[1974 MLB All-Star Game]

This tape features a half hour special on the 1974 Major League Baseball All-Star Game held at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittspurgh, Pennsylvania. We follow the American and National Leagues on their quest for glory.

00:00Copy video clip URL This tape begins with a black screen, color bars, and tone.

01:32Copy video clip URL Fade into a shot of the field tarp being rolled off of the field at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA, the site of the 1974 MLB All-Star Game. The intro segment includes footage of players and fans from in and around the stadium before the game. The segment eventually cuts into footage from the very first All-Star Game in 1933. Babe Ruth hits the first All-Star Game home run, leading the American League to victory. There is also footage from the 1934, 1941, 1950, 1955, 1964, and the 1970 All-Star Games included in the segment.

05:26Copy video clip URL This segment focuses on the poor play from many legendary ball players in the many All-Star Game through the years. Hall of Famer Hank Aaron has only hit two home runs in his twenty-one All-Star appearances. Baseball legend Lou Gehrig only had a batting average of .222 in his six All-Star appearances. NY Yankee pitcher Whitey Ford had and ERA of 11.0 in every appearance he ever made. The narrator eventually begins to showcase some of the better All-Star performances from a slew of baseball legends. Al Kaline had a .343 batting average in sixteen All-Star appearances. Roberto Clemente and Jackie Robinson both carried a solid .333 in their appearances.

11:55Copy video clip URL The narrator sets a dream team lineup for the All-Time All-Star players. Many baseball legends from the past century are showcased within this segment.

16:17Copy video clip URL Fade into a shot of MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and John Galbraith, Chairman of the Board of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Galbraith throws the ceremonial first pitch of the game. Pitcher Andy Messersmith of the L.A. Dodgers starts the game off for the National League. He strikes out all three American League players to retire the side. Cleveland Indians Pitcher Gaylord Perry starts for the American League and retires the side very quickly. With two outs in the bottom of the second, L.A. Dodgers Infielder Steve Garvey gets the first hit of the game with a single to center field. Infielder Ron Cey of the L.A. Dodgers then hits a double to left center to bring Garvey home to give the National League a 1-0 lead. In the top of the third inning, Messersmith faces NY Yankees Catcher Thurman Munson who hits a line drive to right field. Gaylord Perry hits a sacrifice bunt to move Munson to third base. Rod Carew of the Minnesota Twins gets a walk to put runners on first and third. Carew then steals both second and third base on an error from Catcher Johnny Bench to bring Munson into home. The American League eventually brings in another run to make the score 2-1.

19:30Copy video clip URL Pittsburgh Pirates Pitcher Ken Brett takes the mound in the top of the fourth inning. Brett ends the inning only giving up a walk. Detroit Tigers legend Al Kaline makes his final All-Star appearance in this inning as well. Boston Red Sox Pitcher Luis Tiant takes the mound for the American League in the fourth inning. Cincinnati Reds Catcher Johnny Bench hits a single to left field. L.A. Dodgers Outfielder Jimmy Wynn hits a line drive over second base, sending Bench to third base. Sparky Anderson, Cincinnati Reds’ Third Base Coach, can be heard speaking with the players at third base during the game. The National League takes a 3-2 lead by the end of the inning. Houston Astros Outfielder Cesar Cedeno makes a great catch in the fifth inning off of a fly ball from the Oakland A’s Burt Camapneris. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Lou Brock of the St. Louis Cardinals leads off with a single to right field. Brock steals both second base and third base off of an American League error. Third Base Coach Sparky Anderson gives Brock a pep talk while on third base. Cincinnati Reds second baseman Joe Morgan brings Brock home with a sacrifice fly to center field.

26:19Copy video clip URL Reggie Smith of the St. Louis Cardinals leads off for the National League against Catfish Hunter of the Oakland A’s. Smith hits a home run off of a fastball from Hunter. In the eighth inning, Joe Rudi of the Oakland A’s makes a sliding catch off of a fly ball hit by Steve Garvey. Chicago Cubs shortstop Don Kessinger hits a triple to bring in the sixth run in the game for the National League. Kessinger then scores on a wild pitch to make the score 7-2. Reggie Jackson makes a great catch off of a hit to left field. The National League then quickly retires the American League side in the final inning to win the game 7-2. Steve Garvey wins the All-Star MVP.

29:46Copy video clip URL The credits begin to roll.

30:10Copy video clip URL Tape ends.