1975 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

The 1975 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 46th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL), the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 15, 1975, at Milwaukee County Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, home of the Milwaukee Brewers of the American League. The game resulted in a 6–3 victory for the NL.

1975 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 0 3 6 13 1[1][2]
American League 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 10 1[1][2]
DateJuly 15, 1975[1][2]
VenueMilwaukee County Stadium[1][2]
CityMilwaukee, Wisconsin[1][2]
Managers
MVPBill Madlock and Jon Matlack (CHC, NYM[2])
Attendance51,480[1]
Ceremonial first pitchSecretary of State Henry Kissinger[2]
TelevisionNBC
TV announcersCurt Gowdy, Joe Garagiola and Tony Kubek
RadioNBC
Radio announcersJim Simpson and Maury Wills

While this was the first time that the Brewers were acting as hosts of the All-Star Game, this was not the first time the game had been played at Milwaukee County Stadium. The 1955 game had been played there when the Braves had called Milwaukee home. Thus, Milwaukee County Stadium joined Sportsman's Park in St. Louis and Shibe Park in Philadelphia as the only stadiums to host All-Star Games with two different franchises as host.

This would also be the last time Milwaukee County Stadium would host the game. When the game returned to Milwaukee in 2002, the Brewers had moved into their new home at Miller Park.

The 1975 All-Star Game saw the start of the tradition of naming honorary captains to the All-Star teams. The first honorary captains were Mickey Mantle (for the AL) and Stan Musial (for the NL).[2]

It would also mark the final All-Star Game in which only "The Star-Spangled Banner", sung this year by Glen Campbell, was performed prior to the game. Beginning the following year, "O Canada" would also be performed as part of the All-Star pregame ceremonies.

National League roster

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The National League roster included 8 future Hall of Fame players, denoted in italics.[2][3]

Elected starters

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Position Player Team Notes
C Johnny Bench Cincinnati Reds
1B Steve Garvey Los Angeles Dodgers
2B Joe Morgan Cincinnati Reds
3B Ron Cey Los Angeles Dodgers
SS Dave Concepción Cincinnati Reds
OF Lou Brock St. Louis Cardinals
OF Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds
OF Jimmy Wynn Los Angeles Dodgers

Pitchers

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Throws Pitcher Team Notes
LH Randy Jones San Diego Padres
RH Mike Marshall Los Angeles Dodgers did not pitch
LH Jon Matlack New York Mets
LH Tug McGraw Philadelphia Phillies did not pitch
RH Andy Messersmith Los Angeles Dodgers did not pitch
RH Phil Niekro Atlanta Braves did not pitch
LH Jerry Reuss Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher
RH Tom Seaver New York Mets
RH Don Sutton Los Angeles Dodgers

Reserve position players

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Position Player Team Notes
C Gary Carter Montréal Expos
C Manny Sanguillén Pittsburgh Pirates did not play
1B Tony Pérez Cincinnati Reds
1B Bob Watson Houston Astros
2B Dave Cash Philadelphia Phillies
3B Bill Madlock Chicago Cubs
SS Larry Bowa Philadelphia Phillies
OF Greg Luzinski Philadelphia Phillies
OF Bobby Murcer San Francisco Giants
OF Al Oliver Pittsburgh Pirates
OF Reggie Smith St. Louis Cardinals

Coaching staff

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Position Manager Team
Manager Walter Alston Los Angeles Dodgers
Coach Danny Murtaugh Pittsburgh Pirates
Coach Red Schoendienst St. Louis Cardinals

American League roster

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The American League roster included 10 future Hall of Fame players, denoted in italics.[2][3]

Elected starters

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Position Player Team Notes
C Thurman Munson New York Yankees
1B Gene Tenace Oakland Athletics
2B Rod Carew Minnesota Twins
3B Graig Nettles New York Yankees
SS Bert Campaneris Oakland Athletics
OF Reggie Jackson Oakland Athletics
OF Bobby Bonds New York Yankees
OF Joe Rudi Oakland Athletics

Pitchers

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Throws Pitcher Team Notes
LH Vida Blue Oakland Athletics starting pitcher
RH Steve Busby Kansas City Royals
RH Rollie Fingers Oakland Athletics did not pitch
RH Goose Gossage Chicago White Sox
RH Catfish Hunter New York Yankees
LH Jim Kaat Chicago White Sox
RH Jim Palmer Baltimore Orioles did not pitch
RH Nolan Ryan California Angels did not pitch

