1971 ALL-STAR GAME
The Mid-West Winter Leagues 2nd annual after season All-Star game took place on October 15th, 1971, The American League sent out Cy Young award winner Vida Blue (22 – 13 2.28) from Chicago and was countered by the National Leagues Cy Young Award winner as well in Thendera’s Mike Cuellar (24-9 2.39). Both pitchers looked a little nervous heading into this one. Blue ended up going thee innings, giving up one hit and four walks; he struck out five, but didn’t fare in the decision. Cuellar went three innings as well, giving up one hit, one walk, & one earned run, but also didn’t fare in the decision.
The A.L. scored first in the bottom of the 2nd on a solo homer by Willie Stargell. The lead was short lived as in the top of the 4th, with Mickey Lolich on to relieve Vida Blue, Lolich served up cannon fodder as Bill Melton hit a Bomb to deep left.
With no outs in the 5th, Eddie Watt had runners all around, and was looking to induce Bud Harrleson into a double play. Harrleson had other ideas. “I was just looking to put the ball in play – Make contact you know” Harrleson put a charge into one, and it flew to very deep right. Clemente raced back, all the way to the track, and made an outstanding catch about 2 feet away from the track. Willie Stargell who was on third base, tagged and headed home. Clemente unleashed his cannon in right and the play at the plate was as close a call as you can get, with the outcome going the American Leagues way, as Stargell was safe at the dish. “Clemente’s arm made that one close” said Pops. “It’s not that I am slow, it’s just that – that man in right field has a cannon of an arm”.
The A.L. scored two more runs with in the inning, one on a single by Joe Morgan, and the other on a suicide squeeze play by Ron Santo that pushed across Manny Sanguillen. Heading into the top of the 6th it was 4-1 A.L. In the bottom of the 6th the A.L. got a solo shot from Roseland’s Billy Williams.
In the bottom of the seventh, with Tom Seaver pitching and after issuing a two out walk, to put runners at first and second, the National League Manager had a touch decision to ponder. The National League Manager not wanting to face the left handed Billy Williams who already homered ordered Tom Seaver to walk Williams, and face the right handed Hank Aaron with the bases loaded and two outs. Seaver was upset at the chance not to battle Williams, and looked in to face Aaron. Upped stepped Hank Aaron, and after taking two balls outside he found a grooved fastball that he drove to deep left center, which as soon as it was hit everyone knew it was gone. “Anything hit that hard ought to have a stewardess on it” Johnny Bench was quoted as saying. I knew from the crack of the bat, that it was a Ruthian shot”.
With the game pretty much decided, both teams tried to get as many players into the game as they could. The National League squeaked across a run in the top of the 9th, but couldn’t muster anything more.
The Win went to Clay Kirby who threw 2/3 off an inning. The loss was hung on Fritz Peterson. Hammerin Hank Aaron was announced as the 1971 All-Star Games Most Valuable Player, and was very happy to have received the honor. “I couldn’t have done it without the national League managers decision to walk Billy” said Aaron, “There’s someone out there looking after me, I really owe this honor to him”.
1971 ALL – STAR GAME MOST VALUABLE PLAYER – HANK AARON – PUNXSUTAWNEY PHILIBUSTERS
