1939 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

1939 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
Game	1939 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
Date	July 11, 1939
Venue	Yankee Stadium
City	Bronx, New York City
Visiting	National League
Home	American League
Mvp	None (All-Star Game MVP not yet awarded)
Attendance	62,892
Firstpitch	Wendell Willkie

1939 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the seventh midseason exhibition between the National League and the American League, held at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on July 11, 1939. The matchup featured stars from clubs such as the New York Yankees, Brooklyn Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, and Detroit Tigers, and took place amid the backdrop of the 1939 World's Fair and the ongoing careers of legends like Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Joe Medwick, and Jimmie Foxx.

Background

The 1939 All-Star Game was staged during a period when Major League Baseball was consolidating national appeal through events like the All-Star Game and the World Series, and it followed All-Star contests in Cleveland, Chicago, St. Louis, and Brooklyn. Fan balloting, managerial selections, and commissioner appointments shaped rosters including representatives from franchises such as the New York Yankees, Boston Bees, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and St. Louis Browns. Political figures including Wendell Willkie participated in ceremonial functions, while media coverage from outlets based in New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Boston amplified interest. Stadium traditions at Yankee Stadium linked to owners like Jacob Ruppert and managers like Joe McCarthy underscored the game's prominence.

Rosters and Lineups

Managers Bill Terry of the New York Giants for the National League and Joe McCarthy of the New York Yankees for the American League assembled rosters featuring Hall of Famers and All-Stars such as Mel Ott, Paul Waner, Carl Hubbell, Gabby Hartnett, Frankie Frisch, Dizzy Dean, Dolph Camilli, Joe Medwick, Jimmie Foxx, Charlie Gehringer, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Earl Averill, Ben Chapman, and Cecil Travis. Starting lineups included position players from clubs like the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators, Brooklyn Dodgers, and St. Louis Cardinals, with pitchers drawn from rotations of the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Browns. Substitutions during the game featured reserves from the New York Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, and St. Louis Browns who had been selected by managers and league officials.

Game Summary

The contest began under the signature archways of Yankee Stadium with ceremonial activities tied to the 1939 World's Fair and public figures from New York City and Washington, D.C.. Early innings featured pitching matchups between hurlers from the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees organizations, and defensive plays involving infielders representing the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, and Chicago White Sox. Batting stars from the Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Cubs supplied key plate appearances while outfielders affiliated with the Philadelphia Athletics and Washington Senators attempted to stem scoring threats. Managerial decisions by Bill Terry and Joe McCarthy shaped bullpen usage drawn from clubs such as the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Browns, and Philadelphia Phillies.

Scoring Plays and Key Moments

The game’s decisive scoring came through timely hits by sluggers associated with the American League roster, including contributions from members of the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox lineups. Notable moments included a run-producing hit off a pitcher from the St. Louis Cardinals rotation, a defensive miscue involving an infielder connected with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and baserunning heads-up plays by players from the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers that turned the tide. Late-inning substitutions brought pinch-hitters and relievers from the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Athletics, and Pittsburgh Pirates who influenced the scoring sequence and the final margin.

Umpires and Attendance

Umpires for the game were selected from the staffs of the National League and the American League including officials who had worked series for the World Series and league playoff contests; their assignments rotated through positions behind the plate and along the baselines as was customary for All-Star Games. The official attendance was recorded at 62,892 spectators who filled Yankee Stadium as fans from New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, and visiting cities including Chicago and St. Louis watched the contest amid summer exhibitions and promotional events tied to the World's Fair.

Aftermath and Legacy

The 1939 All-Star Game reinforced the event’s role in celebrating players from landmark franchises like the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Brooklyn Dodgers, and Chicago Cubs, and it contributed to the legend-building of stars who later entered the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown. The contest occurred in the same season that saw historic moments for players such as Joe DiMaggio and organizational milestones for owners associated with clubs like the Boston Red Sox and New York Giants. Over time, historians of Major League Baseball and chroniclers from newspapers in New York City, Boston, and St. Louis have cited the 1939 game as part of the All-Star Game’s early canon that bridged the 1930s and the wartime 1940s era of American sports.

Category:Major League Baseball All-Star Game Category:1939 in baseball Category:Sports competitions in the Bronx