For the first time, the American League entered the game at a decided disadvantage. Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams were hobbled by injuries that limited them to pinch-hitting and George Kell, the game's premier third baseman, missed the game with an ankle injury. Many felt that this may be an opportunity for the National League to capitalize on the American League's misfortunes and take a first step toward evening up the All-Star wins.
Unfortunately for the National League, they were wrong. In the fourth inning, the American League loaded the bases off of pitcher Johnny Schmitz. Ken Keltner and George McQuinn singled and Birdie Tebbetts walked, loading the bases. Manager Bucky Harris let pitcher Vic Raschi bat and he singled into left, scoring Keltner and McQuinn and sending Tebbetts to third. In order to prevent another run, Schmitz was pulled and Johnny Sain was summoned from the bullpen in relief. It didn't help as he gave up a liner to DiMaggio. It scored Tebbetts and made the score, 5-2. It remained that as the American League added yet another W in their win column. Many felt that the game was becoming too routine, but change was on the horizon.
"He (Hank Aaron) could run, field, throw, and of course, hit. He has such great wrists, like Ernie Banks. And, it was hard to fool him." - Vic Raschi
1948 All-Star Game1948 All-Star Game Official Program |
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1948 All-Star Game Fast Facts | ||
Game Number | 15 | |
Date / Box Score | 07-13-1948 | |
Location | Sportsman's Park | |
Attendance (Rank) | 34,009 | |
1st Pitch | Burt Shooton | |
M.V.P. Award | Not Awarded Until 1962 | |
League Items | A.L. | N.L. |
Starting Pitchers | Walt Masterson | Ralph Branca |
Managers | Bucky Harris | Leo Durocher |
Coaches | John Corriden | Eddie Dyer |
Chuck Dressen | Mel Ott | |
1948 All-Star Game Fast Facts |
1948 All Star GameLine Score |
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1948 All-Star Game Capsule | ||||||||||||
League | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
National | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
American | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | 5 | 6 | 0 |
N.L. Pitcher(s) | A.L. Pitcher(s) | |||||||||||
Ralph Branca Johnny Schmitz (L, 4th) Johnny Sain (4th) Ewell Blackwell (6th) |
Walt Masterson Vic Raschi (W, 4th) Joe Coleman (7th) - |
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N.L. Home Runs | A.L. Home Runs | |||||||||||
Stan Musial (1st) | Hoot Evers (2nd) |
1948 All-Star GameNational League All-Star Squad |
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Lineup | Name | Team | Position | Notes |
1. | Richie Ashburn | Philadelphia Phillies | OF | |
Ewell Blackwell | Cincinnati Reds | P | ||
9. | Ralph Branca | Brooklyn Dodgers | P | Starting Pitcher |
Harry Brecheen | St. Louis Cardinals | P | Did Not Pitch | |
7. | Walker Cooper | New York Giants | C | |
Bob Elliott | Boston Braves | 3B | ||
Sid Gordon | New York Giants | 3B | Did Not Play | |
Frankie Gustine | Pittsburgh Pirates | 3B | ||
Tommy Holmes | Boston Braves | OF | ||
Buddy Kerr | New York Giants | SS | ||
Ralph Kiner | Pittsburgh Pirates | OF | ||
Marty Marion | St. Louis Cardinals | SS | Replaced - Injury | |
Phil Masi | Boston Braves | C | ||
Clyde McCullough | Chicago Cubs | C | Did Not Play | |
4. | Johnny Mize | New York Giants | 1B | |
3. | Stan Musial | St. Louis Cardinals | OF | |
6. | Andy Pafko | Chicago Cubs | 3B | |
8. | Pee Wee Reese | Brooklyn Dodgers | SS | |
Elmer Riddle | Pittsburgh Pirates | P | Did Not Pitch | |
Bill Rigney | New York Giants | 2B | Replaced Stanky | |
Johnny Sain | Boston Braves | P | ||
Johnny Schmitz | Chicago Cubs | P | ||
2. | Red Schoendienst | St. Louis Cardinals | 2B | |
5. | Enos Slaughter | St. Louis Cardinals | OF | |
Eddie Stanky | Boston Braves | 2B | Replaced - Injury | |
Bobby Thomson | New York Giants | OF | ||
Eddie Waitkus | Chicago Cubs | 1B | ||
BOLD = Fan's choice to start the game (Manager chooses pitcher). |
1948 All-Star GameAmerican League All-Star Squad |
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Lineup | Name | Team | Position | Notes |
Yogi Berra | New York Yankees | C | Did Not Play | |
3. | Lou Boudreau | Cleveland Indians | SS | |
Joe Coleman | Philadelphia Athletics | P | ||
Joe DiMaggio | New York Yankees | OF | ||
Joe Dobson | Boston Red Sox | P | Replaced Feller | |
Bobby Doerr | Boston Red Sox | 2B | ||
5. | Hoot Evers | Detroit Tigers | OF | |
Bob Feller | Cleveland Indians | P | Replaced - Injury | |
4. | Joe Gordon | Cleveland Indians | 2B | |
Joe Haynes | Chicago White Sox | P | Did Not Pitch | |
2. | Tommy Henrich | New York Yankees | OF | |
George Kell | Detroit Tigers | 3B | Did Not Play | |
6. | Ken Keltner | Cleveland Indians | 3B | |
Bob Lemon | Cleveland Indians | P | Did Not Pitch | |
9. | Walt Masterson | Washington Senators | P | Starting Pitcher |
7. | George McQuinn | New York Yankees | 1B | |
1. | Pat Mullin | Detroit Tigers | OF | |
Hal Newhouser | Detroit Tigers | P | ||
Joe Page | New York Yankees | P | Did Not Pitch | |
Vic Raschi | New York Yankees | P | ||
8. | Buddy Rosar | Philadelphia Athletics | C | |
Vern Stephens | Boston Red Sox | SS | ||
Birdie Tebbetts | Boston Red Sox | C | ||
Mickey Vernon | Washington Senators | 1B | ||
Ted Williams | Boston Red Sox | OF | ||
Al Zarilla | St. Louis Browns | OF | ||
BOLD = Fan's choice to start the game (Manager chooses pitcher).Game / Box Links: 1948 Box Score | 1948 Play-by-Play |
Did you know that this particular All-Star game was the first one ever played where neither league committed an error?
This was the third consecutive victory by the American League and the third time since 1933 that the junior circuit had won three consecutive Midsummer Classics.
This was the second Midsummer Classic held at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The first was held on July 9, 1940, a game best remembered because it was the first All-Star shutout.