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The 1971 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the 42nd such game, was played on July 13, 1971. The all-stars from the American League and the National League faced each other at Tiger Stadium, home of the Detroit Tigers. The American League won by a score of 6–4.
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This was the third time that the Tigers had hosted the All-Star Game (at the previous two in 1941 and 1951, Tiger Stadium had been called Briggs Stadium). This would be the last time Tiger Stadium hosted the All-Star Game, as when it returned to Detroit in 2005, the Tigers had moved to their new home at Comerica Park.
This was the first American League win since the second All-Star Game of 1962, and would be their last until the 54th All-Star Game in 1983. Over the twenty game stretch from 1963–1982, the American League would go 1–19; the worst stretch for either league in the history of the exhibition.
National League roster
The National League roster included 15 future Hall of Fame players and coaches.
American League roster
The American League squad featured ten future Hall of Fame players and coaches.
Starting lineups
While the starters were elected by the fans, the batting orders and starting pitchers were selected by the managers.
Umpires
Jake O'Donnell would retire from umpiring after the 1971 season, after only three years on the job, but would go on to work as a long time referee in the NBA. His work in this game makes him the only person to officiate in a Major League Baseball All-Star Game, and an NBA All-Star Game.
Scoring summary
The NL opened the scoring off of AL starter Vida Blue in the second inning. Willie Stargell was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Two batters later, with one out, Johnny Bench hit a two-run home run.
In the third inning, Hank Aaron launched a two out solo home run (his first career All-Star Game home run) off of Blue to give the NL a 3–0 lead.
The AL responded in the bottom of the third inning. With Dock Ellis still pitching for the NL, Luis Aparicio singled to lead off the inning. Reggie Jackson was sent up to pinch hit for the pitcher, Vida Blue, and hit a two run home run. Rod Carew walked. Three batters later, with two outs, Frank Robinson hit a two run home run to give the AL a 4–3 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Ferguson Jenkins, pitching in a relief role for the National League, gave up a single to Al Kaline. The next batter, Harmon Killebrew, launched the third two run home run of the game for the American League.
In the top of the eighth, Mickey Lolich of the home town Tigers came in to pitch. In what would be his final All-Star Game at-bat, Roberto Clemente hit a solo home run as the second batter of the inning.