Hero of the 1979 All Star Game : Lee Mazzilli

The 1979 All Star Game was held at the Seattle Kingdome, packed with 59,000 fans and millions of TV viewers. The Mets had the one mandatory player representing the team, he was Lee Mazzilli. Lee came into the All Star Game batting .320 with 9 HRs & 47 RBIs.

The NL banged out two runs in the 1st inning off California's Nolan Ryan, Mike Schmidts triple drove in Steve Garvey & George Fosters double brought in Schmidt. The A.L. responded with three runs off Steve Carlton, the big blow was Fred Lynn's HR. In the 2nd, Dave Parkers sac fly tied it up. The A.L regained the lead, 5-4 going into the 6th inning. Dave Winfield doubled off another Angel pitcher, Mark Clear. Then Gary Carter singled to tie the game. But in the bottom of the inning, home town hero Bruce Botche singled off Gaylord Perry driving in the Sox Rick Burleson for the go ahead run.

The A.L. brought Clevelands relief ace Jim Kern in for the 7th & 8th innings. In the top of the 8th N.L. manager Tommy Lasorda puts in Lee Mazzilli to pinch hit for Gary Mathews. In his first All Star at bat, Mazzilli leads off the inning with a HR down the left field line to tie the game. The score stays tied going to the top of the 9th. Kern tires as he walks Joe Morgan, Dave Parker, & L.A.'s Ron Cey to load the bases. A.L. manager Bob Lemon brings in Ron Guidry to face Lee Mazzilli, Guidry walks Mazzilli on five pitches as the winning run scores from third base. Bruce Sutter shuts the door in the 9th and the N.L. wins the game, with Lee Mazzilli driving in the tying & winning runs.