The 1971 All Star Game, held at Tigers Stadium, was known as the game that Reggie Jackson hit the home run off the transformer at the roof of the stadium. It was a game won by the AL, 6-4, with Vida Blue getting the win over Dock Ellis. This game was played 31 years ago on this date in history.
Jackson was among six players (all of whom would end up in Baseball's Hall of Fame) who hit home runs in the game. Frank Robinson, Harmon Killebrew, Roberto Clemente, Johnny Bench and Hank Aaron also homered. Similar to some of the other games, I have either seen tapes of or read transcripts of, it was a well played game with that featured some of the games best. Not all of the greats played, but it was a tremendous showing of future Hall of Famers. Hall of Famers in the starting lineups included Mays, Aaron, Willie Stargell, Willie McCovey, Bench, Rod Carew, Carl Yastrzemski, Robinson, and Brooks Robinson. Clemente, Lou Brock, Killebrew, Jackson, Ron Santo and Al Kaline all came off the bench.
The Hall of Famers were not limited to just the position players. Future Hall of Famers Ferguson Jenkins, Juan Marichal and Jim Palmer all pitched in the game. Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton were on the NL roster but did not pitch. All in all, from what I counted, there were 20 players on the rosters of the teams in this game. If its not a record, it has to be close. Imagine how it must have felt to be a younger player on that team for the first time. Hopefully they soaked it in.
Not only were there a lot of Hall of Fame players there, there was also a good amount of very good players including Pete Rose. Other attendees were Bobby Bonds, Bobby Murcer, Rusty Staub, Tony Oliva, Jim Perry, Norm Cash, Joe Torre, Boog Powell, Jim Perry, Mickey Lolich and Wliber Wood. Certainly would have been more enjoyable than watching the game from this year.
Jackson was among six players (all of whom would end up in Baseball's Hall of Fame) who hit home runs in the game. Frank Robinson, Harmon Killebrew, Roberto Clemente, Johnny Bench and Hank Aaron also homered. Similar to some of the other games, I have either seen tapes of or read transcripts of, it was a well played game with that featured some of the games best. Not all of the greats played, but it was a tremendous showing of future Hall of Famers. Hall of Famers in the starting lineups included Mays, Aaron, Willie Stargell, Willie McCovey, Bench, Rod Carew, Carl Yastrzemski, Robinson, and Brooks Robinson. Clemente, Lou Brock, Killebrew, Jackson, Ron Santo and Al Kaline all came off the bench.
The Hall of Famers were not limited to just the position players. Future Hall of Famers Ferguson Jenkins, Juan Marichal and Jim Palmer all pitched in the game. Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton were on the NL roster but did not pitch. All in all, from what I counted, there were 20 players on the rosters of the teams in this game. If its not a record, it has to be close. Imagine how it must have felt to be a younger player on that team for the first time. Hopefully they soaked it in.
Not only were there a lot of Hall of Fame players there, there was also a good amount of very good players including Pete Rose. Other attendees were Bobby Bonds, Bobby Murcer, Rusty Staub, Tony Oliva, Jim Perry, Norm Cash, Joe Torre, Boog Powell, Jim Perry, Mickey Lolich and Wliber Wood. Certainly would have been more enjoyable than watching the game from this year.
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