This was the first and only year two Major League Players shared the All-Star Most Valuable Player Award. Bill Madlock and Jon Matlack shared the award. The 1975 Midsummer Classic was played on July 15, 1975 at County Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Midsummer Classic Game was attended by 51,480 fans. Once again, the American League got too close to win the game, but the National League took it away in a dramatic fashion. In the sixth inning, Carl Yastrzemski hit a three run home run served up by Tom Seaver and tied the game. Things looked pretty even as a tense eight innings passed and the teams were tied, 3-3, going into the ninth. Then it happened, Reggie Smith opened the inning with a single that Claudell Washington dropped after a long run. Al Oliver, pinch-hitting for Jon Matlack, doubled to left. Goose Gossage replace Catfish Hunter to face Larry Bowa and promptly plucked him with a pitch, loading the bases. That brought Gossage eye-to-eye with Bill Madlock, who singled to left, scoring two runs.

A third scored on Pete Rose’s sacrifice fly. National League All Stars Steve Garvey and Jimmy Wynn led off the second inning with back to back homers. Major League Baseball started a new tradition during this particular All-Star Game, as it marked the first one where each league had Honorary Captains. Mickey Mantle was the Honorary Captain for the American League and Stan Musial was the Honorary Captain for the National League. This the final All-Star appearance for Hank Aaron, twenty-four Midsummer Classics tying him with Willie Mays and Stan Musial for most All Star Games played during a career. Much like in past decades when one side dominated the other, the sports press began to speculate about the future of the All Star Game. The event was becoming a routine and America’s Passion for baseball began to sway as professional Football took center stage. America‘s Favorite Past-time was no longer the favorite, and many felt that it would never fully recover.