1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
American League 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0[1][2]
National League 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 X 7 10 0[1][2]
DateJuly 13, 1976[1][2]
VenueVeterans Stadium[1][2]
CityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Managers
MVPGeorge Foster (CIN[2])
Attendance63,974[1][2]
Ceremonial first pitchPresident Gerald Ford[2]
TelevisionABC
TV announcersBob Prince, Warner Wolf and Bob Uecker
RadioCBS
Radio announcersJack Buck, Brent Musburger and Andy Musser

The 1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 47th 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 13, 1976, at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, home of the Philadelphia Phillies of the National League. The game resulted in a 7–1 victory for the NL.

This was the third time that the All-Star Game had been played in Philadelphia, though the first to be played in Veteran's Stadium. Both the 1943 and 1952 games were played in Philadelphia's Shibe Park with the then Philadelphia Athletics hosting in 1943 and the Phillies hosting in 1952. The All-Star Game would return to Veterans Stadium in 1996.

The honorary captains were Robin Roberts (for the NL) and Bob Lemon (for the AL).[2]

Starting with this All-Star Game, both "O Canada" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" would be sung as part of the annual pregame ceremonies.

American League roster

The American League roster included 7 future Hall of Fame players, denoted in italics.[2][3]

Elected starters

Position Player Team Notes
C Thurman Munson New York Yankees
1B Rod Carew Minnesota Twins
2B Bobby Grich Baltimore Orioles
3B George Brett Kansas City Royals
SS Toby Harrah Texas Rangers
OF Ron LeFlore Detroit Tigers
OF Fred Lynn Boston Red Sox
OF Rusty Staub Detroit Tigers

Pitchers

Throws Pitcher Team Notes
RH Mark Fidrych Detroit Tigers starting pitcher
RH Rollie Fingers Oakland Athletics did not pitch
RH Goose Gossage Chicago White Sox did not pitch
RH Catfish Hunter New York Yankees
LH Dave LaRoche Cleveland Indians did not pitch
LH Sparky Lyle New York Yankees did not pitch
LH Frank Tanana California Angels
RH Luis Tiant Boston Red Sox
LH Bill Travers Milwaukee Brewers did not pitch

Reserve position players

Position Player Team Notes
C Carlton Fisk Boston Red Sox
C Butch Wynegar Minnesota Twins
1B Chris Chambliss New York Yankees
2B Phil Garner Oakland Athletics
2B Willie Randolph New York Yankees injured
3B Don Money Milwaukee Brewers
SS Mark Belanger Baltimore Orioles
SS Freddie Patek Kansas City Royals
OF Hal McRae Kansas City Royals
OF Amos Otis Kansas City Royals
OF Mickey Rivers New York Yankees
OF Carl Yastrzemski Boston Red Sox

Coaching staff

Position Manager Team
Manager Darrell Johnson Boston Red Sox
Coach Gene Mauch Minnesota Twins
Coach Frank Robinson Cleveland Indians

National League roster

The National League roster included 5 future Hall of Fame players, denoted in italics.[3][4]

Elected starters

Position Player Team Notes
C Johnny Bench Cincinnati Reds
1B Steve Garvey Los Angeles Dodgers
2B Joe Morgan Cincinnati Reds
3B Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds
SS Dave Concepción Cincinnati Reds
OF George Foster Cincinnati Reds
OF Dave Kingman New York Mets
OF Greg Luzinski Philadelphia Phillies

Pitchers

Throws Pitcher Team Notes
RH Ken Forsch Houston Astros
LH Woodie Fryman Montréal Expos did not pitch
LH Randy Jones San Diego Padres starting pitcher
LH Jon Matlack New York Mets did not pitch
RH Andy Messersmith Atlanta Braves injured
RH John Montefusco San Francisco Giants
RH Rick Rhoden Los Angeles Dodgers
RH Dick Ruthven Atlanta Braves did not pitch
RH Tom Seaver New York Mets

Reserve position players

Position Player Team Notes
C Bob Boone Philadelphia Phillies
C Steve Swisher Chicago Cubs did not play
1B Tony Pérez Cincinnati Reds
2B Dave Cash Philadelphia Phillies
3B Ron Cey Los Angeles Dodgers
3B Mike Schmidt Philadelphia Phillies
SS Larry Bowa Philadelphia Phillies
SS Bill Russell Los Angeles Dodgers
OF César Cedeño Houston Astros
OF Ken Griffey Cincinnati Reds
OF Bake McBride St. Louis Cardinals did not play
OF Al Oliver Pittsburgh Pirates

