Remembering Mets History (1967) Rookie Tom Seaver Earns Save In 2-1 Classic All Star Game

Tuesday July 11th, 1967: The 1967 All Star Game was played at Angels Stadium " The Big A" in Anaheim California. The reigning World Champion' Baltimore Orioles manager, Hank Bauer led the A.L. All Stars & L.A. Dodgers skipper, Walter Alston led the NL squad.

The game featured twenty future Hall of Famers. It was the  longest All Star game played up to that point in time, the 2008 affair would earn that distinction some thirty years later. 

This game went 15 innings, as twelve different pitchers were used, seven for the N.L. five for the A.L. Every pitcher had at least one strikeout in "The Year of the Pitcher". The pitchers on both sides combined for a tot of thirty strike outs, also a record which lasted until 2008.

The sole representative for the New York Mets was a young 22 year old rookie named Tom Seaver. Seaver looked so young when he arrived in the clubhouse wearing a sweater, that the St. Cardinals future Hall of Famer; Lou Brock thought he was a clubhouse boy & asked him to fetch him a beer. 

Brock was shocked when he found out that Seaver was a member of the All Star team. Brock Joked to him " Does your guardian know your out so late?"

Tom Seaver finished the first half of the season at 8-5 with a 2.65 ERA, on his way to the 1967 Rookie of the Year award.

All the runs in this Mid-Summer Classic were scored on HRs. In the 2nd innings, the Phillies Dick Allen led off with a HR off the Southern California local hero that season, the Angels Dean Chance.

In the 6th inning, the Orioles' Brooks Robinson hit a solo HR off the Cubs Ferguson Jenkins to tie it up at one.

Fergie Jenkins led all pitchers on the night with six strike outs, in three innings of work.

The St. Louis' Cardinals Tim McCarver led the N.L. with two hits on the night (2-2). That year the Red Sox Carl Yastrzemski won the A.L. Triple Crown, & the MVP, award. 

He had three hits in the All-Star game, for the A.L. The Twins two time batting champion, Tony Oliva had two hits as well.

In the top of the 15th, the A's Catfish Hunter was pitching his 5th inning of relief work. He had allowed no runs on just two hits along the way. A single to Houston's Rusty Staub & a double to Tim McCarver.

Then Cincinnati's Tony Perez came to bat & hit a HR over the left field wall putting the N.L. ahead 2-1. It was an exciting All Star Game extra inning HR.

Walt Alston, brought in the Mets Rookie Tom Seaver to pitch the bottom of the 15th inning, replacing the Dodgers Don Drysdale.

The excited Seaver had grown up in Frenso California & attended the University of Southern California, playing for the Trojan's just two years prior, just 45 minutes away from Anaheim Stadium. It was his first All Star Game & he was excited.

Seaver looked into his battery mate Tim McCarver, took a deep breath and got Tony Conigliaro to fly out. He then walked Carl Yastrzemski but got the Tigers' Bill Freehan to fly out to center for the second out.

The last batter was the White Sox, Ken Berry. Seaver struck him out, earning the All Star save.

It was one of Tom Seaver's first shining moments in the spotlight, with many more to come in a Hall of Fame career. He would play in seven straight All Star games & a total of twelve in his career.