50 Years of Dodger Stadium: 1980 All-Star Game

Last time we revisited the historic Beatles concert held at Dodger Stadium in 1966. While that summer night when rock n’ roll filled the Ravine was the most memorable music event in the history of Dodger Stadium, there has been many days and nights of baseball at Dodger Stadium that stand out as extra special during the last half century. July 8, 1980 was one of these historically special moments in the history of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 51st All-Star exhibition game was hosted by the Dodgers in Los Angeles for the first and only time at Dodger Stadium.

This would be the second All-Star game hosted by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the first time the game was played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 1959.

Pregame ceremonies included appearances by Disney characters, the colors presentation by Edwards Air Force Base, and then the Los Angeles All-City Band performed both the U.S. and Canadian National Anthems. Interestingly, this would be the first nationally-televised U.S. performance of O Canada since it had officially been declared Canada’s National Anthem earlier that month in 1980.

Starting lineups

American League-Manager Earl Weaver (BAL)

National League-Manager Chuck Tanner (PIT)

Order

Player

Team

Position

Order

Player

Team

Position

Willie Randolph

Yankees

Davey Lopes

Dodgers

Rod Carew

Angels

Reggie Smith

Dodgers

Fred Lynn

Red Sox

Dave Parker

Pirates

Reggie Jackson

Yankees

Steve Garvey

Dodgers

Ben Oglivie

Brewers

Johnny Bench

Reds

Carlton Fisk

Red Sox

Dave Kingman

Cubs

Graig Nettles

Yankees

Ken Reitz

Cardinals

Bucky Dent

Yankees

Bill Russell

Dodgers

Steve Stone

Orioles

J.R. Richard

Astros

The Dodgers had a quartet of starting players in the game: Davey Lopes at second base and leading off, followed by Reggie Smith in center field, Steve Garvey hit fourth and played first base, and Bill Russell was at shortstop and batted eighth. The National League would come out victorious in a 4-2 win. It was a pitcher’s duel through four scoreless innings. American League starter Steve Stone pitched three perfect innings, and he struck out three. The AL would score first in the top of the fifth inning when the Red Sox center fielder, Fred Lynn, hit a two-run homerun off of Bob Welch. In the bottom half of the fifth, the NL scored a run when Ken Griffey hit a solo homerun off of Tommy John. In the bottom of the 6th inning, the NL took the lead when George Hendrick singled in Ray Knight, and an error by Willie Randolph allowed Phil Garner to come home. The NL scored their final run in the seventh inning when Dave Concepcion singled, and he ended up reaching second and eventually scoring on two wild pitches by Dave Stieb.

A great story was told about the 1980 All-Star game by Tommy Lasorda. He had been chosen by Chuck Tanner to be a coach. When Tommy John was pitching for the AL, Tanner asked Lasorda to get a pinch-hitter. He told him he had just the guy, Ken Griffey.

"“No Tommy,” he said. “Tommy John is a left-hander. You know that.”“I know that Chuck,” I said. “But you have to put him in.”"

Griffey hit the first pitch over the fence. Tommy remembered that Ken Griffey had done the very same thing the year before when Tommy John was pitching for Lasorda and Griffey was with Cincinnati.

Ken Griffey was named the MVP.

National League 4 7 0

American League 2 7 2

WP-Jerry Reuss

LP-Tommy John

S-Bruce Sutter

HR- Fred Lynn (1), Ken Griffey (1)

Starting lineups

Schedule