1960 All-Star Game
Still confidant that the new doubleheader format was a winner, the league scheduled the 1960 All-Star games nearly back-to-back on July 11 and 13. The National League set the pace by leading 3-0 in the first inning. Willie Mays lead with a triple off of Bill Monbouquette, then scored on a Bob Skinner single. Ernie Banks stepped up and maintained the National League's momentum with a home run. They added single runs in the second and third and tried to hold on. The American League came back swinging by scoring one in the sixth and two in the eighth to cut the lead to 5-3. The American League had two men on with one out and looked to make a comeback, but Verne Law retired Brooks Robinson and Harvey Kuenn to seal the National League win. Ernie Banks, with a double and homer, and Willie Mays, with a single, double and triple, were the stars as the doubleheader headed east for Game 2. For many local New York fans, the second All-Star Game was special as it marked the return of superstar Willie Mays. Against his favorite pitcher, Whitey Ford, he led off the game with a single, then homered in the third. He also singled later, giving him his second three-for-four All-Star Game. In the second inning, Eddie Mathews hit a two-run homer and in the seventh, pinch-hitter Stan Musial hit his sixth All-Star homer against Gerry Staley. It was not a good outing for the American League's elite pitching staff. It was the National League who pitched a shutout and won both games. It also marked the eighteenth and final All-Star appearance of Ted Williams, who left the competition with a .304 average, four home runs, twelve runs batted in and ten runs scored.
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