In 1973 the Midsummer Classic celebrated it's 40th Anniversary with a game that was special as it marked the final All-Star appearance of Willie Mays who many consider to be the greatest all-round performer in All-Star history. During his twenty-four appearances, he hit .307, had twenty-three hits, including three home runs, three triples and two doubles. More than just a threat at the plate, he was also responsible for many highlights on the field with spectacular defensive play.
As part of the festivities, surviving members from the first 1933 game attended including Carl Hubbell, Bill Hallahan, Lefty Gomez, Dick Bartel, Lefty Grove, Joe Cronin, Jimmie Dykes and Charlie Gehringer.
In keeping with the historical theme, the American League started out in the lead, but was unable to hold onto it. Trailing 1-0 in the third, the National League scored two runs and went on scoring steadily. Bobby Bonds entered the game during the fourth inning to replace starter Billy Williams then proceeded to smack a two run homer during his first at-bat in the fifth inning off California's Bill Singer. He secured his Most Valuable Player Award in the seventh inning when he ran out a lazy single for a very exciting double.
Many fans felt that the All-Star Game was becoming too predictable once again and many of their favorite regulars had begun to retire. This trend would affect the attendance and enthusiasm that surrounded the festivities, but a new group of up and coming superstars were about to give the game a new breathe of life.
"He (Carl Lewis) makes his living running fast and I make mine running slow." - Bobby Bonds on his home run trot
1973 All-Star Game1973 All-Star Game Official Program |
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1973 All-Star Game Fast Facts | ||
Game Number | 44 | |
Date / Box Score | 07-24-1973 | |
Location | Royals Stadium | |
Attendance (Rank) | 40,849 | |
M.V.P. Award | Bobby Bonds | |
League Items | A.L. | N.L. |
Starting Pitchers | Catfish Hunter | Rick Wise |
Managers | Dick Williams | Sparky Anderson |
Coaches | Whitey Herzog | Gene Mauch |
Chuck Tanner | Bill Virdon | |
1973 All-Star Game Fast Facts |
1973 All-Star GameLine Score |
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1973 All-Star Game Capsule | ||||||||||||
League | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
National | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0 |
American | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
N.L. Pitcher(s) | A.L. Pitcher(s) | |||||||||||
Rick Wise (W) Claude Osteen (3rd) Don Sutton (5th) Wayne Twitchell (6th) Dave Giusti (7th) Tom Seaver (8th) Jim Brewer (9th) |
Catfish Hunter Ken Holtzman (2nd) Bert Blyleven (L, 3rd) Bill Singer (4th) Nolan Ryan (6th) Sparky Lyle (8th) Rollie Fingers (9th) |
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N.L. Home Runs | A.L. Home Runs | |||||||||||
Johnny Bench (4th) Bobby Bonds (5th) Willie Davis (6th) |
None - - |
1973 All-Star GameNational League All-Star Squad |
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Lineup | Name | Team | Position | Notes |
4. | Hank Aaron | Atlanta Braves | 1B | |
6. | Johnny Bench | Cincinnati Reds | C | |
Jack Billingham | Cincinnati Reds | P | Did Not Pitch | |
Bobby Bonds | San Francisco Giants | OF | ||
Jim Brewer | Los Angeles Dodgers | P | ||
3. | Cesar Cedeno | Houston Astros | OF | |
Nate Colbert | San Diego Padres | 1B | ||
Dave Concepcion | Cincinnati Reds | SS | Injured | |
Willie Davis | Los Angeles Dodgers | OF | ||
Darrell Evans | Atlanta Braves | 3B | ||
Ron Fairly | Montreal Expos | 1B | ||
Dave Giusti | Pittsburgh Pirates | P | ||
Davey Johnson | Atlanta Braves | 2B | ||
Willie Mays | New York Mets | OF | ||
2. | Joe Morgan | Cincinnati Reds | 2B | |
Manny Mota | Los Angeles Dodgers | OF | ||
Claude Osteen | Los Angeles Dodgers | P | ||
1. | Pete Rose | Cincinnati Reds | OF | |
Bill Russell | Los Angeles Dodgers | SS | ||
7. | Ron Santo | Chicago Cubs | 3B | |
Tom Seaver | New York Mets | P | ||
Ted Simmons | St. Louis Cardinals | C | ||
8. | Chris Speier | San Francisco Giants | SS | |
Willie Stargell | Pittsburgh Pirates | OF | ||
Don Sutton | Los Angeles Dodgers | P | ||
Joe Torre | St. Louis Cardinals | 3B | ||
Wayne Twitchell | Philadelphia Phillies | P | ||
Bob Watson | Houston Astros | OF | ||
5. | Billy Williams | Chicago Cubs | OF | |
9. | Rick Wise | St. Louis Cardinals | P | Starting Pitcher |
BOLD = Fan's choice to start the game (Manager chooses pitcher). |
1973 All-Star GameAmerican League All-Star Squad |
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Lineup | Name | Team | Position | Notes |
Dick Allen | Chicago White Sox | 1B | Injured | |
Sal Bando | Oakland Athletics | 3B | ||
Buddy Bell | Cleveland Indians | 3B | ||
Paul Blair | Baltimore Orioles | OF | ||
Bert Blyleven | Minnesota Twins | P | ||
Ed Brinkman | Detroit Tigers | SS | ||
1. | Bert Campaneris | Oakland Athletics | SS | |
2. | Rod Carew | Minnesota Twins | 2B | |
Jim Colborn | Milwaukee Brewers | P | Did Not Pitch | |
Rollie Fingers | Oakland Athletics | P | ||
7. | Carlton Fisk | Boston Red Sox | C | |
Bill Freehan | Detroit Tigers | C | Did Not Play | |
Ken Holtzman | Oakland Athletics | P | ||
Willie Horton | Detroit Tigers | OF | ||
9. | Catfish Hunter | Oakland Athletics | P | Starting Pitcher |
4. | Reggie Jackson | Oakland Athletics | OF | |
Pat Kelly | Chicago White Sox | OF | ||
Bill Lee | Boston Red Sox | P | Did Not Pitch | |
Sparky Lyle | New York Yankees | P | ||
Dave May | Milwaukee Brewers | OF | ||
3. | John Mayberry | Kansas City Royals | 1B | |
Thurman Munson | New York Yankees | C | ||
6. | Bobby Murcer | New York Yankees | OF | |
Dave Nelson | Texas Rangers | 2B | ||
5. | Amos Otis | Kansas City Royals | OF | |
8. | Brooks Robinson | Baltimore Orioles | 3B | |
Cookie Rojas | Kansas City Royals | 2B | ||
Nolan Ryan | California Angels | P | ||
Bill Singer | California Angels | P | ||
Jim Spencer | Texas Rangers | 1B | ||
Carl Yastrzemski | Boston Red Sox | 1B | Injured | |
BOLD = Fan's choice to start the game (Manager chooses pitcher).Game / Box Links: 1973 Box Score | 1973 Play-by-Play |
At the completion of the 1973 Midsummer Classic, an All-Star record fifty-four players were used by both clubs.
Did you know that this was the first Midsummer Classic held at Royals Stadium in Kansas City?
Back to the first All-Star Game played in 1933, the National League now leads the American League 25-18 with one tie.