After nine consecutive losing appearances, the American League appeared to be on their way to yet another disappointing loss. The National League jumped out 3-0, but the American League came back in the bottom of the third and, for the first time since 1964, actually took the lead. The midsummer Classic game was played on July13, 1971 at Tiger Stadium in Detroit, Michigan. The attendance was a record for Midsummer Classic, 53,559 fans attended and the gate revenue was an all time high $435,134.The American League Luis Aparicio led off with a single and Earl Weaver sent up Reggie Jackson, who was on only his fourth full season. Jackson made his at-bat debut with a homerun that struck a light tower on Tiger Stadium’s roof some 520 feet from home plate. It was just a preview of what was to come from the future hall of fame. Two batters later, Frank Robinson stepped up to the plate and fired a rocket into the lower right-field seats putting the American League up, 4-3.

Then they added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Roberto Clemete’s homer in the eight was the only action the National League could muster and it would not be enough. All six home runs were shots from future hall of fame players. Six future Hall of Fame players were; Johnny Bench, Hank Aaron, Reggie Jackson, Frank Robinson, Harmon Killerbrew and Roberto Clemente. The six home runs by six different players tied an All-Star Game record. The home run hit by Frank Robinson made him the first player to hit All-Star home runs from both leagues. The shot hit by Reggie Jackson in the bottom of the third is a true classic as it hit the light tower on top of the second deck of the stadium in right center. This was the last All-Star Game for Roberto Clemente, who would lose his life in an airplane crash the following season while on a humanitarian expedition. The sports headlines in newspapers across the country read: “stop the presses! The American League wins one!” The All-Star curse was finally broken, but would the American league be able to maintain the momentum into the next season. Frank Robinson received the Most Valuable Player Award. American League scored 6-4 win against National League.