Hall of Fame Game History: 1970-1979

Expos Earn Victory Over White Sox, 10-6, July 27, 1970

With a game-time temperature in the triple digits, the Montreal Expos made an impressive Hall of Fame Game debut with a 10-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Bobby Wine, who played a key role in the 1965 Hall of Fame Game with the Phillies, launched a two-run home run in the top of the fourth to break a 3-3 tie. Four runs in the seventh for Montreal sealed the victory for the club, as John O'Donoghue picked up the victory, with five innings of work, fanning four batters. Future Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio appeared for the White Sox.

Indians-Cubs Meet for Third Time, August 9, 1971

Battling for the third time in four career meetings in the Hall of Fame Game, the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs produced an offensive and error-filled outing, captured by the Indians, 13-5. The two teams also faced each other in the Hall of Fame Game in 1952 and 1960, and would play again in 1988. The Cubs committed a Hall of Fame Game record six errors in the contest, as Cleveland totaled 13 runs of 15 hits, eight scores coming in the fifth inning on only five hits and three errors. Jim Clark hit a three-run home run in the inning. Despite a home run from "Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks, Chicago fell short in its comeback attempt, scoring four runs in the final three innings. Leo Durocher fell to 1-2 as a manager in Hall of Fame Games, in his final contest in Cooperstown.

Allen-Town: Yankees Pummel Dodgers on Bernie's Three Home Runs, August 7, 1972

Bernie Allen entered 1972 with 62 career home runs in 10 major league seasons. Perhaps he should have played more games at Doubleday Field. Allen launched three home runs, becoming the first player to ever hit more than two home runs in a single Hall of Fame Game, leading the Yankees to an 8-3 victory over the Dodgers. L.A.'s Willie Davis launched his second career Hall of Fame Game home run, plating Bill Buckner, in the third, to give the Dodgers a 3-0 lead. In the fourth, New York unloaded for five runs, on a two-run blast by Bobby Murcer and a three-run shot from Allen, his first in the game. Allen added solo shots in the sixth and the eighth innings accounting for five of the Yankees runs. Wade Blasingame earned the win for New York. Ralph Houk skippered the Yankees, while Walter Alston would make his last appearance on the field. He would earn election to the Hall of Fame in 1983.

Texas Two-Steps Past Pirates, 6-4, August 6, 1973

Two-by-two, the Texas Rangers stepped past the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1973 Hall of Fame Game, scoring two runs in the seventh inning to break a 4-4 tie for a 6-4 win. Lloyd Allen hurled a complete game for Texas, allowing eight hits. Larry Biittner's two-run single in the seventh inning broke a 4-4 tie, giving Texas its first Hall of Fame Game win in only the club's second year of existence. With two runs in each of the second, third and seventh innings, the Rangers survived two runs from the Pirates in the fourth and two runs in the sixth for a two-run win. Richie Zisk powered Pittsburgh, driving in three runs on a solo homer and a double. Bob Oliver also hit a solo homer for the Pirates. Willie Stargell was hitless, but robbed Texas' Toby Harrah of a home run with a leaping over-the-fence catch.

Braves Prevail, 12-9, as White Sox Lose Second Straight Appearance, August 12, 1974

Hank Aaron led off the 1974 Hall of Fame Game with a single, and set the tone for an offensive eruption, as the Atlanta Braves outlasted the Chicago White Sox, 12-9. Aaron, who just four months earlier had become the all-time home run king, scored the first of five opening inning runs as the Braves capitalized on three Chicago fielding errors in the first frame. The White Sox rallied from an 8-3 deficit in the fifth and sixth innings, scoring four times to pull within one, but four runs in the final three, including three runs in the top of the ninth, guided the Braves to victory in the team's first appearance since relocating to Atlanta. Vic Correll homered twice for Atlanta, following Paul Casanova's ninth inning blast for back-to-back shots. Ron Santo collected two RBI for the White Sox. The two clubs combined to commit nine errors in the game, establishing a Hall of Fame Game record.

