Remembering the 1964 MLB All Star Game at Shea Stadium

The 1964 All Star Game was held at Shea Stadium in Queens, New York. At the time the area was jumping with a new mid-sixties excitement. Shea Stadium was a brand new $29 million dollar ballpark & one of the most glamourous in all of baseball.

It was designed by the standards of that day, to be the greatest stadium ever built for baseball. It was huge with its 56,000-seating capacity compared to most of the older, smaller parks still in use at the time. It was also billed as having great views of the play from every seat, as there were no concrete columns or pillars in the sightlines, like the older parks.

The walkway rafts & escaladers were considered modern for the time, so fans could exit more quickly. 

Then there was Shea's most famous feature, the tremendous state of the art 175-foot scoreboard standing eight stories high. At the time it also had a large screen in the top center top, that projected photos of the players coming to bat. In 1964 this was way ahead of its time as there was no video yet on scoreboards.

Shea was like nothing baseball had ever seen, it had male & female ushers dressed in Mets colored suits to guide fans to their seats. There were many concessions stands with food & drink options. It was the also easy to get to, next to major highways for the suburban fans, bus routes, NYC subways & the LIRR all right outside its gates. Few remember the beauty Shea had during its first decade, as by the 1980s it had started to become outdated quickly.

1964 World Fair: Also at the same time the 1964 New York's World Fair was going on in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The World's Fair was held from April 1964 through October 1964 & then again from April 1965 -October 1965. 

An estimated 51 million people came to the exciting exhibition that covered one square mile of Queens Corona Park.

The World Fair theme was "Peace through Understanding". The United States had exhibits from all parts of the country as did a grand world showcase. Big business also had a huge part in showing off American technologies, as many large corporations had their displays. 

Tech break throughs featured exhibitions of the Space aga, a showcase of modern technology & the public's first interactions with computers. 

One of the most popular exhibits was Michelangelo's Pieta transported directly from the Vatican at Rome. 

Some of the structures from the World's Fair still stands today, most famously the Unisphere: depicting earth in "The Space Age".

 Located directly at the center of the park, it was & is a symbol of "Man's Achievements on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe".

1964 NY Worlds Fair

July 7th, 1964, Shea Stadium was host to its first & only All-Star Game. A crowd of just under 51,000 attended the Mid Summer Classic on a warm summer day in New York. It was a large crowd by standards of the time, but almost impossible to imagine today with the games fanfare & high priced hard to get tickets.

World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers Manager Walt Alston took the helm for the NL Stars & The White Sox Al Lopez took over in place of Ralph Houk, as the AL Stars manager. Houck had briefly stepped in as GM of the AL New York team, before returning as manager later on.

Ron Hunt

One of the proudest moments of the early 1960's Mets was having their second baseman Ron Hunt start the All-Star Game held at Shea Stadium. Hunt was the first Mets All Star to have a starting position.

In 1962 Richie Ashburn made the All Star reserve team, as did Duke Snider in 1963. But it was Hunt, who had no ties with other teams, that was a true Mets first time All Star for the young team, only three years in the league. 

In those days there was no fan voting, Hunt received the honor by getting voted in by his fellow NL Players. He was having an outstanding year, especially considering he played on the 23-58 last place Mets. He was batting .311 with 14 doubles 4 triples 3 HRs 22 RBIs & a .361 on base% at the break.

Manager Casey Stengel told the press in June, that there would be something wrong if Hunt didn't start the All-Star Game. This certainly helped promote the young Ron Hunt.

According to Hunt the night before the game, he took his grandfather to Shea Stadium. His grandfather had help teach him the game. Hunt had his friends in the grounds crew turn on the lights to show his grandfather, the empty grand ball bark all lit up just for him, it was quite a thrill for both.

To the delight of the fans, Mets manager Casey Stengel would coach at third base. 

In the top of the 1st, the Angels Jim Fregosi led with a base hit. Then the Dodgers pitcher Don Drysdale threw a passed ball. The Twins slugger Harmon Killebrew drove in the first run with a base hit scoring Fregosi.

In the bottom of the 3rd, hometown hero Roh Hunt led off the inning & received a standing ovation from the Shea Faithful.  Hunt then delivered a base hit to left field as the crowd went wild. 

Hunt would get two more at bats in the game, in the 5th he hit a come backer to Twins pitcher Camilo Pasqual & & then in the 7th, he struck out looking at a third strike from the Red Sox Dick Radatz.

In the 9th with one out & two on, he would be pinch hit for by non other than Henry Aaron.

In the bottom of the 4th, the Cubs Billy Williams & the Cardinals' Ken Boyer both hit solo HRs off the A's John Watt, giving the NL a 2-1 lead. 

In the bottom of the 5th, they added another run when the Pirates Roberto Clemente singled off Pasqual & Pirate teammate Dick Groat doubled to let center ringing in Clemente. 

In the top of the 6th, Micke Mantle & Harmon Killebrew singled off the Phillies Chris Short. With two on, the Orioles Brooks Robinson tripled in the right center field alley scoring both runners tying the game at three.

In the top of the 7th, the Astros Turk Farrel hit Elston Howard with a pitch. Bronx Born Cleveland Indian Rocky Colavito doubled advancing Howard to third. Jim Fregosi then hit a sac fly scoring Howard, giving the American Leaguers a 4-3 lead which they held to the bottom of the 9th.

In the 9th, Boston's Dick Radatz (known as the Monster) was pitching his third inning, trying to close it out.

Johnny Callison blasts walk off HR

The Giants Willie Mays still a hero in New York & one the games most popular players, drew a leadoff walk. Willie then stole second base & came around to score the tying run on teammate Orlando Cepeda's pop fly base hit that landed in short right field.

The Reds Johnny Edwards was walked intentionally with Ron Hunt being the next batter.

Hunt was removed from the game as Hank Aaron came on to pinch hit for him.  Dick Radtz struck out Aaron for the second out.

Then the Phillies Johnny Callison delivered a dramatic walk off HR that landed in the right field seats. His teammates all came out greet him as the Shea fans gave him a big ovation in the exciting victory. 

The Callison HR still remains one of the tops All Star moments in the Mid-Summer classic.

All Star Trivia: It was the NL's second straight win as they would win eight straight All-Star Games until 1971. They then won 11 mores straight until 1983.

All Star Game Walk Off HRs: It was the third walk off HR in All Star history. 

In 1941, the Red Sox Ted Williams hit a walk off HR off the Cubs Claude Passeau at Briggs Stadium in Detroit.  

In 1956, the Cardinals Stan Musial hit a 12th inning walk off HR off the Red Sox Frank

Sullivan.