1971 All-Star Game

1971 All-Star Game

After nine consecutive losing appearances, the American League appeared to be on their way to yet another disappointing loss. The National League jumped out 3-0, but the American League came back in the bottom of the third and, for the first time since 1964, actually took the lead.

Luis Aparicio led off with a single and Earl Weaver sent up Reggie Jackson, who was in only his fourth full season. Jackson made his at-bat debut with a homerun that struck a light tower on Tiger Stadium's roof some 520 feet from home plate. It was just a preview of what was to come from the future hall of famer.

Two batters later, Frank Robinson (who, incidentally, became the first to home for both sides in the All-Star Game) stepped up to the plate and fired a rocket into the lower right-field seats putting the American League up, 4-3. Then they added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Roberto Clemente's homer in the eighth was the only action the National League could muster and it would not be enough.

What made this game so exceptional was not only that the American League had finally won their first Midsummer Classic since 1962, but that all six home runs were shots from future hall of fame players! The sports headlines in newspapers across the country read: "Stop the presses! The American League wins one!" The All-Star curse was finally broken, but would the American League be able to maintain the momentum into the next season?

"I don't see why you reporters keep confusing Brooks and me. Can't you see that we wear different numbers." - Frank Robinson

1971 All-Star Game
1971 All-Star Game Fast Facts
Game Number	42
Date / Box Score	07-13-1971
Location	Tiger Stadium
Attendance (Rank)	53,559
M.V.P. Award	Frank Robinson
League Items	A.L.	N.L.
Starting Pitchers	Vida Blue	Dock Ellis
Managers	Earl Weaver	Sparky Anderson
Coaches	Billy Hunter	Walter Alston
	Billy Martin	Preston Gomez
	-	Danny Murtaugh
1971 All-Star Game Fast Facts

1971 All Star Game Line Score
1971 All-Star Game Fast Facts
League	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
National	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	4	5	0
American	0	0	4	0	0	2	0	0	x	6	7	0
N.L. Pitcher(s)						A.L. Pitcher(s)
Dock Ellis (L) Juan Marichal (4th) Fergie Jenkins ( 6th) Don Wilson (7th)						Vida Blue (W) Jim Palmer (4th) Mike Cuellar (6th) Mickey Lolich (8th)
N.L. Home Runs						A.L. Home Runs
Johnny Bench (2nd) Hank Aaron (3rd) Roberto Clemente (8th)						Frank Robinson (3rd) Reggie Jackson (3rd) Harmon Killebrew (6th)

1971 All-Star Game National League All-Star Squad
Lineup	Name	Team	Position	Notes
2.	Hank Aaron	Atlanta Braves	OF
7.	Glenn Beckert	Chicago Cubs	2B
6.	Johnny Bench	Cincinnati Reds	C
	Bobby Bonds	San Francisco Giants	OF
	Lou Brock	St. Louis Cardinals	OF
	Steve Carlton	St. Louis Cardinals	P	Did Not Pitch
	Clay Carroll	Cincinnati Reds	P
	Roberto Clemente	Pittsburgh Pirates	OF
	Nate Colbert	San Diego Padres	1B
	Willie Davis	Los Angeles Dodgers	OF
	Larry Dierker	Houston Astros	P	Injured
9.	Dock Ellis	Pittsburgh Pirates	P	Starting Pitcher
8.	Bud Harrelson	New York Mets	SS
	Fergie Jenkins	Chicago Cubs	P
	Don Kessinger	Chicago Cubs	SS
	Juan Marichal	San Francisco Giants	P
	Lee May	Cincinnati Reds	1B
1.	Willie Mays	San Francisco Giants	OF
5.	Willie McCovey	San Francisco Giants	1B
	Felix Millan	Atlanta Braves	2B
	Pete Rose	Cincinnati Reds	OF
	Manny Sanguillen	Pittsburgh Pirates	C	Did Not Play
	Ron Santo	Chicago Cubs	3B
	Tom Seaver	New York Mets	P	Did Not Pitch
4.	Willie Stargell	Pittsburgh Pirates	OF
	Rusty Staub	Montreal Expos	OF	Did Not Play
3.	Joe Torre	St. Louis Cardinals	3B
	Don Wilson	Houston Astros	P
	Rick Wise	Philadelphia Phillies	P	Did Not Pitch
BOLD = Fan's choice to start the game (Manager chooses pitcher).

1971 All-Star Game American League All-Star Squad
Lineup	Name	Team	Position	Notes
8.	Luis Aparicio	Boston Red Sox	SS
9.	Vida Blue	Oakland Athletics	P	Starting Pitcher
	Don Buford	Baltimore Orioles	OF
	Leo Cardenas	Minnesota Twins	SS	Did Not Play
1.	Rod Carew	Minnesota Twins	2B
5.	Norm Cash	Detroit Tigers	1B
	Mike Cuellar	Baltimore Orioles	P
	Dave Duncan	Oakland Athletics	C	Did Not Play
	Ray Fosse	Cleveland Indians	C	Injured
7.	Bill Freehan	Detroit Tigers	C
	Frank Howard	Washington Senators	OF
	Reggie Jackson	Oakland Athletics	OF
	Al Kaline	Detroit Tigers	OF
	Harmon Killebrew	Minnesota Twins	3B
	Mickey Lolich	Detroit Tigers	P
	Sam McDowell	Cleveland Indians	P	Injured
	Bill Melton	Chicago White Sox	3B	Did Not Pitch
	Andy Messersmith	California Angels	P	Did Not Pitch
	Thurman Munson	New York Yankees	C
2.	Bobby Murcer	New York Yankees	OF
	Tony Oliva	Minnesota Twins	OF	Injured
	Amos Otis	Kansas City Royals	OF
	Jim Palmer	Baltimore Orioles	P
	Marty Pattin	Milwaukee Brewers	P	Did Not Pitch
	Jim Perry	Minnesota Twins	P	Did Not Pitch
	Boog Powell	Baltimore Orioles	1B	Did Not Play
6.	Brooks Robinson	Baltimore Orioles	3B
4.	Frank Robinson	Baltimore Orioles	OF
	Cookie Rojas	Kansas City Royals	2B
	Sonny Siebert	Boston Red Sox	P	Did Not Pitch
	Wilbur Wood	Chicago White Sox	P	Did Not Pitch
3.	Carl Yastrzemski	Boston Red Sox	OF
BOLD = Fan's choice to start the game (Manager chooses pitcher).

The home run hit by Frank Robinson made him the first player to hit All-Star home runs from both leagues.

The attendance was a record for the midsummer classic and the gate revenue was an all time high $435,134.

The shot hit by Reggie Jackson in the bottom of the third is a true classic as it hit the light tower on top of the second deck of the stadium in right center.

Copyright © 2000-2009. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Design by Geisler Young. Hosted by Hosting 4 Less.
Part of the Baseball Almanac family: 755 Home Runs | Baseball Box Scores | Baseball Fever | Football Almanac | Pigskin Fever | Today in Baseball History.