1981 and 1982

ALL-STAR GAMES

A new DVD of the All-Star Game covering the years 1981 and 1982 has just been released by Rare Sportsfilms, Inc! This 50-minute presentation shows all the highlights of both years - in COLOR! Here’s a detailed description of what you’ll see:

1981 All-Star Game at Municipal Stadium, Cleveland - The 1981 film, presented by the U.S. Army and narrated by Mel Allen, celebrates the return of baseball after the 50-day long ’81 baseball strike! There is coverage of the pre-game festivities, as the Army Golden Knights parachute team delivers the game ball, landing on the field to present the ball to Vice President George Bush in front of the largest crowd in All-Star history - 72,086! During the film Chris Chambliss and Carlton Fisk promote Army recruiting with the slogan “Be All You Can Be”. The managers are Jim Frey for the American League and Dallas Green for the National League. The honorary captains Warren Spahn and especially Cleveland’s Bob Feller are enthusiastically received 33 years after they pitched against each other in this very ballpark in the 1948 World Series! Starting line-up for the National League is Pete Rose 1B, Dave Concepcion SS, Dave Parker RF, Mike Schmidt 3B, George Foster LF, Andre Dawson CF, Gary Carter C, Davey Lopes 2B, and Fernando Valenzuela, LHP. Starting for the American League are Rod Carew 1B, Willie Randolph 2B, George Brett 3B, Dave Winfield CF, Ken Singleton LF, Reggie Jackson RF, Carlton Fisk C, Bucky Dent SS, Jack Morris RHP. Other players you’ll see include Dick Ruthven, Bill Madlock, Bruce Sutter, Eddie Murray, Ted Simmons and Al Oliver.

The American League starts with four shutout innings, two each by Morris and Len Barker. Meanwhile, Valenzuela pitches a scoreless first with two strikeouts. The A.L. scores in the second inning when Ken Singleton homers off Tom Seaver of the Reds. The score remains 1-0 until the fifth, when Gary Carter ties the game with a round tripper off Ken Forsch, then Dave Parker gives the N.L. the lead with a homer in the sixth off Mike Norris. Burt Hooton takes the mound for the A.L. sixth and promptly gives up three consecutive hits by Singleton, Dwight Evans and Carlton Fisk to load the bases with none out. Fred Lynn lines another single, but only Singleton can make it home to tie the game at 2-2. Buddy Bell follows with a sac fly to give the A.L. a 3-2 lead. Eddie Murray then bounces what looks like a DP grounder to Steve Garvey at first, but Garvey’s low throw combined with a great play by Ozzie Smith at second and a rolling slide by Lynn results in only a force at second. Carlton Fisk goes to third and Ted Simmons singles him in to make it 4-2. Al Oliver then lifts a bloop fly ball that looks like it will drop, but Dusty Baker swoops in out of nowhere in LF to make a spectacular catch for the third out, saving at least one run and maybe two! In the 7th, Carter gets one run back with his second homer, this one off Ron Davis of the Yankees. In the 8th, Rollie Fingers walks Mike Easler and then Mike Schmidt, baseball’s leading home run hitter, tees off on Rollie to give the N.L. the winning runs for a 5-4 victory.

Vida Blue of the Giants is the winning pitcher and Rollie Fingers the loser. Game MVP is Gary Carter for his two home runs.

1982 All-Star Game at Olympic Stadium, Montreal - The 1982 film “International Celebration”, is narrated by Warner Fusselle. This was the first All-Star Game ever played outside the U.S. and MLBB uses this opportunity to recognize several past players from other countries. Shown are Bobby Thomson, Minnie Minoso, Juan Marichal and Orlando Cepeda, with vintage B & W film showing Thomson, Minoso and Marichal during their playing days. Honorary Captains are Yogi Berra and Duke Snider, while Gary Carter is top vote-getter this year. Starting lineup for the American League is Rickey Henderson LF, Fred Lynn CF, George Brett 3B, Reggie Jackson RF, Cecil Cooper 1B, Robin Yount SS, Bobby Grich 2B, Carlton Fisk C and Dennis Eckersley, RHP. Starting for the National League are Tim Raines LF, Pete Rose 1B, Andre Dawson CF, Mike Schmidt 3B, Gary Carter C, Dale Murphy RF, Dave Concepcion SS, Manny Trillo 2B and Steve Rogers, RHP. Other players you’ll see include Phil Garner, Steve Sax, Eddie Murray and Rollie Fingers. Managers are Billy Martin, A.L. and Tommy Lasorda, N.L.

The American League scores in the first inning when Expo starter Steve Rogers is touched for a lead-off base hit by Rickey Henderson. With one out, George Brett singles, pushing Henderson to second, then a wild pitch moves both runners up. Reggie Jackson’s fly to center scores Henderson easily. Cecil Cooper beats out a hit as Brett goes to third. But Robin Yount strikes out on a 3-2 pitch and Rogers and the N.L. are lucky to escape with only one run allowed. The N.L. takes the lead in the home 2nd inning when Eckersley walks N.L. HR leader Dale Murphy on four pitches. Shortstop Dave Concepcion rips an Eckersley pitch to left field, just inside the foul pole for a go-ahead two-run homer! It’s only the second home run Concepcion has hit all year, but it gives the N.L. all the runs needed to win the game. Next inning, the N.L. adds a third run when Ruppert Jones (batting for Rogers) leads off with a triple and Pete Rose scores him with a sac fly to Reggie Jackson in right. Jackson’s throw is on the money, but with a great slide, Jones is safe at the plate and the N.L. adds a third run. The N.L. scores the final run in the 6th when Al Oliver hits a liner into the LF corner which Henderson misplays, allowing Oliver to reach third. Gary Carter’s single to center drives in Expo teammate Oliver with the final run of the game. There are still three innings left to play, however, and you’ll get to also see Steve Carlton, Steve Howe, Mario Soto, Greg Minton, Fernando Valenzuela, Tom Hume, Tony Pena and Ozzie Smith of the N.L., plus Lance Parrish, Buddy Bell, Willie Wilson, Rollie Fingers and Dave Winfield of the A.L. Dave Concepcion, with his 2-run homer driving in the winning run, is presented the game MVP award by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn.

Get your own DVD of the All-Star Games of 1981 and 1982 for only $29.95 + $4.20 for shipping and handling (Illinois residents MUST add $2.30 sales tax).