A Look Back At The First All-Star Game, July 6, 1933

Subscribe to Baseball History Comes Alive! to receive new posts automatically

All-Star Games from the 1930s Photo Gallery
Click on any image below to see photos in full size and to start Photo Gallery:

A Look Back At The First All-Star Game!

As we’re in All Star week mode, I thought it’d be a good idea to revisit the first All-Star game, played before 49,200 fans at Comiskey Park on July 6, 1933. The American League won the game 4-2, which was played in 2:05. 

The idea for an All-Star game was the brain-child of Arch Ward, the sports editor of the Chicago Tribune. It was originally Ward’s intention that the game be a one-time event to boost morale during the Great Depression; but, as we know, it soon became the annual Midsummer Classic, the greatest All-Star game of any professional sport.

Because of the intense rivalry between the two leagues, the game grew to hold great significance throughout the baseball world. Ted Williams once remarked that his greatest thrill in baseball was the walk-off home run he hit to win the 1941 All-Star game.

In the featured photo above, we see the American League team photo from the first All-Star game. Be sure to click on the photo for a clearer, crisp view. Player identifications are at the end of the post.

• Chick Hafey had the first All-Star hit: a bloop single to center leading off the second.
• Twenty of the game’s thirty-six All-Stars were later inducted into the Hall of Fame. Other future Hall-of-Famers included the two managers (Connie Mack and John McGraw) and two of the four umpires (Bill Klem and Bill McGowan). Five out of six coaches later became Hall-of-Famers.
• It was Arch Ward’s idea for the fans to select the starting nine players. The two managers selected the other nine players for each team.
• The home town White Sox had two All Stars: Jimmy Dykes and Al Simmons.
• Special All Star jerseys were made up for the National League players with “National League” on the front and white “NL” letters on their navy felt caps. The American League players wore their home uniforms.
• In the fifth inning, the game’s official American League baseball was changed to an official National League baseball; the American League home plate umpire was replaced by a National League home plate umpire after the top of the 5th inning.
• 60 baseballs autographed by All-Star players were given out before the game started.

Player Identifications:

1933 American League All-Stars

Top Row, L-R: Batboy; Bill Conroy, Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Oral Hildebrand, Connie Mack (Mgr.), Joe Cronin, Lefty Grove, Batboy, Bill Dickey, Al Simmons, Lefty Gomez, Wes Ferrell, Jimmy Dykes, clubhouse boy. Bottom Row: L-R: Al Schacht, Eddie Collins, Tony Lazzeri, Alvin Crowder, Jimmy Foxx, Art Fletcher, Earl Averill, Ed Rommel, Ben Chapman, Rick Ferrell, Sam West, Charlie Gehringer, batboy.

Gary Livacari

Photo Credits: All from Google search

Information: Excerpts edited from the 1933 World Series Wikipedia page.

Check out my two books, both now available on Amazon in e-book and paperback:  “Paul Pryor in His Own Words: The Life and TImes of a 20-Year Major League Umpire” and “Memorable World Series Moments.” All profits go to the Illinois Veterans Foundation