Atlanta Hosts Baseball’s All-Star Game
July 25, 1972
- Atlanta
Baseball fans, how about this for an outfield trio? Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Willie Stargell. That’s who started for the National League in the first All-Star Game ever played in Atlanta at the old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium on this day in 1972.
Although the Braves had hosted the mid-summer classic two times before- once when the team was in Boston and later in Milwaukee - this was the first time the eyes of the baseball world focused on Atlanta. There were 23 future Hall of Famers on the rosters. The National League won 4-3 in 10 innings, in part because of a two-run homer by Hank Aaron, the only Brave on the roster. That home run would be the last hit by a player from the host team for 25 years.
Though the All-Star game would be played again in Atlanta at Turner Field in 2000, the only mid-summer classic ever played in Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium occurred on July 25, 1972, Today in Georgia History.
Although the Braves had hosted the mid-summer classic two times before- once when the team was in Boston and later in Milwaukee - this was the first time the eyes of the baseball world focused on Atlanta. There were 23 future Hall of Famers on the rosters. The National League won 4-3 in 10 innings, in part because of a two-run homer by Hank Aaron, the only Brave on the roster. That home run would be the last hit by a player from the host team for 25 years.
Though the All-Star game would be played again in Atlanta at Turner Field in 2000, the only mid-summer classic ever played in Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium occurred on July 25, 1972, Today in Georgia History.
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Fast Fact
Cookie Rojas was the first player born outside of the U.S. to hit a home run for the American League in an All-Star Game.
