1969 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

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1969 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
National League 1 2 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 9 11 0
American League 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 6 2
DateJuly 23, 1969[1]
VenueRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium[1]
CityWashington, D.C.
Managers
MVPWillie McCovey (SF)
Attendance45,259
Ceremonial first pitchVice President Spiro Agnew
TelevisionNBC
TV announcersCurt Gowdy, Tony Kubek,
and Mickey Mantle[2]
RadioNBC
Radio announcersJim Simpson and Sandy Koufax
Souvenir tray commemorating the game

The 1969 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 40th 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 in the afternoon on Wednesday, July 23, at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C., and resulted in a 9–3 victory for the National League.[1][3] Steve Carlton was the winning pitcher while Mel Stottlemyre was the losing pitcher.[4]

The game was originally scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, July 22, but heavy rains forced its postponement to the following afternoon.[5][6] The 1969 contest remains the last All-Star Game to date to be played earlier than prime time in the Eastern United States.

President Richard Nixon originally planned to attend the Tuesday night game and throw out the first ball, and then depart for the splashdown of Apollo 11 in the Pacific Ocean.[5] But with the game's postponement until Wednesday afternoon, Nixon missed the game altogether and Vice President Spiro Agnew attended instead.[6]

Game summary[edit]

After scoring in the first inning on an error, the National League made it 3–0 in the second inning against AL starter Mel Stottlemyre on a two-run homer by Reds' catcher Johnny Bench. Denny McLain was scheduled as the American League starter, but was late arriving to the stadium (via his own airplane) and pitched later in the game.[3]

Five more runs came across for the NL in the third inning, Blue Moon Odom of Oakland surrendering all. Willie McCovey's two-run homer and back-to-back doubles by Félix Millán and pitcher Steve Carlton were the key blows.[4]

McCovey added another home run in the fourth,[7] and was voted the game's most valuable player.

Starting lineup[edit]

National League American League
Order Player Team Position Order Player Team Position
1 Matty Alou Pirates OF 1 Rod Carew Twins 2B
2 Don Kessinger Cubs SS 2 Reggie Jackson Athletics OF
3 Hank Aaron Braves OF 3 Frank Robinson Orioles OF
4 Willie McCovey Giants 1B 4 Boog Powell Orioles 1B
5 Ron Santo Cubs 3B 5 Frank Howard Senators OF
6 Cleon Jones Mets OF 6 Sal Bando Athletics 3B
7 Johnny Bench Reds C 7 Rico Petrocelli Red Sox SS
8 Félix Millán Braves 2B 8 Bill Freehan Tigers C
9 Steve Carlton Cardinals P 9 Mel Stottlemyre Yankees P

Reserves[edit]

American League[edit]

Pitchers[edit]

Throws Pitcher Team Notes
RH Ray Culp Boston Red Sox
LH Darold Knowles Washington Senators
LH Mickey Lolich Detroit Tigers Did not pitch
LH Sam McDowell Cleveland Indians
RH Denny McLain Detroit Tigers
LH Dave McNally Baltimore Orioles
RH Blue Moon Odom Oakland Athletics

Position players[edit]

Position Player Team Notes
C Ellie Rodríguez Kansas City Royals Did not play
C John Roseboro Minnesota Twins
1B Don Mincher Seattle Pilots Replaced Mike Hegan
1B Harmon Killebrew Minnesota Twins
2B Mike Andrews Boston Red Sox Replaced Davey Johnson
2B Davey Johnson Baltimore Orioles Injured, did not play
3B Brooks Robinson Baltimore Orioles
SS Jim Fregosi California Angels
OF Paul Blair Baltimore Orioles
OF Mike Hegan Seattle Pilots Injured, did not play
OF Carlos May Chicago White Sox
OF Tony Oliva Minnesota Twins Injured, did not play
OF Reggie Smith Boston Red Sox
OF Roy White New York Yankees
OF Carl Yastrzemski Boston Red Sox

National League[edit]

Pitchers[edit]

Throws Pitcher Team Notes
RH Larry Dierker Houston Astros
RH Bob Gibson St. Louis Cardinals
LH Grant Jackson Philadelphia Phillies Did not pitch
RH Jerry Koosman New York Mets
RH Juan Marichal San Francisco Giants Did not pitch
RH Phil Niekro Atlanta Braves
RH Tom Seaver New York Mets Did not pitch
RH Bill Singer Los Angeles Dodgers

Position players[edit]

Position Player Team Notes
C Chris Cannizzaro San Diego Padres Did not play
C Randy Hundley Chicago Cubs
1B Ernie Banks Chicago Cubs
1B Lee May Cincinnati Reds
2B Glenn Beckert Chicago Cubs
3B Tony Pérez Cincinnati Reds
SS Denis Menke Houston Astros
OF Roberto Clemente Pittsburgh Pirates
OF Willie Mays San Francisco Giants
OF Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds
OF Rusty Staub Montreal Expos Did not play

Umpires[edit]

Position Umpire
Home Plate Red Flaherty (AL)
First Base Augie Donatelli (NL)
Second Base Bob Stewart (AL)
Third Base Tom Gorman (NL)
Left Field Marty Springstead (AL)
Right Field Tony Venzon (NL)

Line score[edit]

Wednesday, July 23, 1969 1:45 pm (ET) at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
National League 1 2 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 9 11 0
American League 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 6 2
WP: Steve Carlton (1-0)   LP: Mel Stottlemyre (0-1)   Sv: Phil Niekro (1)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "1969 All-Star Game". Baseball Almanac.
  2. ^ "1969 MLB All-Star Game". July 23, 1969 – via www.imdb.com.
  3. ^ a b Langford, George (July 24, 1969). "National League wins 7th in a row, 9–3". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, section 3.
  4. ^ a b Loomis, Tom (July 24, 1969). "Victory only mirage for AL stars". Toledo Blade. p. 40.
  5. ^ a b Langford, George (July 23, 1969). "All-Star Game rained out". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, section 3.
  6. ^ a b "All-Star Game rained out; rescheduled this morning". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. July 23, 1969. p. 16.
  7. ^ "McCovey's two homers pace National to triumph". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. July 23, 1969. p. 1B.

External links[edit]