1976 ALL-STAR GAME

1976 ALL - STAR  GAME MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
GEORGE BRETT - SANDUSKY COUNTY FAIRGOERS

    Jim Palmer for the American League and Randy Jones for the National League squared off in the 1976 Mid-West Winter League All-Star Game.   Both pitchers deservingly so had troubles early on.  Palmer was touched up for 2 runs, 1 earned, and Jones was touched up for 1 earned run.  In the bottom of the 1st Bobby Grich coaxed a leadoff walk out of Palmer.  After flyout by Luzinski and Fisk, George Foster smashes a ball down the line into the right field corner scoring Grich on the play.  Palmer was visibly up and showed so on his next pitch. One that got past Munson for a wild pitch scoring Foster from third.  The National League was up 2-0 heading into the top of the second.  Jim Rice lead off the second with a lead off walk, which promptly has the National League manager pull Randy Jones right then and there.  Jim Umbarger came in, and gave up a double to Munson, which put runners at second and third with no outs.  Again a pitching change was in store for the National League as Doug Rau came on to replace Umbarger.  Rau got Chris Chambliss to ground out to Shortstop Toby Harrah, but Rice scored from third.  More pitching changes for the National League as Rau was out, and Kent Tekulve was in.  Tekulve induced Concepcion to ground out again to Toby Harrah, but Munson raced home from third, tying the score at 2-2.  A host of relievers for both leagues held the game in check until the top of the sixth with one out when Hal McRae singled off National League pitcher Larry Gura.  The American League made a move when Larry Bowa was brought in to run for McRae.  Bowa quickly swiped second off Gura and Fisk.  Gura induced Mike Schmidt into a hard hit ground ball to Rod Carew in which Bowa had to hold at second.  With Jim Rice due up the National League elected to walk Rice to face Thurman Munson.  But the American League checked in with a reserve as Pinch Hitter George Brett stepped in to face Gura.  Brett lashed a basehit down the right field line that bounced around the rightfield corner.  Larry Bowa scored easily while George Foster relayed the ball into Toby Harrah trying to cut off the second run at the plate.  The play at the plate was not close as Rice motored around all the way from first.  Brett's Double put the American League up 4-2.  It stayed this way until the bottom of the ninth with Sparky Lyle on the mound, and one out, Bobby Murcer pinch hit for Dave LaRoche.   Murcer stepped in to face Lyle, and it was Murcer who got the better of the turn.   Murcer got plenty of wood on the ball, and took it for a cab ride to right-center field for a Home Run, cutting the score to 4-3 American League.  George Foster then beat out a infield hit and put the tying run on first base, and the winning run at the plate.  Doug Rader couldn't get the job done for the National League as Lyle Struck him out.  So it was the bottom of the ninth, down by one, one on, two out, and Richie Zisk stepped in.   Zisk lofted a deep fly, way back, Jorge Orta went back to the track, reached up and came down with a glove-full of dead homer.  Sparkly Lyle earned his 4th All-Star Game save, third in a row as the American League made it 5 straight over the National League.  Frank Tanana picked up his second All-Star game win, his second in a row.   Larry Gura took the loss for the National League.   George Brett was named 1976 All-Star Game MVP for his Pinch Hit Two Run Double.