Diamond All-Stars
By Anne Madarasz

When the All-Stars take to the field at PNC Park this July, it will mark the fifth time the game has been played in Pittsburgh. The National League has won all four of the previous contests, with each game featuring a baseball first or memorable diamond moment.

On July 11, 1944, the 12th All-Star game took place at Forbes Field. The shadow of war hung over the field, with many of baseball's biggest stars away serving their country. The almost 30,000 fans in attendance witnessed a 7 to 1 victory by the NL in a game that saw for only the second time (up to that point in history) no home runs hit. Four Pirates were on the NL roster, Bob Elliot, who started at 3rd base and went 0 for 3, Vince DiMaggio, Frankie Zak, and pitcher Rip Sewell. In his three innings on the mound Sewell thrilled the fans with his unorthodox technique and famous "ephus" pitch which floated on a high arc before dropping over the plate. Two other hometown boys were All-Stars, Donora's Stan Musial, and Cherry Valley's Joe Page, a pitcher for the New York Yankees. The game raised over $100,000 for the armed services.

The 1959 contest again took place at Forbes Field. Hoping to increase interest and raise money for the player's pension fund, MLB decided to play a doubleheader, with the first game in Pittsburgh on July 7 and a second played in Los Angeles on August 3rd. The NL won the first game 5 to 4 on the strong pitching of Don Drysdale and the clutch ninth inning hitting of Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. The Pirates were well represented with Danny Murtaugh on the coaching squad and Bill Mazeroski, Elroy Face, and Dick Groat on the field. Catcher Smoky Burgess made the team, but did not play. Vice President Richard Nixon joined the more than 35,000 fans in attendance that day.

On July 23, 1974, Three Rivers hosted its first of two All-Star games, which the National League won easily 7 to 2. Yogi Berra, who managed the NL team, made the unusual choice of throwing five pitchers with no prior All-Star experience, including Pirate Ken Brett who pitched two scoreless innings. Steve Garvey, who made the team because of fan write-ins, ended up winning the MVP award. The second contest at Three Rivers, the July 12, 1994 game, is considered one of the greatest All-Star games. The almost 60,000 fans in attendance saw the lead change five times, witnessed pinch hitter Fred McGriff slam a game tying home run in the ninth inning, and saw the contest decided in the National League's favor by Moises Alou's game winning double in the tenth inning. Second baseman Carlos Garcia was the lone Pirate on the team, with former Bucco Barry Bonds one of three All-Star sons of former All-Star fathers (Alou and Ken Griffey, Jr. being the other two).

Anne Madarasz is Director of the Western PA Sports Museum where the story of baseball and the AAGPBL is featured.