The voting by the fans during the 1978 All Star Game was widely criticized, even by the players themselves. Johnny Bench, who was on the disabled list for five weeks prior to this game, but named to the starting catcher’s position, said, “The whole thing hands me a laugh, two years after I’m dead I’ll still be getting All-Star Votes.” The midsummer Classic was played on July 11, 1978 at San Diego Stadium, In San Diego, California. This was the first and only All-Star Game ever held at the San Diego Stadium. Once again the American League started off with solid hitting that gave them the lead early in the game. Rod Carew led off the game with a triple and George Brett followed with a double. Brett then scored on a Carlton Fisk sacrifice fly putting the American up 3-0. The American League was on a roll, but all that changed in the bottom of the third. Larry Bowa opened with a single. Then, Jim Palmer uncharacteristically walked Joe Morgan, George Foster and Greg Luzinski, forcing in a run. He found the plate against Steve Garvey, who tied it with a single. The National League closed it out with four runs in the bottom of the eighth.

Manager, Billy Martin brought in Goose Gossage, who ran into a nightmare inning. He gave up four runs on four hits for the American League’s seventh straight loss. Garvey led off with a triple and scored on Gossage’s wild pitch. Dave Concepcion walked and Dave Winfield followed with a single. Chet Lemon misplaced Winfield’s ball, with Concepcion and Winfield moving up. Bob boone then single up the middle, driving in two runs and later scored on a bloop hit by Davey Loes. Rod Carew set an All-Star triple record by leading off with a triple in the first then hitting another triple in the third. With the score tied 3-3 in the eighth, Steve Garvey hit leadoff with a triple and scored the winning run, on a wild pitch, which earned him the All-Star Most Valuable Player Award. Rich Gossage was the first All-Star to play for the America League All-Star team, then National League, and back in the American League. The National League won 7-3 against the American League.