board in the
bottom of the 5th. Facing Juan Marichal, Boog Powell blasted
a long solo home run, as did the next batter Tony Perez,
making it a 4-2 game. In the bottom of the 6th, the lead was
cut to one against Mike Cuellar. Reggie Jackson singled,
then scored on Jim Fregosi's double, 4-3. Bottom of the 7th,
Denny McLain on for the Eastern League. He was greeted by
Roberto Clemente's solo blast, and like that the game was
tied at 4. All the while the Western League was lighting up
the scoreboard, their pitchers were shutting down the
Eastern League hitters with only two hits for the Eastern
League after the 4th inning. Bottom of the 8th, Eddie Watt
surrendered the game-winning home run to Tony Perez, giving
the Western League a 5-4 lead. Johnny Bench singled to lead
off the top of the 9th, but Jim Roland and Ron Perranoski
got the next three outs to give the Western League a 5-4 win
and knot the series 1-1.
1970
- Carl Yastrzemski and Willie McCovey each homered to give
the National League a 3-1 win in the leauge's 3rd All Star
Game. Yastrzemski also stole a home run from Jim Fregosi in
the 3rd inning, and was named the game's MVP. The American
League took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st. Joe
Morgan tripled, then scored on Alex Johnson's sacrifice fly,
putting Mel Stottlemyre in a 1-0 hole. Bottom of the 4th
Yastzemski homered to tie the game at 1. The game stayed
tied until the 6th. Bob Gibson pitching for the AL, walked
Yastrzemski. Willie McCovey followed with a mamoth blast to
give the NL a 3-1 lead. The Junior Curcuit responded with a
rally in the 7th. A single by Lou Brock was erased when he
was picked off. Manny Sanguillen singled, and with 2 outs
Tommy Harper singled. Sparky Lyle relieved Jim Perry and got
out of the jam. Ferguson Jenkins and Jack Aker each threw a
scoreless inning to preserve a 3-1 victory.
1971
- The American League made it four in a row for the home
team, and they evened the now annual series with an 8-4 win.
Joe Morgan and Manny Sanguillen each had 2 hits, a run, and
an RBI and shared the game's MVP honors. Young Ted Simmons
contributed a key pinch hit double to the cause.
The AL scored a run in the first on Joe Morgan's triple and Rusty Staub's single. This was the beginning of a 2-inning nightmare for NL starter Don Wilson. In the 2nd, Simmons' 2-out double scored Chico Cardenas. Lou Brock singled in Simmons, and then he scored on Joe Morgan's single. 4-0 after two innings. Ferguson Jenkins took the ball in the bottom of the 3rd, but he suffered the same type of feat as Wilson. Sanguillen's RBI single in the 3rd made it 5-0, and Joe Torre's two run single in the 4th increased the margin to 7-0. So much for the TV ratings. The NL did fight back for 2 runs in the top of the 5th, scoring a pair of runs on a wild pitch and an error, 7-2. Each team added another run, and then in the top of the 9th, a thrill for NL rookie Earl Williams as he hit a pinch hit home run to complete the scoring at 8-4. This would be Williams' only appearance in an all star game.
1972
- The American League finally broke the home team winning
trend as they roughed up NL starter Ferguson Jenkins in the
first inning en route to a 10-6 decision. The AL put 6 runs
on the board in the 1st inning, kicked off by the game's 3rd
batter, Billy Williams, who blasted a 2-run home run for a
quick 2-0 lead. With two outs, Roberto Clemente singled, and
scored when Ted Simmons doubled, 3-0. Richie Hebner walked,
and then the unlikeliest of hitters, Luis Aparicio, slugged
a 3-run home run to cap the 6-run inning. AL starter Gaylord
Perry worked two scoreless innings, and was followed by Ken
Holtzman, Jim Hunter, and Mickey Lolich, who combined for
four more frames of zeroes. In the 7th the AL added three
more runs, keyed by a pinch hit double by Johnny Briggs, a
double by Williams, and another single by Clemente. Trailing
9-0, the NL finally got on the board in the bottom of the
7th. Willie Stargell doubled in Graig Nettles, and John
Mayberry's single scored another run to make it 9-2. The AL
added a run in the top of the 8th, answered by Bobby
Murcer's 2-run home run in the bottom of the inning to make
it 10-4. Two more NL runs come on singles by Danny Thompson
and Mayberry, 10-6. With 2-on and 2-out, Henry Aaron stepped
to the plate to face Steve Kline. But Kline gets Aaron on
strikes to end the inning and any NL hopes of a dramatic
comeback. Jim Brewer works a scoreless 9th to wrap up the
American Leauge's win, 10-6. Billy Williams and Luis
Aparicio were named co-MVPs for the winning AL team.
