1959 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (first game)

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1959 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (first game)
1959 Major League Baseball All-Star Game 1 logo.png
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American League 000100030480
National League 10000022X590
DateJuly 7, 1959
Venue Forbes Field
City Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Managers
Attendance35,277
Ceremonial first pitch Vice President Richard Nixon [1]
Television NBC
TV announcers Mel Allen and Curt Gowdy
Radio NBC
Radio announcers Jack Brickhouse and Bob Prince

The 1959 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 26th edition of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League (AL) and National League (NL), the two leagues composing Major League Baseball. The game was played on Tuesday, July 7, at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates of the NL, [2] and was a 5–4 victory for the National League. [3] [4] An unprecedented second game was played four weeks later in Los Angeles, California. [5] [6]

Contents

Background

In a break from tradition, the league scheduled a "doubleheader" as part of an effort to boost the players' pension fund. [5] The first game was held on Tuesday, July 7, at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League. [2] The second game was on Monday, August 3, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California, the home of the Los Angeles Dodgers, also of the NL.

The first game resulted in a 5–4 victory for the NL. [3] [4] and the AL won the second game 5–3 for a split. [7] [8] The experiment of two All-Star Games continued for four seasons; the tradition of just one annual game resumed in 1963.

Rosters

Players in italics have since been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Game

Umpires: Al Barlick , Home Plate (NL); Ed Runge, First Base (AL); Augie Donatelli, Second Base (NL); Joe Paparella, Third Base (AL); Shag Crawford, Left Field (NL); Johnny Rice, Right Field (AL)

Starting lineups

American LeagueNational League
OrderPlayerTeamPositionOrderPlayerTeamPosition
1 Minnie Miñoso Indians LF 1 Johnny Temple Reds 2B
2 Nellie Fox White Sox 2B 2 Eddie Mathews Braves 3B
3 Al Kaline Tigers CF 3 Hank Aaron Braves RF
4 Bill Skowron Yankees 1B 4 Willie Mays Giants CF
5 Rocky Colavito Indians RF 5 Ernie Banks Cubs SS
6 Gus Triandos Orioles C 6 Orlando Cepeda Giants 1B
7 Harmon Killebrew Senators 3B 7 Wally Moon Dodgers LF
8 Luis Aparicio White Sox SS 8 Del Crandall Braves C
9 Early Wynn White Sox P 9 Don Drysdale Dodgers P

Game summary

Tuesday, July 7, 1959 1:00 pm (ET) at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Team123456789 R H E
American League 000100030480
National League 10000022X591
WP: Johnny Antonelli (1–0)   LP: Whitey Ford (0–1)
Home runs:
AL: Al Kaline (1)
NL: Eddie Mathews (2)
Source: [2] [3] [4]

References

  1. ↑ "Richard Nixon throws out the first pitch at the 1959 All-Star Game". The Daily Sentinel . Associated Press. July 7, 1959. p. 6. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 "Drysdale faces Wynn in 26th All-Star classic". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. July 7, 1959. p. 12.
  3. 1 2 3 "Casey to shake up AL club". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). Associated Press. July 8, 1959. p. 45.
  4. 1 2 3 Hernon, Jack (July 8, 1959). "National League triumphs, 5-4". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 1.
  5. 1 2 "Second All-Star game finally approved". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. June 9, 1959. p. 18.
  6. ↑ "Walker vs. Drysdale in 2d All-Star contest". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. August 3, 1959. p. 11.
  7. ↑ "American tips National, 5-3, in All-Star home run battle". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. August 4, 1959. p. 12.
  8. ↑ Abrams, Al (August 4, 1959). "AL takes All-Star Game, 5-3". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 1.
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