The 1970 midsummer Classic was played on July 14, 1970 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The American League entered the 1970’s determined to break the embarrassing eight game losing streaks that had plagued them throughout the previous decade. American League manager Earl Weaver anticipated strong pitching as their best chance against the National League’s power hitters. It appeared to be working as pitcher’s duel dominated the majority of the game. Finally, the streak appeared to be a bad memory as the American League took a 4-1 lead going into the bottom of the ninth. But on the strength of a Dick Dietz solo home run, three more singles and a sacrifice fly, the National league brought up three and forced extra innings.

That sets the stage for one of the most memorable and controversial plays in All-Star Game history. After singling in front of the home crowd in Cincinnati and moving to second on Billy Grabarewitz’s single, Cincinnati’s Pete Rose races home on yet another single by Jim Hickman. Without slowing down, Rose barrels into Indians catcher Ray Fosse, jarring the ball loose and giving the National League a 5-4 win. The victory during the 1970 All-Star Game by the National League was a record setting eighth consecutive win. Carl Yastrzemski won the Most Valuable Player Award. The Riverfront Stadium had only opened about three weeks earlier and only eleven regular seasons games had been played in it before the 1970’s All-Star Game was played there. President Richard Nixon threw out the first pitch twice during this game. The first was to Bill Freehan [American League starting catcher] and the second was thrown to Johnny Bench [National League starting Catcher].