A First for Sparky to Forget

A funny thing happened to Sparky Anderson in his bid to become the first manager to win All-Star games in both leagues. He became the first manager to lose All-Star games in both leagues.

Anderson was the National League manager in 1971, when the American League won, 6-4. It was the first AL win in nine games and stands as one of only two wins by the AL in the last 23 games.

Graig Nettles, after Tuesday night’s game, said people shouldn’t expect All-Star games to be exciting, but the fans in 1971 got more than they expected.

There were six home runs in the game, including a mammoth shot by Reggie Jackson off the right-field light tower in Tiger Stadium. Harmon Killebrew and Frank Robinson also homered for the AL, while Henry Aaron, Roberto Clemente and Johnny Bench connected for the NL.

In 1965, the last time they played in Minnesota, at Metropolitan Stadium, there were five home runs in the game, including a game-opening shot by Willie Mays, as the NL won, 6-5. Willie Stargell and Joe Torre also homered for the NL, while Killebrew and Dick McAuliffe connected for the AL.

Nettles should remember. A month earlier, he was signed to a contract by the home team, the Minnesota Twins.

Anyone notice that the first two National League pitchers and the last one Tuesday night had something in common? LaMarr Hoyt, Nolan Ryan and Goose Gossage all formerly pitched in the American League.

Add Gossage: Red Schoendienst never batted against the Goose, but he can testify he throws hard.

Schoendienst, whose 14th-inning homer won the 1950 All-Star game for the National League, was an NL coach in 1975, when Gossage was pitching for the AL.

In the course of the NL’s 6-3 win, Schoendienst was coaxing a runner into third when Gossage, backing up the play at home, fired toward third.

“Gossage hit me right in the butt,” Schoendienst told The Sporting News. “I think he knocked me out of the coaching box.”

If the players strike, will attendance fall off when they return? Don’t bet on it.

In 1981, they held the All-Star game after the strike was settled. The crowd at Cleveland was 72,086, an All-Star record.

When five members of the San Diego Padres started Tuesday night, it was one short of the record. In 1939, the New York Yankees had six starters--Red Rolfe, Joe DiMaggio, Bill Dickey, George Selkirk, Joe Gordon and Red Ruffing.

Note: In 1957, Cincinnati fans stuffed the ballot box and elected all their regulars to starting positions except first baseman George Crowe. Commissioner Ford Frick stepped in and ordered that outfielders Gus Bell and Wally Post be dropped from consideration. Bell later was added to the team by Manager Walter Alston. In the game, Bell hit a pinch double to drive in a pair of runs, but the National League lost, 6-5.

Joaquin Andujar might not understand, but Tony Gwynn was thrilled to be aboard at the Metrodome.

After a workout, he told Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post: “My dad’s not gonna believe this, but Sandy Koufax came over to me and said, ‘Do you have an extra glove I could use?’

“I felt like saying, ‘Are you kidding. I’ll run down the street to a sporting goods store and buy you one if you want.’ ”

Quotebook

San Francisco Giants coach Rocky Bridges, on the team’s lack of offense: “We’ve put up more zeroes than there were at Pearl Harbor.”