Rookies Guide Boston Past Giants, 11-5, August 18, 1975

The Boston Red Sox were in the midst of a special season in 1975, when the Hall of Fame Game called. With a 74-49 record at the time, the Red Sox were en route to a World Series berth, and a dramatic Fall Classic with the Cincinnati Reds. The latest scheduled meeting in the history of the Hall of Game, the August 18 date with the San Francisco Giants followed a doubleheader on August 17 at Chicago, which Boston would split. The club traveled to Cooperstown for the Game before returning to the Midwest to start a three-game series at Kansas City. The trip didn't derail the Red Sox momentum, as the club's offensive stars lifted Boston to an 11-5 victory. With a pair of first inning two-run home runs from rookie Fred Lynn, who would win both the A.L. Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards, and Dwight Evans, the Sox wasted little time building a 4-0 lead. In the third, future Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk launched a solo home run. Denny Doyle added an eighth inning blast for Boston.

Brewers Power Socks Mets, 9-3, August 9, 1976

Hank Aaron and Willie Mays were no doubt Hall of Famers in 1976, when Willie's New York Mets traveled to Cooperstown to play Hank's Milwaukee Brewers. For the already-retired Mays, the Game gave the outfielder an opportunity to test his skills one final time. While neither player impacted the outcome, the Brewers, led by four home runs, beat the Mets, 9-3. Mays, who coached for the Mets from 1974-79, entertained early in the game at second base, dancing off the bag, much to the delight of the capacity crowd at Doubleday Field. The Brewers, though, would be the top entertainment, with Sixto Lezcano blasting two home runs and driving in five runs. Lezcano's first blast, a three-run shot in the first inning, gave Milwaukee a 3-2 lead. In the third, his two-run shot extended the margin to 5-2. Mike Hegan's three-run blast in the sixth and Bernie Carbo's solo shot in the seventh concluding the Brewers parade. Larry Sorenson pitched seven innings for the Brewers, allowing all three runs, to earn the win. Robin Yount made his lone Hall of Fame Game appearance.

Twins Win With Three Late Runs, 8-5. Aug. 8, 1977

The Philadelphia Phillies would win a National League best 101 games in 1977. In the 35th annual Hall of Fame Game, though, the club could not best the upstart Twins, as Minnesota scored three runs late for an 8-5 win. Bob Gorinski claimed the role of hero for the Twins, belting a three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to even the game at 5-5. Gorinski also collected a fourth-inning RBI double. Bud Bulling's two-run homer in the ninth inning sealed the victory for the Twins. Jim Shellenback picked up the win in relief. Rod Carew would win the MVP award in 1977, but like fellow Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt for the Phillies, was a non-factor in the game.

Rain Knots Tigers and Mets at 4-4, Aug. 7, 1978

Milt May made the most of the six frames the Detroit Tigers and New York Mets would play in the 1978 Game, belting two solo home runs and driving in three runs for Detroit before rain ended the game in a 4-4 tie in the top of the seventh inning. Lenny Randle's three-run blast gave New York a 4-3 lead entering the bottom of the fifth inning, before May's second clout evened the score. May would hit a first-inning home run, and later doubled in Tigers rookie Alan Trammell in the third-inning to give the club a 2-1 lead. Tom Grieve homered for New York to even the score at 1-1 in the second.

Rangers Rock Padres, 12-5, August 6, 1979

The Hall of Fame Game's home run derby, held prior to each annual Game, wouldn't become a tradition until 1986, when the Texas Rangers would again visit Cooperstown. The 1979 edition of the Game showed that the Rangers would be more than ready for a derby event, blasting a Hall of Fame Game record seven clouts en route to a 12-5 victory over the San Diego Padres. Richie Zisk and Pat Putnam each homered twice, and Dave Roberts, Billy Sample and Larvell Blanks also hit homers for the Rangers. Dan Briggs homered twice for San Diego, bringing the Game total to nine home runs. Blanks' second-inning two-run home run hit a tree past the left-field wall at Doubleday Field to give Texas a 3-0 lead. Ten of Texas' 12 runs came courtesy of the home run. Two future Hall of Famers would appear for San Diego: Ozzie Smith and Dave Winfield.