The sport itself is essentially forgotten. There isn’t a video, and even those that performed within the recreation don’t bear in mind a lot of the particulars. What they do bear in mind is the which means behind the sport and the sensation of being requested to play in probably the most important video games Main League Baseball has ever placed on.
On March 28, 1970, a recreation generally known as the East-West Main League Baseball Basic was held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles in reminiscence of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who had been assassinated nearly two years prior.
“I used to be honored to play there,” Reggie Jackson informed MLB.com in a cellphone interview. Jackson was simply 23 years outdated on the time. “It was so particular to be part of that.”
One or two gamers had been chosen from every of the 24 Main League groups on the time. A complete of 23 Corridor of Famers both performed or coached within the recreation.
Joe DiMaggio managed one staff, Roy Campanella the opposite, and coaches included Sandy Koufax, Satchel Paige, Stan Musial and Larry Doby.
Among the many 31,694 in attendance had been Jackie Robinson and Dr. King’s widow, Coretta Scott King.
How did such a tremendous array of expertise come collectively for one occasion? All of it started within the weeks and months after Dr. King was killed in Memphis, Tenn., on April 4, 1968.
Gamers across the league had been in search of a method to make a significant contribution amid the turmoil. After consulting with Dr. King’s Southern Christian Management Convention, they got here up with the concept for an All-Star recreation to boost cash for the SCLC and a brand new memorial heart for Dr. King being in-built Atlanta.
Initially conceived as an occasion for March 1969, logistical problems pressured the sport to be postponed for one 12 months. When the sport was formally a go, gamers knew instantly that this was a particular occasion like no different.
“The entire gamers had been in unison, completely behind it,” Al Downing mentioned of the combination of Black, Latino and white gamers who took half.
“It was like being within the locker room with a bunch of All-Stars,” Downing remembered. “It was an incredible exercise and an incredible concept.”
Mrs. King stood behind one of many dugouts and threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Johnny Bench. Mudcat Grant wearing what was described as a “glittering” white swimsuit and sang the nationwide anthem, and a portion of Dr. King’s well-known “I Have a Dream” speech was performed over the Dodger Stadium audio system as gamers stood for baseline introductions.
Groups had been separated by Japanese and Western Divisions somewhat than the standard Nationwide and American Leagues format used within the annual midseason All-Star Sport. It evoked recollections of the outdated East-West Negro Leagues All-Star video games.
Virtually three many years earlier than Interleague Play, the distinctive alignment created eye-popping lineups.
Frank Robinson and Willie Stargell began within the outfield for the East, with Roberto Clemente, Lou Brock and Al Kaline among the many reserves.
The highest two hitters for the West had been Maury Wills and Pete Rose, adopted within the 3-4-5 slots by Hank Aaron, Jackson and Bench.
The Giants had been in Japan for a sequence of exhibition video games there, however Willie Mays was not going to overlook this. He flew from Tokyo to L.A., got here off the bench to pinch-hit for Houston’s Don Wilson, then flew again to Tokyo to rejoin his staff.
“That is too vital to cross up,” Mays mentioned on the time. Different superstars who took time away from their staff’s Spring Coaching camps echoed the sentiment.
“If Dr. King might give his life for a trigger he believed in, the least I can do is give in the future for it,” mentioned Tom Seaver, who pitched three scoreless innings for the East earlier than handing the ball to Bob Gibson, who gave up only one hit over his three innings.
Greater than half a century later, Reggie Smith, who began in heart area for the East, believes the ambiance was one thing he hasn’t seen earlier than or since.
“It was just like an All-Star Sport, however it was so completely different,” mentioned Smith, who vividly remembers assembly Mrs. King and Jackie Robinson, however doesn’t recall going 1-for-3 with a double for the East in a 5-1 victory.
“In pondering again now, what that recreation meant, it was most likely the primary time that it didn’t matter who received the sport. It was so particular simply being on the market and what the sport represented and stood for, bringing the nation collectively via baseball, and the way we might all honor an incredible man in Martin Luther King Jr. and what he stood for.”
