1974 ALL-STAR GAME

1974 ALL - STAR  GAME MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
DAVE CONCEPCION  - CHICAGO DEMOLITION

     In a delayed affair the 1974 All-Star Game for the Mid-West Winter League was played on October 31st, 1974.  The American League had won 3 out of the previous 4 All-Star Games, including the last 3 played.  Would the National League come around this year?  Or would the American League's dominance prevail in the end?  The American League starter was none other than the 1974 Cy-Young Winner Phil Niekro (36-5 2.29).  Niekro looked impressive in the first, and even got a chance to bat in the top of the second, but couldn't handle the pitching of National League Starter Jim Kaat (21-5 2.05) who also won the Cy-Young Award this year.  In the bottom of the second, with Bill Madlock already on base, Niekro left one over the plate for Thendera's Cesar Cedeno.  Cedeno deposited the offering into the left field stands for a two-run shot that put the National League out in front 2-0.  With a 2-0 lead headed into the top of the fourth, the American League started to heat things up.  With a two-out single by Jorge Orta, Dave Concepcion smacked a two run home run to left-center field, to tie the score up at two.  This was Concepcion's second extra base hit of the game, as he doubled in a previous at-bat.  With two-out and the score still tied in the bottom of the 5th, the American League brought in Jim "Catfish" Hunter to try and get out the most feared hitter in the National Leagues lineup - Johnny Bench.  With tensions mounting, and the score still deadlocked, Bench took the first offering from Hunter, and said "Bye-Bye Baseball" with a solo shot to the right field porch, to give the Nationals a lead of one.   With some stellar pitching in the 6th, and 7th from Ken Holtzman, Paul Lindblad, and Gaylord Perry the National League was mowing down it's American League counterparts. Chicago's Joe Morgan lead off the 8th with a single to left, and after a Concepcion double to left, Morgan stopped at third, Concepcion pulled up at second with his 3rd extra base hit of the game.  One batter later after a Manny Sanguillen pop up on the infield, Willie Stargell drove a shot down the line in right, Morgan scored, and Concepcion who appeared to slip as he took off for 3rd, was coming around third.   Stargell took off for 2nd, to try and draw a throw from the National Leagues right fielder - Amos Otis.  Otis fired the ball into second base, not realizing he had a play at the plate on Concepcion.  Stargell was out by a good 5 feet at second base, but Concepcion scored, and the American League took their first lead of the game at 4-3.  American League pitchers Ken Brett, Ferguson Jenkins, and Pat Dobson, helped work a scoreless 8th and into the 9th, when the American League one out away from victory brought in the "closer" Sparky Lyle.  Lyle had one hitter to get, the tough right handed batter of the Germantown Grays, and none other than Amos Otis.  Lyle worked the count to 1-2, and threw some "gas" on the black, for a called third strike and an American League victory!  This was the American League's 4th in a row, dating back to 1971.   In what was another very close All-Star game for the Mid-West Winter League, the National League played and were represented well, but the string of American League victories continued.  Chicago's Dave Concepcion was named the 1974 All-Star Game MVP.  Concepcion went 3 for 4, with two Doubles, a Home Run, two RBI's, and scored two runs, including the game winner.