Coaching staff

Position Manager Team
Manager Sparky Anderson Cincinnati Reds
Coach John McNamara San Diego Padres
Coach Danny Ozark Philadelphia Phillies

Starting lineups

While the starters were elected by the fans, the batting orders and starting pitchers were selected by the managers.[2][5]

American League National League
Order Player Team Position Order Player Team Position
1 Ron LeFlore Detroit Tigers LF 1 Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds 3B
2 Rod Carew Minnesota Twins 1B 2 Steve Garvey Los Angeles Dodgers 1B
3 George Brett Kansas City Royals 3B 3 Joe Morgan Cincinnati Reds 2B
4 Thurman Munson New York Yankees C 4 George Foster Cincinnati Reds CF
5 Fred Lynn Boston Red Sox CF 5 Greg Luzinski Philadelphia Phillies LF
6 Toby Harrah Texas Rangers SS 6 Johnny Bench Cincinnati Reds C
7 Rusty Staub Detroit Tigers RF 7 Dave Kingman New York Mets RF
8 Bobby Grich Baltimore Orioles 2B 8 Dave Concepción Cincinnati Reds SS
9 Mark Fidrych Detroit Tigers P 9 Randy Jones San Diego Padres P

Umpires

Position Umpire[5]
Home Plate Harry Wendelstedt (NL)
First Base Jerry Neudecker (AL)
Second Base Andy Olsen (NL)
Third Base Don Denkinger (AL)
Left Field Satch Davidson (NL)
Right Field Jim Evans (AL)

Scoring summary

Following the pattern of many of the previous All-Star Games, the NL scored first and early, putting up two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Pete Rose led off with a single, and scored when the next batter, Steve Garvey, tripled. After Joe Morgan flew out, George Foster grounded out, allowing Garvey to score from third base.[6][7]

The National League added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning, with Catfish Hunter pitching in relief. With one out, Joe Morgan singled. George Foster then hit a home run, scoring Morgan to bring the NL lead to 4–0.[6][7]

The lone AL run came in the top of the third inning, with Tom Seaver pitching for the NL in relief of Randy Jones. With two outs, Fred Lynn hit a home run to reduce the NL lead to 4–1.[6][7]

The game's scoring was closed out in the bottom of the eighth, as the NL scored three runs off of AL relief pitcher Frank Tanana. Dave Cash led off with a single, and went to second base when Tony Pérez walked. Bill Russell grounded into a 5–4–3 double play, with Pérez out at second base, Russell out at first base, but Cash advancing to third base. Ken Griffey singled, scoring Cash. César Cedeño then hit a home run, scoring Griffey, and giving the NL a 7–1 lead that would hold up as the final score.[6][7]

Line score

Tuesday, July 13, 1976 8:15 pm (ET) at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
American League 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0
National League 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 X 7 10 0
WP: Randy Jones (1-0)   LP: Mark Fidrych (0-1)
Home runs:
AL: Fred Lynn (1)
NL: George Foster (1), César Cedeño (1)

Game notes and records

U.S. President Gerald Ford (seen with AL manager Darrell Johnson and NL manager Sparky Anderson) attended the game and threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Randy Jones was credited with the win. Mark Fidrych was credited with the loss.[5]

Mark Fidrych was only the second rookie to ever start as a pitcher in an All-Star Game (Dave Stenhouse had started the second All-Star Game of 1962).[8]

The five Cincinnati Reds selected by the fans to start the game, and the two reserves selected by manager Sparky Anderson combined for seven hits, four runs scored, and four runs batted in.[1]

As part of the United States Bicentennial observances, the city of Philadelphia – site of the Continental Congress and the signing of the Declaration of Independence – was selected to host the 1976 NBA All-Star Game, the 1976 National Hockey League All-Star Game, and the 1976 NCAA Final Four in addition to the 1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[9]

References

  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 1976 All-Star Game summary @baseball almanac.com; accessed 8 November 2008
  3. ^ a b All-Star Results – 1976, @mlb.com; accessed 8 November 2008
  4. ^ 1976 All-Star Game, baseball-almanac.com; accessed 1 November 2008
  5. ^ a b c All-Star Game Box Score – 1976, @baseball almanac.com; accessed 8 November 2008
  6. ^ a b c d 1976 All-Star Game Play-by-Play, @baseball-almanac.com; accessed 9 November 2008
  7. ^ a b c d 1976 All-Star Game Summary, @baseball-reference.com; accessed 9 November 2008
  8. ^ All-Star Rookie Starters, @ mlb.com; accessed 11 November 2008
  9. ^ Lyon, Bill (March 27, 2009). "Sports helped Philly celebrate Bicentennial". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on March 30, 2009. Retrieved March 30, 2009.