Reserve position players

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Position Player Team Notes
C Bill Freehan Detroit Tigers did not play
1B George Scott Milwaukee Brewers
1B Carl Yastrzemski Boston Red Sox
2B Jorge Orta Chicago White Sox injured
3B Dave Chalk California Angels did not play
SS Bucky Dent Chicago White Sox
SS Toby Harrah Texas Rangers did not play
OF Hank Aaron Milwaukee Brewers
OF Mike Hargrove Texas Rangers
OF George Hendrick Cleveland Indians
OF Fred Lynn Boston Red Sox
OF Hal McRae Kansas City Royals
OF Claudell Washington Oakland Athletics

Coaching staff

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Position Manager Team
Manager Alvin Dark Oakland Athletics
Coach Del Crandall Milwaukee Brewers
Coach Billy Martin Texas Rangers

Starting lineups

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While the starters were elected by the fans, the batting orders and starting pitchers were selected by the managers.[2][4]

National League American League
Order Player Team Position Order Player Team Position
1 Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds RF 1 Bobby Bonds New York Yankees CF
2 Lou Brock St. Louis Cardinals LF 2 Rod Carew Minnesota Twins 2B
3 Joe Morgan Cincinnati Reds 2B 3 Thurman Munson New York Yankees C
4 Johnny Bench Cincinnati Reds C 4 Reggie Jackson Oakland Athletics RF
5 Steve Garvey Los Angeles Dodgers 1B 5 Joe Rudi Oakland Athletics LF
6 Jimmy Wynn Los Angeles Dodgers CF 6 Graig Nettles New York Yankees 3B
7 Ron Cey Los Angeles Dodgers 3B 7 Gene Tenace Oakland Athletics 1B
8 Dave Concepción Cincinnati Reds SS 8 Bert Campaneris Oakland Athletics SS
9 Jerry Reuss Pittsburgh Pirates P 9 Vida Blue Oakland Athletics P

Umpires

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Position Umpire[4]
Home Plate Bill Haller (AL)
First Base Chris Pelekoudas (NL)
Second Base Marty Springstead (AL)
Third Base Bruce Froemming (NL)
Left Field Russ Goetz (AL)
Right Field John McSherry (NL)

Scoring summary

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The National League took a 2–0 lead in the top of the second off of AL starter Vida Blue when Steve Garvey and Jimmy Wynn led off the inning by hitting back-to-back home runs.[5]

The NL added another run in the top of the third, this time off of new AL relief pitcher Steve Busby. Lou Brock opened the inning with a single. With Joe Morgan batting, Busby balked, sending Brock to second base. After Morgan flew out, Johnny Bench came to bat, during which, Brock stole third base. Bench singled, scoring Brock from third base to give the NL a 3–0 lead.[5]

The AL did not respond until the bottom of the sixth inning. Tom Seaver had just entered the game as the NL's relief pitcher. Joe Rudi led off with a single, and was immediately replaced for pinch runner George Hendrick. With Graig Nettles batting, Hendrick stole second base. After Nettles struck out, Gene Tenace walked. Carl Yastrzemski pinch hit for Jim Kaat, and hit a home run, scoring Hendrick and Tenace to tie the score.[5]

AL pitcher Catfish Hunter was entering his third inning of relief work when the NL closed out the scoring in the top of the ninth. Reggie Smith singled. Al Oliver, pinch hitting for Jon Matlack, doubled, sending Smith to third base. Catfish Hunter was replaced by relief pitcher Goose Gossage. The next batter, Larry Bowa, was hit by a pitch, and went to first base, loading the bases. Bill Madlock singled, scoring Smith and Oliver, sending Bowa to third base, and advancing himself to second base on a Gene Tenace throwing error. Pete Rose hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Bowa, sending Madlock to third base, and securing a 6–3 win for the National League.[5]

Line score

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Tuesday, July 15, 1975 7:30 pm (CT) at Milwaukee County Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
National League 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 6 13 1
American League 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 10 1
WP: Jon Matlack (1-0)   LP: Catfish Hunter (0-1)
Home runs:
NL: Steve Garvey (1), Jimmy Wynn (1)
AL: Carl Yastrzemski (1)

Game notes and records

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Jon Matlack was credited with the win. Catfish Hunter was charged with the loss.[4]

This was Hank Aaron's 25th and final All-Star Game. It was his first and only appearance for the American League squad, and came in the former home of the Milwaukee Braves, the first Major League team for which he had played.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Total Baseball, 5th ed., 1997, Viking Press, Thorn, John et al. ed, p. 254
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 1975 All-Star Game Summary @baseball reference.co; accessed 3 November 2008
  3. ^ a b All-Star Results – 1975, @mlb.com; accessed 3 November 2008
  4. ^ a b c 1975 All-Star Game box score @baseball almanac.com; accessed 4 November 2008
  5. ^ a b c d 1975 All-Star Game Play-by-Play, @baseball-almanac.com; accessed 5 November 2008
  6. ^ Total Baseball, 5th ed., 1997, Viking Press, Thorn, John et al. ed, p. 581
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