This was the first and only Midsummer Classic ever played at theDodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Players were polled by the New York Times to determine who they believed should be on the starting team, Steve Carlton and Paul Monitor finished first and second respectively, but neither player appeared in the game at all. The National League was riding a three decade winning streak much like the American League had dominated from the 30’s-50’s. surprisingly most of the National Leagues’ wins came after late-inning comebacks and extra-innings. Perfection seemed about the only way Americans were going to win a game and they gave it a good shot in this one. The American League knew that great pitching would be the key to victory as many of the new players who were replacing the retiring All-Star journeymen were major threats at the plate. They got their wish as starter Steve Stone pitched three perfect innings, becoming the first to do so since Deny McLain in 1966. Tommy John did the same for another 12/3 innings. By then, the American League even had a 2-0 lead.

The American League pitchers kept the National League in check by throwing a perfect game into the fifth. The home run hit by Fred Lynn during the fifth inning was his third career All-Star home run. His earlier long balls were hit during the 1976 All-Star Game and 1979 All-Star Game. Then tragedy struck to the American League, as the National League made a spectacular comeback that had become their signature at the midsummer classic. Ken Griffey started the rally off with a homerun. With one out, singles by Ray Knight, Phil Garner and George Hendrick tied it. Ed Farmer replaced John and Dave Winfield blistered a ground ball that Willie Randolph could not handle. Garner scored the go ahead run and the American League went down to their ninth straight loss. Ken Griffey broke up the no-hit gem by slamming a home run during the fifth inning off Tommy John which earned him the All-Star Most Valuable Player Award. Witnessed by over fifty six thousand fans at the Dodger Stadium, The National League won 4-2 against the American League.