1973
- The National League returned last year's favor by winning
on the road, knotting the all-time series mark at 3-3 with a
wild, 10-inning, 11-9 win. An error by Roger Metzger and an
RBI single from Henry Aaron gave the NL the winning runs in
the top of the 10th.
It was Aaron who started the scoring with a 3-run HR off Gaylord Perry in the first. But NL starter Bert Blyleven couldn't hold the lead, as Thurman Munson singled in one run, and Joe Morgan two more in the bottom of the 2nd. But this did not deter the NL, who picked up 3 more runs in the 3rd off Tom Seaver. Carlton Fisk tripled in a pair, and scored on Marty Perez' single. Bottom of the 4th, Ron Bryant got a taste of the AL offense when Joe Morgan connected for a 2-run HR to cut the NL lead to 6-5. So back came the NL...three runs in the 5th off Pedro Borbon, one of Bill Melton's double, and two more on Bobby Bonds' 2-run HR. Leading 9-5, the NL turned to Mel Stottlemyre, but Reggie Jackson had a 2-run answer for him, 9-7 after 5! Bob Reynolds pitched a scoreless 6th for the NL, as did Bill Lee in the 7th. In the bottom of the 8th, Ted Simmons doubled off Ramon Hernandez to score Jackson and make it a 9-8 game. In the 9th, John Hiller was disappointed by his defense as an error set up Amos Otis' game-tying sacrifice fly to send the game into extra innings. In the 10th the error by Metzger made it 10-9, and Aaron's single created a 2-run advantage at 11-9. The NL turned to Dave Roberts to close out the game, and he did as the NL won 11-9. Henry Aaron was named the game's MVP for his 3 for 6, HR, 4 RBI day.
1974
- The National League won their second All Star game in a
row with a 4-run 6th to take a 5-2 decision over the
American League. MVP Reggie Smith's PH double to lead off
the 6th started a four run rally that broke open a 1-1 tie
game. Starting pitchers Phil Niekro and Don Sutton each went
3 innings, with the NL getting to Niekro in the 3rd on an
RBI double by Al Oliver. Scoring on the play was Jorge Orta,
who had walked as a pinch hitter. Nolan Ryan added two more
scoreless innings, taking the game into the 6th at 1-0. In
the 6th, the AL loads the bases and scores an unearned run
on a ground out. The run was unearned because Rod Carew
struck out but reached first base on a passed ball by Johnny
Bench. Bottom of the 6th things went right for the NL. Jim
Hunter started the inning for the AL, but gave up the PH
double to Smith and a single to Bench. Tommy John replaced
Hunter, but Carl Yastrzemski singled in Smith to make it
2-1. Orlando Pena replaced John to face Mike Schmidt, and he
walked to load the bases. Jeff Burroughs singled to score
one, 3-1, and Dave Cash walked to force in another, 4-1.
Dave Concepcion's sacrifice fly brought home the final run
of the inning, 5-1. Gene Tenace's pinch hit HR off Lynn
McGlothen cut the lead to 5-2, but Jim Rooker, Sparky Lyle,
and Paul Lindblad shutout the AL in the final two innings to
preserve the win for the Nationals. They now hold a 4-3 lead
in the series.
1975
- The league's 8th annual All Star Game went to the National
League on John Mayberry's 5th inning pinch-hit, 2-run HR off
Phil Niekro, giving the NL a 3-0 lead which lead to a 4-2
victory. Starers Andy Messersmith and Jim Palmer worked 2
and 3 scoreless innings respectively, and Randy Jones
followed Messersmith with 2 more scoreless frames. But in
the top of the 4th the NL took a 1-0 lead when Willie
Stargell and Greg Luzinski hit back-to-back doubles of Jim
Hunter. Top of the 5th, Bobby Grich delivered a 2-out
pinch-hit single. Mayberry, hitting for Jones, delivered his
bomb to make it a 3-0 game. It stayed that way until the 8th
when Grich led off with a walk. Two outs later George Scott
doubled to right to increase the NL lead to 4-0. Bottom of
the 8th, the AL got on the board. Larry Bowa singled off Don
Sutton. Joe Morgan doubled to put men on 2nd and 3rd with
none out. Jim Barr replaced Sutton, and got Bill Madlock to
ground out. But that was all the AL could get from Barr and
it was 4-1. Bottom of the 9th, the NL turned to Tom
Burgmeier to wrap things up. Steve Garvey got a 1-out
double, and with 2 down, Thurman Munson singled him in to
make it 4-2. Two down, Al Hrabosky was called in to face
Bowa. Bowa flied out and the NL won 4-2, and now held a 5-3
lead in the series.
