A Combination of the usual and the unusual in more ways than one, was the theme of 1974 Midsummer Classic. First, National League manager Yogi Berra stunned everyone by starting five pitchers who had absolutely no All-Star Game experience. They included Andy Messersmith, Ken Brett, Jon Matlack, Lynn McGlothlen and Mike Marshall. Berra also added two future All-Star perennials, Steve Garvey and Mike Schmidt to the mix. Garvey, who was not listed on the All-Star ballot, made the starting lineup by a write-in vote. American League President Lee Macphail took note that his league had just one victory over the last, eleven Midsummer Classics instructed Dick Williams to use only the best talent players available. But for the second straight year, the National League had an easy time of it and crushed the American League despite using five pitchers who had no All-Star Game experience.

Steve Garvey went two-for-four with a RBI, scored a run and was given the Most Valuable Player Award for his debut appearance and played brilliantly on the field. Garvey was the second players named to start an All-Star Game via an All-Star ballot write in. The first was Rico Carty during the 1970 All-Star Game. This was the first All-Star Game held at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. Lou Brock came into the All-star Game with more steals [sixty] by the half way point of the 1974 regular season than most players have had during a career. When questioned about his unusual All-Star coaching that had resulted in the usual All-Star outcome, Yogi summed it up in his classic style: “how did we win? We had the better team.”