Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Stan Musial hit the first pitch of the 12th inning for a walk-off home run as the National League rallied to defeat the American League, 6-5, on July 12, 1955, for their fifth win in a span of six All-Star Games.
The AL scored four times in the top of the fourth and led, 5-0, before the NL rallied with two runs in the seventh and three in the eighth at County Stadium in Milwaukee.
The 1955 Midsummer Classic was only the second All-Star Game to go into extra innings.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Frank Sullivan -- who had given up a game-tying hit to Hank Aaron of the host Braves with two out in the eighth -- had already hurled 3 1/3 innings for the AL when he threw a fastball to Musial to open the bottom of the 12th.
The St. Louis Cardinals left fielder drove the pitch out to right field to become the All-Star Game's all-time home run leader with No. 4, breaking a tie with Ted Williams and Ralph Kiner.
The AL jumped on NL starting pitcher Robin Roberts for four runs in the first before the Philadelphia Phillies ace retired a batter.
Detroit Tigers shortstop Harvey Kuenn opened the game with a single and moved to third on a single by Chicago White Sox second baseman Nellie Fox. With Ted Williams at the plate, Roberts threw a wild pitch, allowing Kuenn to score. Williams then drew a walk.
New York Yankees center fielder Mickey Mantle followed with a three-run homer to make it 4-0.
The American League extended their lead to 5-0 in the top of the sixth. Yankees catcher Yogi Berra singled with one out of Cardinals pitcher Harvey Haddix. Berra advanced to third on a double by Tigers right fielder Al Kaline and scored on ground out to first by Washington Senators first baseman Mickey Vernon.
White Sox left-hander Billy Pierce and Cleveland Indians right-hander Early Wynn each pitched three scoreless innings as the AL took a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh. Starter Pierce allowed a hit with three strikeouts in the first two innings. Wynn allowed three hits with a walk.
But the National League struck for five runs in 1 2/3 innings against the usually formidable Whitey Ford of the Yankees. Ford allowed five hits and a walk, although only three of the runs were earned and the final two runs scored after he departed.
New York Giants center fielder Willie Mays singled to open the seventh and moved to second when Aaron drew a two-out walk. Braves shortstop Johnny Logan singled to end the shutout and Aaron scored a second run when White Sox shortstop Chico Carrasquel threw wildly on what should have been an inning-ending grounder by pinch-hitter Stan Lopata of the Phillies.
A second two-out error an inning later allowed the NL to tie the game.
Ford retired the first two hitters he faced in the eighth, when Mays and Cincinnati Reds first baseman Ted Kluszewski hit back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners. Chicago Cubs third baseman Randy Jackson singled to right to score Mays.
AL manager Al Lopez of the White Sox summoned Sullivan from the bullpen to replace Ford.
Aaron greeted Sullivan with a single to right, scoring Kluszewski. Kaline threw to third in an attempt to throw out Jackson, but the ball got away from Indians third baseman Al Rosen, allowing Jackson to score the tying run.
Cincinnati left-hander Joe Nuxhall, who 11 years and a month earlier became the youngest player in Major League history at the age of 15, allowed two hits with three strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings for the NL to keep the game scoreless. Gene Conley of the Braves struck out the side in the top of the 12th and was credited with the win for the NL.
Mays, Aaron, Kluszewski and Cardinals second baseman Red Schoendienst each had two hits for the NL. Mantle had a single in addition to his three-run homer for the AL.