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 1959 All-Stars Photo Gallery
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Two All-Star Games in 1959!

Our “senior” readers will remember that for a while the major leagues came up with the bright idea of having two All-Star games. The first time was in 1959 and the scheme lasted until 1962. Don’t ask me who came up with the idea, but fortunately, it died after just four years.

In the featured photo below, we see five of the All-Stars from the second game, which was played at Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. It was also the first time an All-Star game was played on the West Coast. L-R: Charlie Neal, Hank Aaron, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Willie Mays. 

This second game, played exactly 60 years ago on August 3, 1959, was played in 2: 24, with the American League winning 5-3. With the novelty of the Dodgers moving to LA still fresh, Pacific coast fans turned out in large numbers, swelling the crowd to 55,105 fans for the game.

The first 1959 All-Star game was played at Forbes Field on July 7 in front of 35, 277 fans.

Here’s a short synopsis of the August 3rd game: 

The American League took a lead into the top of the seventh and scored another run as Tony Kubek walked and advanced to second on an errant pickoff attempt. Kubek reached third and Pete Runnels reached first on an Ernie Banks fielding error. Next, Nellie Fox singled Kubek in for a 4-2 lead. The National League tightened it on Jim Gilliam’s homer in the bottom of the seventh, but the American League quickly got it back on Rocky Colavito’s homer in the top of the eighth and hung on to win.

The winning pitcher was Jerry Walker of the Orioles and the loser was Dodger Don Drysdale (Drysdale was the winner of the first game). Home runs were hit by Frank Malzone, Yogi Berra, Rocky Colavito, Frank Robinson, and Jim Gilliam.

Again, our “senior” readers will remember many of the players in this game. Both lineups were stacked with superstars. I count at least 18 future Hall-of Famers on the two teams. The managers were Casey Stengel for the American League and Fred Haney for the Nationals. 

Below are the lineups for the 1959 All-Star game, No. 2.

Americal League:         National League:

Pete Russels, 1B                                Johnny Temple, 2B

Nellie Fox, 2B                                     Ken Boyer, 3B

Ted Williams, LF                                 Willie Mays, CF

Yogi Berra, C                                       Hank Aaron, RF

 Mickey Mantle, CF                             Ernie Banks, SS

 Roger Maris, RF                                 Stan Musial, 1B

 Frank Malzone 3B                              Wally Moon, LF

 Luis Aparicio, SS                                Del Crandell, C

 Jerry Walker, P                                   Don Drysdale. P                         

 And check out some of the reserves: Harmon Killebrew, Minnie Minoso, Rocky Colavito, Al Kaline, Harvey Kuenn, Orlando Cepeda, Frank Robinson, Bill Mazeroski, Eddie Mathews.  

And how many of you remember the umpires: Bill Jackowski, HP, Charlie Berry, 1B, Tony Venzon, 2B, Bill Summers, 3B, Ken Burkhart, LF, Hank Soar, RF. 

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Gary Livacari 

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