Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York (July 19)
WELCOME TO THE ALL-STAR GAME
"There are many, many memories associated with this great game and with historic Yankee Stadium. The steel and concrete may be new, but our recollection of the magnificent accomplishments by those who have 'lived' here before remains untouched. It was a great thrill when I first came here to this Stadium - one I shall never forget. Now we welcome you and hope sincerely that you, too, can somehow feel the very presence of all those great athletes, The Babe, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi, Whitey, Mickey, Roger, and on, and on ...
Tens of millions have stood where you are now and roared their approval of many memorable games. Tomorrow other millions will fondly recall the exploits of the great stars who play here tonight. Hopefully, in the years to come, you will number this evening among your own most thrilling memories."
-George Steinbrenner
JOE DIMAGGIO (American League Captain)
"The abrupt decline and departure of Lou Gehrig may account for the curious lack of personal popularity that Joe DiMaggio commanded during his first seven years with the Yankees. The sportswriters loved Gehrig; Lou was a decent, friendly man, a New Yorker born and bred who spoke with the local writers on their own terms and who saw them frequently on a friendly basis during the off-season. DiMaggio, from the other side of the county, was aloof, silent, indifferent to the press.
It was not until 1941 that DiMadge - which was his nickname, not Jolting Joe - captured the imagination and affection of the fans. That was the year of his consecutive game batting streak, and for sustained, day-in-and-day-out interest there has been nothing else like it in baseball. A batting streak is such a precarious thing - just one bad day at bat or one unlucky day - and there it goes. The sport pages were aware of the streak fairly early and gave widespread attention to it when it reached 25 games or so. As it edged toward 30, records were dug into. The shining target was George Sisler's 1922 mark of 41 straight. As Joe approached that, someone came up with Willie Keeler's more ancient 44 in a row, set in 1897. Inexorably, DiMaggio rolled toward and past Sisler, toward and past Keeler, and did not stop. Seldom has a baseball achievement better reflected a player's personality. DiMaggio was the epitome of efficient, sustained skill, the unflappable ability to meet a challenge. It was not merely the breaking of old records that excited the imagination of people all over the country; it was the was the way DiMaggio kept the streak going after he had passed all the old marks. Ultimately, he extended it to 56 straight games.
The special appeal of his presence at such functions as Old Timers' Games is more than the tug of nostalgia, the idea of 'Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio?' Rather, it is that same old feeling of vicarious pleasure, the one we experience when we see another human being performing well, giving pride and, yes, class to us all."
-Robert W. Creamer and Shirley Povich, 1977 All-Star Game Official Program
BILLY MARTIN (American League Manager)
"A colorful and aggressive manager, Martin piloted the Yankees to their 30th pennant last fall. He was named AP Manager of the Year, an honor he also won with Texas in 1974.
A Casey Stengel protege, Billy also played on six championship clubs under the beloved pilot. He had a lifetime .333 average for World Series play and won the Babe Ruth Award as the star of the 1953 Series when he hit .500. Billy made a famous catch of a Jackie Robinson popup in the 1952 Classic.
Billy was a 1956 All-Star. He managed the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers before joining the Yankees on August 2, 1975."
-1977 All-Star Game Official Program
SPARKY LYLE (American League All-Star)
"Lyle has pitched in more games as a 'pure' relief pitcher than any other hurler in history- he's now nearing 600 without a start. His lifetime ERA (including the first 11 weeks of '77) is 2.44 for 10 major league seasons.
This is Sparky's third All-Star selection."
-1977 All-Star Game Official Program
THURMAN MUNSON (American League All-Star)
"Last year Munson was named the first Yankee team captain since Lou Gehrig. He responded by winning the American League Most Valuable Player award. Thurman was the first Yankee to win MVP and Rookie of the Year (1970).
This is his fifth season hitting better than .300, with a lifetime average of over .290. Thurman hit .435 in the ALCS last fall, then followed by batting .529 (9-for-17) against Cincinnati in the World Series. He reached the majors after only 99 minor league games and has won three Gold Glove fielding awards.
This is Thurman's sixth All-Star selection."
-1977 All-Star Game Official Program
WILLIE RANDOLPH (American League All-Star)
"Randolph hit .267 and anchored the second base spot in his first full year of major league service. He was the first rookie ever to appear on an All-Star ballot (1976). Willie stole 37 bases last year but did not play in last year's [All-Star] game due to a knee injury. He has hit well this year in the leadoff spot.
This is Willie's second All-Star selection."
-1977 All-Star Game Official Program
GRAIG NETTLES (American League All-Star)
"Nettles was the American League home run champ in 1976 with 32. He hit 20 of those homers in the second half of the season and is among the home run leaders again this year.
An outstanding defensive player, durable as well, Graig has appeared in 150 or more games for the past seven years. He was Cleveland's Man of the Year in 1971. Graig shares the major league home run for the month of April with Willie Stargell, hitting 11 in 1974.
This is Graig's second All-Star Game."
-1977 All-Star Game Official Program
REGGIE JACKSON (American League All-Star)
"One of the most exciting players in the game, Jackson is rapidly approaching 300 career home runs with 294 as of July 5. He was MVP in 1973 and in that year's World Series as well. He hit .302 in two World Series with Oakland (he was replaced due to an injury in the 1972 Classic).
Reggie hit a tremendous two-run homer in the American League's 6-4 All-Star victory at Detroit in 1971. He led the AL in home runs in 1973 (32) and 1975 (36) and had 47 round-trippers in 1969 to finish third.
This is Reggie's seventh All-Star appearance."
-1977 All-Star Game Official Program
YANKEE ALL-STARS
"The Yankees had nominees at all eight positions for this year's All-Star Game, played July 19 at Yankee Stadium. Five Yankees made the squad: Willie Randolph, Graig Nettles, Reggie Jackson, Sparky Lyle and Thurman Munson. In addition, Billy Martin was the American League manager.
Randolph set a record with six assists and played all nine innings."
-1977 World Series Official Program
UMPIRES
Joe Brinkman (American League)
"An All-American halfback in high school, Joe participated in baseball, basketball and track as well. He attended St. Cloud State College and then spent three years in the Army, where he was All-Army in baseball and football. Joe began umpiring in 1968 and joined the American League staff in 1973."
-1977 All-Star Game Official Program
Doug Harvey (National League)
"Doug worked in the California State League 1958-60 and in the Pacific Coast League in 1961. His father was an alternate umpire in the old Sunset League.
He has also officiated college and professional basketball."
-1977 All-Star Game Official Program
Bill Kunkel (American League)
"Bill pitched in the major leagues with Kansas City (1961-1962) and with the Yankees (1963). He joined American League umpires in 1968.
He's the captain of a sportfishing boat in the off-season."
-1977 All-Star Game Official Program
Dave Phillips (American League)
"Dave joined the American League in September 1970. He attended the Al Somers Umpire School at the age of 20. He followed his dad (Robert), who umpired in the American Association for 12 years. Dave began his career in the Midwest League in 1964. He attended Southeast Missouri College."
-1977 All-Star Game Official Program
Frank Pulli (National League)
"Entering his sixth year in the National League, Frank served a four-year minor league apprenticeship before joining the N.L. staff. Be began in 1968 in the Midwest League, working in the Eastern and International Leagues before coming to the N.L. in 1972.
Frank is an off-season salesman."
-1977 All-Star Game Official Program
Dick Stello (National League)
"Dick joined the National League staff on September 20, 1968, after a five-year minor league career which began in 1963 in the Georgia-Florida League. He officiated for two years in the Texas League and three in the International League."
-1977 All-Star Game Official Program
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