1976
- Joe Morgan sparked a 10th inning rally to give the
American League a 4-3 win over the National League in the
1976 All Star Game. The AL took the lead in the 2nd off NL
starter Randy Jones. Rick Monday singled, then scored on
Dave Winfield's double. Rick Burleson followed with another
double to make it 2-0. The AL threatened to blow the game
open against Rick Reuschel in the 3rd. Bob Watson's sac fly
made it 3-0, but with the bases loaded and one out, Resuchel
got Winfield to ground into a DP to end the inning. Johnny
Bench's solo HR in the 5th cut the lead to 3-1, but that was
it until the 8th. Bill Campbell on the mound, home half of
the 8th, Fred Lynn belted a 2-run HR to tie the game at 3!
Neither team scored in the 9th. Top of the 10th, with 2
outs, Rawley Eastwick walked Joe Morgan, who then stole 2nd.
Buddy Bell singled to right, Morgan beat Dave Parker's throw
to give the AL a 4-3 lead! Bottom of the 10th, Butch Metzger
ran into some trouble, walking Mike Schmidt and giving up a
single to Bill Russell. With one out, Lynn came to the
plate, but the rookie Metzger fanned Lynn! Chris Chambliss
followed with a line drive that Morgan snared to end the
game. The final was 4-3, and the AL pulled to within one in
the series at 5-4.
1977
- Steve Garvey's 3-run HR in the 5th pulled the NL out of a
hole which lead to an eventual 7-4 win. The game was tied at
4 heading into the 9th when the wheels fell off Bruce
Sutter's cart, as he gave up RBI hits to Rennie Stennett,
Darrell Porter, and George Foster.
The AL took a 2-0 lead in the first when Bobby Bonds nailed a 2-run HR off J.R. Richard. In the 2nd a passed ball on Carlton Fisk allowed Doug DeCinces to score, 3-0 AL. George Foster's solo HR in the 3rd cut the lead to 3-1 as he took Vida Blue deep into the Flatbush night. But the AL got it back in the 4th on Rod Carew's single, 4-1. Top of the 5th, Larry Hisle delivered a pinch hit single. Joe Morgan beat out an infield single, setting the stage for Garvey's 3-run HR off real-life teammate Doug Rau. This was Garvey's 3rd hit of the game and tied the score at 4. The pitchers took over as Seaver, Reuschel, Sutton, and Garber each worked a scoreless frame for the NL. Meanwhile, Figueroa, Sambito, and Lavelle shut down the NL in the 6th through 8th innings. Top of the 9th, Bruce Sutter on the hill, and he started fast by striking out the first two hitters. Then Larry Hisle doubled for the 2nd time in the game, and Rennie Stennett followed with another double, 5-4 NL. Darrell Porter singled in Stennett, and took 2nd on the throw home. George Foster capped the scoring with his 3rd hit of the game to make it 7-4. That was more than enough for Lerrin LaGrow, who worked a scoreless 9th to seal the NL's 7-4 win. In the series, the NL leads 6-4.
1978
- Another classic, 10-inning affair, won by Amos Otis' 2-run
single in the top of the 10th, 7-5. The hitters were not
kind to starters Steve Carlton and Craig Swan. The AL took a
2-0 lead in the 2nd on RBI singles by Roy Smalley and Steve
Carlton. Dave Concepcion's single in the bottom of the
inning cut the lead in half at 2-1. In the 3rd the AL
extended their lead to 3-1 on Ellis Valentine's HR off Jim
Palmer. Bottom of the 3rd, a pair of errors put 2 on for
Johnny Bench. Bench sent Steve Rogers' offering deep for a
3-run HR and a 4-3 NL lead. Jim Rice added a sacrifice fly
in the 4th to make it 5-3. Bobby Bonds entered the fray,
helping the AL tie the game at 5. His pinch hit HR in the
5th off Ron Guidry, and sacrifice fly in the 6th tied the
game. The game remained tied until the 10th. Dave Parker led
off for the AL with a double off Gene Garber. A walk to Gary
Carter and a ground out put runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2
out. Amos Otis came through with his 2-run single to make it
7-5. John Denny tooke the ball in the bottom of the 10th and
struck out two to preserve the win, 7-5. This brings the
annual series to 6-5 in favor of the NL.
1979
- This year’s mid-season classic was indeed a classic,
with the Nationals winning by an 8-6 margin in extra
innings. In the first inning, singles by Keith Hernandez and
Fred Lynn followed by a Mike Schmidt double put the
Nationals up 1-0. The Americans answered with a run in their
half of the first. Paul Molitor led off with a single and
was pushed to third on singles by Roy Smalley and Dave
Winfield, and scored on Eddie Murray’s sac fly.
