1971 All Star Game

Like many in the past, the 1971 All Star Game featured the home run. All ten runs scored in this game would come from as the result of a home run and each one would be hit by a future Hall of Famer.

53,559 fans were on hand to watch the 42nd annual All Star game which was held at Tiger Stadium in Detroit on July 13. The National League had dominated winning 13 of the last 14.

Managers Earl Weaver of the Baltimore Orioles and Sparky Anderson of the Cincinnati Reds had a lot of talent to choose from. Once again, though, the National League seemed to have the advantage. Their hitting stars Willie Mays, Joe Torre, Willie McCovey, Hank Aaron, Johhny Bench and Roberto Clemente were thought to be too much for American League pitchers.

American League starter Vida Blue (17-3 at the break) got through the first inning without any trouble. But in the top of the second with a man on, Cincinnati Reds catcher Johnny Bench hit a Vida Blue pitch into the upper deck in right center field to make the score 2-0.

In the top of the third, Henry Aaron lined a Blue offering into the right field seats for his first All Star Game home run. The National League had a 3-0 lead and seemed on their way to another win.

In the bottom of the third, Earl Weaver sent a young Reggie Jackson of the Oakland A's in to pinch hit for Blue. Jackson had been added to the squad to replace the injured Tony Olivia of the Minnesota Twins. National League starter Doc Ellis of the Pittsburgh Pirates, delivered the pitch and Jackson belted what is still considered the longest All Star Game home run.

Jackson's blast cleared the roof at Tiger Stadium and would have gone completely out if it had not hit the light transformer. It was estimated that the ball would have traveled 500 feet. Jackson stood for a moment to watch and then slowly circled the bases with what would soon be his trademark home run trot. His two run homer made the score 3-2.

Later in the third inning, Frank Robinson of the Orioles, proceeded to shoot a two run homer into the right field seats for another opposite field home run. The drive made Frank Robinson the first player to hit All Star Game home runs for both leagues. The American League had a 4-3 lead.

No more runs were scored until the sixth inning when Minnesota Twin's star Harmon Killebrew hit another two run home run into the left field seats to give the Americans a 6-3 advantage.

In this game of so many stars, Roberto Clemente pinch hit in the top of the ninth inning. After taking several slow, breaking balls from Detroit Tiger pitcher Mickey Lolich, Roberto sent a towering home run into the upper deck in right center field to make the score 6-4.In the bottom of the ninth, Brooks Robinson of the Orioles caught an infield fly to finish the National League and give the American League the win. Final score, 6-4.

For the game, six home runs were hit accounting for all the scoring. All six were hit by future Hall Of Famers.

American League:

Frank Robinson (MVP), Reggie Jackson and Harmon Killebrew.

National League:

Johnny Bench, Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente.

Talk about an All Star game! Check out the rosters below.

National League Starting Line-Up and Roster:

1. Willie Mays- San Francisco Giants-OF

2. Hank Aaron- Atlanta Braves-OF

3. Joe Torre- St. Louis Cardinals-3B

4. Willie Stargell- Pittsburgh Pirates-OF

5. Willie McCovey- San Francisco Giants-1B

6. Johnny Bench- Cincinnati Reds-C

7. Glenn Beckert- Chicago Cubs-2B

8. Bud Harrelson- New York Mets-SS

9. Doc Ellis- Pittsburgh Pirates- Starting Pitcher

Extra Men:

Lou Brock- St. Louis Cardinals-OF

Roberto Clemente- Pittsburgh Pirates-OF

Nate Colbert- San Diego Padres-1B

Bobby Bonds- San Francisco Giants-OF

Don Kessinger- Chicago Cubs-SS

Willie Davis- Los Angeles Dodgers-OF

Lee may- Cincinnati Reds-1B

Pete Rose- Cincinnati Reds-OF

Rusty Staub- Montreal Expos-OF

Felix Millan- Atlanta Braves-2B

Ron Santo- Chicago Cubs-3B

Manny Sanguillen- Pittsburgh Pirates-C

Larry Dierker- Houston Astros-P

Clay Carroll- Cincinnati Reds-P

Ferguson Jenkins- Chicago Cubs-P

Steve Carlton- St. Louis Cardinals-P

Juan Marichal- San Francisco Giants-P

Don Wilson- Houston Astros-P

Rick Wise- Philadelphia Phillies-P

Tom Seaver- New York Mets-P

American League Starting Line-Up and Roster:

1. Rod Carew- Minnesota Twins-2B

2. Bobby Murcer- New York Yankees-OF

3. Carl Yasremski- Boston Red Sox-OF

4. Frank Robinson- Baltimore Orioles-OF

5. Norm Cash- Detroit Tigers-1B

6. Brooks Robinson- Baltimore Orioles-3B

7. Bill Freehan- Detroit Tigers-C

8. Luis Aparicio- Boston Red Sox-SS

9. Vida Blue- Oakland Athletics-Starting Pitcher

Extra Men:

Frank Howard- Washington Senators-OF

Al Kaline- Detroit Tigers-OF

Bill Melton- Chicago White Sox-3B

Leo Cardenas- Minnesota Twins-SS

Ray Fosse- Cleveland Indians-C

Don Buford- Baltimore Orioles-OF

Dave Duncan- oakland Athletics-C

Reggie Jackson- Oakland Athletics-OF

Harmon Killebrew- Minnesota Twins-3B

Thurman Munson- New York Yankees-C

Amos Otis- Kansas City Royals-OF

Boog Powell- Baltimore Orioles-1B

Cookie Rojas- Kansas City Royals-2B

Sonny Siebert- Boston Red Sox-P

Jim Perry- Minnesota Twins-P

Wilbur Wood- Chicago White Sox-P

Marty Pattin- Milwaukee Brewers-P

Jim Palmer- Baltimore Orioles-P

Andy Messersmith- California Angels-P

Mickey Lolich- Detroit Tigers-P

Sam McDowell- Cleveland Indians-P

Mike Cuellar- Baltimore Orioles-P