The History of the All-Star Game in National League New York, Pt. 1

On July 16, Queens and the New York Mets will host the 84th Annual Major League All-Star Game at Citi Field, the first time National League New York will host the game since Shea Stadium did so in its inaugural year of 1964. Prior to that game, which the National League won 7-4 over the American League, the New York representation of the oldest Major League in America had hosted the All-Star game 3 times collectively before the Dodgers and the Giants both headed to California.

July 11, 1934, New York, NY:

"Packing thrill upon thrill, the foremost professional ball players of the nation battled for two and three-quarter hours at the Polo Grounds yesterday in the 1934 edition of the ball game of the century, with the forces of the American League demonstrating for the second successive year that at this newly devised form of interleague competition they still hold the edge….A capacity crowd of 50,000 witnessed the struggle. It was a gathering that occupied every seat in the historic arena, jammed the aisles and roared itself purple.About 15,000 more roared, too, when the gates were locked 15 minutes before game time, shutting all out who had not already purchased reserved seat tickets. The paid attendance totaled 48,363 and the receipts donated to the players’ fund charity were $52,982 , net.”–John Drebinger, New York Times"

Packing Aug 7, 2012; Flushing, NY,USA; Mr. Met unveils the 2013 All Star Game logo before the game between the New York Mets and the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

NYG RHP Carl Hubbell had a scoreless 1st inning (more on that in a second….)

In bottom half, STL 2B Frankie Frisch led off with a solo shot off NYY LHP Lefty Gomez. The scoring stayed there until the bottom of the 3rd, when STL LF Joe Medwick hit a 2-out 3-run home run with Frisch and PITT 3B Pie Traynor on base.

Each pitcher went 3 innings; Lefty Gomez gave up 4 runs on 4 hits and 1 walk with 3 strikeouts, and Hubbell gave up no runs on 2 hits and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts….

Oh, yeah. 5 of those strikeouts were consecutive, and were all collected from Hall-of-Famers. After opening the top of the 1st by giving up a single and a walk to Hall of Famers Charlie Gehringer (DET 2B) and Heinie Manush (WAS LF), respectively, Hubbell then famously struck out NYY RF Babe Ruth looking, NYY 1B Lou Gehrig swinging fiercely (with a double steal on), PHI 3B Jimmie Foxx swinging, CWS CF Al Simmons looking and WAS SS Joe Cronin looking. NYY C Bill Dickey singled, but Hubbell collected his last strikeout of the day by getting Lefty to look at a 3rd strike as well.

Down 4-0, the AL struck back against new pitcher Lon Warneke in the top of the 4th with an RBI single by Cronin and an RBI triple by CLE CF Earl Avirell, cutting their deficit in half.

The AL did most of their damage in the top of the 5th inning. After Warneke opened with walks to Ruth and Gehrig, Cronin, who was also managing, went to BRK RHP Van Mungo, who provided no relief. He gave up singles to Foxx and Simmons, which knotted the score at 4. Cronin attempted a bunt, but popped out to CHC C Gabby Hartnett. Mungo walked Dickey, though, before Averill doubled to give the AL a 6-4 lead. After intentionally walking Gehringer, NYY RHP Red Ruffing hit a 2-run single, giving the AL an 8-4 lead.

The NL, however, fought back immediately. After manager Bill Terry replaced Ruth with NYY RF Ben Chapman, Ruffing walked STL Utility-man Pepper Martin, who had pinch-hit for Mungo. Frisch then singled, sending Martin to 3rd. Traynor singled, scoring Martin from 3rd. CHC RF Chuck Klein pinch-hit for Medwick, coming through with a single to score Frisch, cutting the NL deficit to 8-6. CLE RHP Mel Harder relieved Ruffing, and NYG RF Mel Ott pinch-hit for CHC RF Kiki Cuyler. Ott lined out to right and PITT RF Paul Waner, pinch-hitting for BSN CF Wally Berger, struck out. With Bill Terry batting, though, Traynor stole home to bring the NL within 1 run at 8-7.

A series of moves were made in the top of the 6th, including STL RHP Dizzy Dean taking the mound for the NL. After striking out Foxx, Simmons doubled and scored when Cronin doubled as well.

That ended the scoring for the day and the AL won for the 2nd straight year, winning by a score of 9-7.

Check back tomorrow for Part II of IV on the History of the All-Star Game in National League New York.

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