Hubbell stole the show, but AL won 1934 All-Star Game

Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.

Although the American League won the second All-Star Game ever played on July 10, 1934, the game will be remembered for one of the greatest pitching performances in history.

Giants left-hander Carl Hubbell, pitching on his home turf at the Polo Grounds in New York, struck out five straight American League hitters -- and not just any five.

After giving up a single to Charlie Gehringer to open the game and then walking Heinie Manush, Hubbell, whose nickname was "The Meal Ticket," went to work with his legendary screwball.

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With two on and no one out, Hubbell faced three of the greatest hitters in Major League history -- Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx. He retired Ruth on a called third strike. He got Gehrig swinging. Then he struck out Foxx to end the first. Hubbell opened the second by striking out Al Simmons and Joe Cronin.

The National League took a 4-0 lead on a first-inning homer run by the Cardinals' Frankie Frisch and a three-run, third-inning homer by Joe Medwick of St. Louis.

But the American League scored two runs in the fourth and six in the fifth en route to a 9-7 win.

Outfielder Simmons was the first player to have three hits in an All-Star Game, going 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a RBI. Pinch-hitter/center fielder Earl Averill had a double and triple in four at-bats with three RBIs. Shortstop Cronin went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored. Red Ruffing, the second of three American League pitchers, had a two-run single.

Second baseman Frisch was 2-for-3 for the National League with a walk and three runs scored. Third baseman Pie Traynor was 2-for-5 with a RBI and two runs scored.

Mel Harder of the Indians pitched the final five innings for the American League, allowing no runs on one hit and a walk to pick up the win.

Hubbell gave up two hits and two walks with six strikeouts in three scoreless innings.