Remembering Mets History (1975) Mets Jon Matlack Wins All Star Game Co-MVP

Tuesday July 15th, 1975: The 1975 MLB All Star Game was held at Milwaukee's County Stadium. The last time the All-Star Game was in Milwaukee was twenty years ago in 1955, when the Braves were Milwaukee's team. Now the Brewers were the town's team & an old Brave was closing out his career, Mr. Henry Aaron.

Hank Aaron was not only a hero in Milwaukee, but the new all-time HR king was a national celebrity. This was Aaron's 25th All Star game appearance.

This year marked the first time the All-Star Game used honorary captains; the first honorees were Stan Musial for the NL & Mickey Mantle for the AL.

The National League All Stars would beat the American Leaguers 6-3. This would be the 4th straight win in a streak of 11 consecutive All Star game victories for the National League.

Mets 1975 All Stars: The New York Mets had no players in the starting lineup but had two pitchers representing the team; Tom Seaver & Jon Matlack. Tug McGraw who had been traded to the Philadelphia Phillies before the 1975 season was also on the NL All Star staff. 

At the break Seaver was 13-5 with a 1.93 ERA with 137 strike outs. 

It was his seventh of twelve All Star appearances. This was Jon Matlack's third straight All Star game, he was 10-7 with a 3.54 ERA & 86 strikeouts at the break.

In the All-Star Game, in the top of the 2nd inning, the Dodgers Steve Garvey & Jimmy Wynn both hit solo HRs off Oakland's Vida Blue, putting the N.L. up 2-0.

In the top of the 3rd, St. Louis' Lou Brock singled. The all-time base stealer in 1975 was Brock, he had stolen 118 bases the year before. He had Royals pitcher Steve Busby balk advancing to second. Reds catcher Johnny Bench's then hit an RBI single to make it 3-0 NL.

In the 6th inning, the Mets Tom Seaver came into pitch. Seaver entered the game & on this night he struggled. Seaver first gave up a single to the A's Joe Rudi. He then struck out Greg Nettles, but gave up a walk to Oakland's Gene Tenace. 

Seaver got the Red Sox star rookie, Fred Lynn to fly out to right field but then his Boston team mate, Carl Yastrzemski blasted a three HR and the game was tied.

The Mets, Jon Matlack came on to pitch the 7th inning, he first struck out Minnesota Twins batting champion, Rod Carew. 

Then Oakland's speedster Claudell Washington singled but he was picked off by Matlack's great move to first base. Matlack then struck out the White Sox' Bucky Dent to end the inning.

In the 8th inning, Matlack gave up a base hit to Cleveland's George Hendrick, he then retired the next three batters as Graig Nettles hit into a force place. then he struck out Gene Tenace & Fred Lynn.

In the 9th inning, the Cardinals' Reggie Smith doubled & Al Oliver of the Pirates singled. That knocked out Catfish Hunter. The White Sox Rich Gossage came in to pitch.

The Cubs 1975 NL batting champion Bill Madlock, drove in two runs with a single to left field, making it 5-3. The N.L. added another run, on Pete Rose's sac fly, as they went on to a 6-3 win. 

All Star Game MVP:  Jon Matlack was credited with the win. Along with Bill Madlock, he won the games co-MVP Award. 

The Award was presented by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn & US Secretary of State Henry
Kissinger.

Matlack later said that there was only one actual award on hand that night. They gave it to Madlock because he played in Chicago. The league would give Matlack his back in New York.