My MLB fan blog came in at #24 for the month of June! This is the second time since I started the blog three years ago that I get #24! Back then I dedicated it to Walter Alson and I posted a beautiful article written by Jim Murray about Walter Alston. http://crzblue.mlblogs.com/2010/12/10/24-walter-alston-a-jim-murray-column/
I will again dedicate the #24 ranking to Walter Alston but this time emphasizing the nine All-Star games Walter Alston managed winning seven.
Walter Alston managed the All-Star game in 1954, 1956, 1957, 1960(1), 1960(2), 1964, 1966, 1967 and 1975.
1954 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. American League 11, National League 9. .
Looking at the 1954 All-Star roster, it stood out that all the players that represented the National League were born in the US. For the American League there were four players born outside of the US, There were Minie Miñoso from Cuba, Chico Carrasquel from Venezuela, Bobby Ávila from Mexico, and Sandy Consuegra from Cuba.
1956 at GRifith Stadium, Washington DC. National League won 7-3
Again the National League did not have a Latin player. The American League had Vic Power aka Victor Pellot from Puerto Rico.
1957 at Sportsman’s Park. St Louis. American League 6, National League 5.
From Baseball-Almanac:
Controversy surrounded the 1957 outing as the fanatical Cincinnati voters stuffed the ballot boxes and elected nearly their entire team (minus first baseman George Crowe & the batboy) onto the National League’s starting roster. This upset Commissioner Ford Frick greatly and he responded by removing Gus Bell and Wally Post from the starting nine. He also transferred the responsibility for All-Star voting to the players, managers and coaches the next year.
1960 LET’S PLAY TWO!!
1960. 1st game. Municipal Stadium. Kansas City, Mo. National League 5, American League 3.
The new format of two games were almost scheduled back to back on July 11 and July 13.
1960. 2nd Game. Yankee Stadium. National League 6, American League 0.
1964 Shea Stadium. New York. National League 7, American League 4.
Starting pitchers: Don Drysdale against Dean Chance. Drysdale went three scoreless innings. Juan Marichal won the game pitching the 9th inning. Sandy Koufax did not pitch. The National League came from behind to score 4 in the 9th.
1966 Bush Memorial Stadium. St Louis, Mo. National League 2, American League 1.
From Baseball Almanac:
The top story of the 1966 All-Star Game had nothing to do with baseball. It was the blistering one hundred five-degree game time temperature. Spectators in St. Louis’ Busch Stadium were passing out in the stands and smelling salts and oxygen were required in the dugouts. Despite these intense conditions, the game went on as scheduled, although no one wanted to spend much time on the field.
Game went 10 innings. Sandy Koufax started the game and Gaylord Perry won it. Joe Torre was the starting catcher.
1967 Anaheim Stadium. National League 2, American League 1
Orlando Cepeda, Roberto Clemente and Juan Marichal were in the starting lineup. Joe Torre was the starting catcher.
The game went 15 innings. This game went into the record books for both the longest All-Star Game as well as the first game in which home runs accounted for all of the scoring.
Tony Perez was the All-Star MVP.
1975 County Stadium. Milwaukee. National League 6, American League 3.
Starting pitchers: Vida Blue and Jerry Reuss. Steve Garvey and Jimmy Wynn lead off the second inning with back-to-back homeruns.
Bill Madlock and Jon Matlack became the first & only players to share the All-Star award.
Hall of Famer Walter Alston managed all these nine MLB All-Star games winning seven out of nine.
ref: Baseball-Almanac.com Sportslogos.net