Americans' starter Mike Flanagan didn’t make it through
the second inning as Molitor started it with a double, Steve
Ontiveros singled, Tommy John batted for himself and singled
home Molitor, Smalley doubled home Ontiveros and after Ken
Singleton grounded out to short, Dave Winfield plated John
and Smalley. With the score 5-1, Flanagan was lifted.
Proving that this is a team of All-Stars, the Nationals came right back at the Americans in the top of the 3rd. Johnny Bench, replacing Darrell Porter, one-hops the wall in left center for a double and then John walks Hernandez and hits Lynn to load the bases for none other than Schmidt. The Midwest third baseman hits his second double in as many at bats and it’s a one-run game as he clears the bases, 5-4; Schmidt beats the cut-off throw and ends up on third. This ends Tommy John’s day and Greg Minton comes on in relief to face Sixto Lezcano. Minton walks Lezcano and then Jim Rice comes up and singles down the left field line, sending Schmidt home, tying the game at 5-5. The inning ends tied as Winfield throws out Lezcano trying to score on Dave Concepcion’s single to right. J.R. Richard holds the Americans hitless for two innings and Tom Seaver comes on in the bottom of the 5th. Winfield greets him with a single, his third hit of the day. After Murray grounds out to third, Winfield gets to second and scores on Gorman Thomas’ single to left, putting the Americans up by 6-5 margin.
In the top of the 6th, Phil Niekro is pitching for the Americans. Ron LeFlore gets a one-out walk, steals second and makes it to third on a Bench groundout. Keith Hernandez then sends a hard grounder through the infield, and the game is tied again as LeFlore scores. The game remains tied until the top of the 11th when back-to-back doubles by Lynn and Steve Garvey off Gaylord Perry broke the tie and Dennis Eckersley set the Americans down in order in the bottom of the 11th to finish it.
1980
- It was NL Mike Norris against AL Steve Carlton to start
things off in the first. Norris retired the side, but
Carlton seemed to struggle as he allowed a single to Willie
Randolph. Randolph tried to get something started with an
attempted steal but was cut down by Ted Simmons. Top of the
2nd, Dale Murphy greeted Norris with a solo homerun to put
the first run on the board. Norris retired the next two
batters then faced Andre Dawson. Dawson hit a shot that
bounced off the rubber and Schmidt made an off-balance throw
that got by Keith Hernandez to put Dawson on first with 2
out. Ken Oberkfell popped up to end any threat. Carlton gave
up a lead off double to Reggie Jackson, but then settled
down to retire the side in bottom of 2nd. The 3rd inning
turned out to be the game's big inning for the Nationals.
With Carlton not looking too sharp he walked Jack Clark who
was PH for Norris. Nex Willie Wilson pulled the ball down
the line for stand up double driving in Clark from first to
tie the at 1 run a piece. Keith Hernandez then greeted
Carlton with a shot past Oberkfell and Wilson flew around
the bases to score and give the Nationals the lead. Manager
decided to stick with Carlton for another batter and 2 out
against Reggie Jackson. With runner on the move, Jackson
taps one to Eddie Murray, but he was slow on the toss and
Jackson beat it out as Carlton's foot was off the bag.
Carlton is yanked in favor of Rick Langford. The change does
little as Mike Schmidt launches a double between center and
left field. Jackson was waved in and Robin Yount's relay was
not in time as Nationals stretch the lead to 4-1.
Don Sutton replaced Mike Norris for the Nationals in the top of the 4th and with 2 out the Americans mount an attack. Yount rips a triple and Sutton walks Simmons, but Dawson pops ip to leave runners stranded. Langford registers 2 Ks to end the 4th. NL 4, AL 1. Except for a double by Rickey Henderson, Sutton set down Americans. Jim Bibby came on to relieve Langford and immediately got the Americans into trouble as he walked Wilson and he stole second, then walked Randolph. Keith Hernandez hit into a double play to help out Bibby, but he then walks Jackson. So Schmidt comes up with runners on first and second and 2 out. Bibby strikes him out to get out of the inning. Bill Caudill replaces Sutton to start the 6th. Trying to mount a comeback Dale Murphy gets a base hit with one out, but Yount hits in to a DP to end their part of the innning. Nationals put it away when Al Oliver hit a PH single off Bibby, then gets to third on two ground outs. Dwayne Murphy PH for the Caudill and sends Bibby to the showers with drive over left field for a 2 run HR to give the Nationals a 6-1 lead. Al Holland makes and appearance and ends the inning. After that the American hitters managed only 1 hit for the final 3 innings as 4 National league pitchers nailed down the win. Reggie Jackson is the game's MVP. He went 2 for 2 with a double and a run scored. He was on base every at bat and 3 putouts. Pitchers were strong. In a losing cause Dale Murphy had a great game going 2 for 4 with 5 total bases including a HR and a run scored.