All-Star Games in Kansas City

The first Major League All-Star game played in Kansas City featured the traditional red, white and blue bunting hanging on the front of box seats, colored team flags fluttering in the wind above the grandstand, and green outfield grass rich from recent rains.

The afternoon contest, the 28th All-Star game, was played at Municipal Stadium on July 11, 1960, in a sweltering, 100-degree heat. A crowd of 30,619 saw the National League All-Stars beat the stars of the American League 5-3. The attendance was below the stadium record of 33, 585 set on July 4, 1955 when the New York Yankees visited the Athletics.

The National League team was crowded with star players, many of whom now reside in the Hall of Fame. They scored all of their runs in the first three innings off two, young American League hurlers, Bill Monbouquette of the Boston Red Sox, and Baltimore Oriole Chuck Estrada.

The winning pitcher was Bob Friend of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who held the American League to one hit over three innings. Friend was followed by Mike McCormick of San Francisco, the Pirates’ Elroy Face and Vern Law, and Bob Buhl of the Milwaukee Braves.

In addition to Monbouquette and Estrada, the American League used Jim Coates of the Yankees, Gary Bell of the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City’s Bud Daley, and Frank Lary of the Detroit Tigers. Walter Alston of the Los Angeles Dodgers managed the National League squad, while White Sox skipper Al Lopez led the American League.

Willie Mays, representing the San Francisco Giants, led off the game with a long triple to right field. It was Mays’ first appearance in Kansas City since being called up to the Major Leagues from Minneapolis of the American Association in 1951.

Mays quickly scored on a single by Bob Skinner of the Pirates. Monbouquette retired both Eddie Mathews and Hank Aaron of Milwaukee before facing Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs. Banks, a former Kansas City Monarch of the Negro Leagues, hit a towering drive over the left field fence to give the National League an early 3-0 cushion. The home run was Banks’ first in All-Star competition.

In the second inning, the Braves’ Del Crandall tagged Monbouquette’s first pitch over the left field screen, increasing the lead to 4-0. Crandall’s homer was his first in five All-Star appearances.

Estrada retired the first two batters he faced before yielding a double to Banks, a high shot off the left field screen. The Braves’ Joe Adcock singled off the glove of Frank Malzone of Boston at third, with Banks moving to third base. Bill Mazeroski of Pittsburgh singled to left and Banks scored.

The American League managed one hit of Friend and McCormick through the first five innings. In the sixth inning, they produced three hits and one tally, an unearned run.

Harvey Kuenn of the Cleveland Indians reached first base on a pop fly that landed between Aaron and Mazeroski, only to be thrown out when he tried to reach second base. Al Kaline reached first safely on an error by Mathews, his second of the game. After Bill Skowron of the Yankees singled, the Yankees’ Elston Howard walked to load the bases. Nellie Fox of the White Sox singled to left field, scoring Kaline.

The American League’s final two runs came in the eighth inning of Buhl. Kuenn was safe on an error by the Dodgers’ Charlie Neal. Then, Kaline followed with a drive over the left field wall, his second home run in All-Star game competition.

The first dramatic incident of the day came when the public address announcer began his player introductions. When he announced “and from the St. Louis Cardinals, Stan Musial,” a tremendous cheer burst from the stands followed by applause that continued for 10 to 15 seconds. The ovation was described as the “most prolonged ovation of the afternoon, a moving tribute to the St. Louis star making his 17th All-Star appearance.” At the time, Musial held the All-Star game record for home runs with five, at bats with 55, and total bases with 34.

Musial was tied for the All-Star record for most runs, 10, with Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox. Williams, selected as an All-Star for the sixteenth time, had hit four home runs in All-Star competition.

When the American League stars were introduced, the crowd responded with loud cheers for Williams and local pitcher Bud Daley, the Athletics’ lone representative on the squad. Daley led the major leagues with a 12-4 record. A smattering of boos could be heard in the crowd when Mickey Mantle and Vic Power were introduced.

One of the most thrilling performances of the day was supplied by Willie Mays. In addition to his triple in the first inning, he singled sharply to left in the second inning, and stretched a single into double in the fourth. His speed and daring base running captivated the crowd. When he reached first in the second inning, many in the crowd began to chant “go, go, go,” anxious for more of his dashing style of play.

The game was a tribute to the work of A’s owner Arnold Johnson, who died in March of 1960. Johnson went to American League president Will Harridge shortly after moving the franchise, requesting the game be played in Kansas City.

A distinguished list of baseball visitors crowded the grand ballroom of the Hotel Muehlebach at a reception honoring the teams the night before the game. The dignitaries included Ford Frick, commissioner, American League president Joe Cronin, and Warren C. Giles, president of the National League. A huge press corps of nearly 270, including the top sportswriters in the country, were also guests at the reception.

By the time the All-Star game returned in 1973, Kansas City had a new team, a new owner, and a new stadium with fountains and artificial turf. The 44th All-Star game was played under an overcast sky at Royals Stadium on July 24, 1973 before an overflow crowd of 40,849 fans, and a national television audience estimated at fifty million. The game, won by the National League 7-1, was played on the 40th anniversary of the first All-Star contest in 1933.

The National League won with home runs by Johnny Bench, Bobby Bonds, and Willie Davis. Seven pitchers limited the American League to five hits, including three by Royals’ stars Amos Otis and John Mayberry.

Cincinnati Reds manager Sparky Anderson, and Dick Williams of the Oakland Athletics, managed the two teams, utilizing a total of 54 players in the game, an All-Star record.

The American League jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning off starting pitcher Rick Wise of the St. Louis Cardinals, the winner of the game. With one out, Reggie Jackson of Oakland doubled, followed by Otis’ single to center field. Those were the only hits Wise allowed in his two innings of work.

American League starting pitcher Jim “Catfish” Hunter retired the first four batters he faced before leaving the game after attempting to knock down Billy Williams’ sharp single in the second inning. Minnesota righthander Bert Blyleven replaced Hunter and wound up with the loss in the game.

The National League took the lead 2-1 in the third inning. Blyleven walked two batters, followed by run-producing singles by Cesar Cedeno of Houston and Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves.

Bench homered in the fourth inning, a shot deep into the left field seats. It was the catcher’s third homer in six All-Star game appearances.

In the fifth, Bobby Bonds homered over the left field barrier, a two-run shot off Sill Singer that gave the Nationals a 5-1 cushion. Singer, of the California Angels, was an All-Star for the first time since making it as a Los Angeles Dodger in 1969.

Singer’s Angel teammate, Nolan Ryan, was the victim of the final National League home run, in the sixth inning. Davis, the Dodger outfielder, delivered a pinch-hit homer into the water in right field.

Bonds, described as “San Francisco’s do-everything lead-off hitter,” failed to make the starting line-up, finishing fourth in fan balloting. Yet the 27 year-old outfielder was aggressive enough to win the game’s Most Valuable Player award for his play.

Bonds entered the game in the fourth inning, replacing Williams of the Cubs. He promptly cracked a liner to left-center off Ryan that quickly stretched into a double. Milwaukee center fielder Dave May had no chance to get Bonds, as he never stopped running rounding first base. He finished with a home run, double, two runs batted in, and one run scored.

For local fans, it proved a “Royals Night.” Otis, John Mayberry, and Cookie Rojas all reached base at least once. Otis produced two singles and a stolen base in two trips. Mayberry doubled and walked in four at-bats.

Mayberry received a huge ovation when the players were introduced prior to the game. Mayberry came into his first All-Star game with 20 home runs and 80 runs batted in. Otis also had 20 homers.

But the longest and loudest standing ovation of the night came for Hank Aaron. Coming into the game, Aaron led all National League starters with 27 home runs. In addition, his career total stood at 700, only 15 shy of Babe Ruth’s record. Aaron ranked as the All-Star game’s first 700-homer performer. Ruth played in only two All-Star contests, 1933 and 1934. He had 699 homers entering the 1934 game, and got 700 three days later.

Several All-Star game records were broken or extended in the game. Willie Mays set the record for most at-bats total games (75), and most times on winning club (17). Mays also tied the record for most games (24).

Singer of the Angels and Dave Johnson of Atlanta became the 12th and 13th players to represent both leagues in All-Star games. Johnson had appeared for the Orioles in 1968 and 1970. Singer had represented the Dodgers in 1969. Rojas is one of the others to have played for All-Star teams in both leagues.