Harold's Old Time Radio — 07/10/1956 Baseball All-Star Game

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio

Host: Harolds Old Time Radio

Episode Date: March 20, 2026

Original Broadcast: July 10, 1956 — All-Star Game, Griffith Stadium, Washington D.C.

Episode Overview

This episode features the radio broadcast of the 1956 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, held at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. Through dynamic play-by-play commentary and vivid analysis, listeners are transported back to the golden age of mid-century baseball. Iconic names such as Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial, Willie Mays, and Warren Spahn illuminate the field, while shrewd managerial moves and exploding bats thrill the crowd. The episode immerses listeners in the drama and pageantry of an era when baseball truly was America's pastime.

Key Discussion Points and Game Highlights

1. Setting the Stage: Player Introductions & Starting Lineups

[00:31–02:53]

• The game starts with American League pitcher Billy Pierce on the mound.
• Notable stars:
  • Yogi Berra is catching for the AL, Ted Williams in left field, Mickey Mantle (in a knee brace) in center.
  • National League features talents such as Frank Robinson and Johnny Temple.
• Pierce strikes out the first two batters (Temple and Robinson), then gets Stan Musial to ground out.
• "Billy Pierce faces two men, strikes two out. And there’s two out in the top half of the first inning." — Play-by-Play Announcer [02:55]

2. Early Defensive Brilliance; Scoreless Inning

[03:18–04:39]

• Ken Boyer (NL) makes a diving stop at third to rob Harvey Keane of a hit.
• Both starting pitchers (Pierce for AL, Bob Friend for NL) look sharp; neither team scores in the first inning.
• "So Keane lines out to Ken Boyer at third. Fine play by the youngster, who moved to his left and dove for the ball and came up with it." — Play-by-Play Announcer [04:39]

3. Pitchers' Duel and First Runs

[07:57–28:29]

• Ken Boyer records the game's first hit (single).
• Billy Pierce racks up an impressive 5 strikeouts over 3 innings, nearly tying the All-Star Game record.
• NL breaks through in the top of 3rd: Roy McMillan draws a walk, advances on a bunt, and is driven in by Johnny Temple’s single.
  • “A little Texas League single out into right center field for Johnny Temple drives in the first run of the ball game.” — Play-by-Play Announcer [28:24]
• Score after 3 innings: NL 1, AL 0

4. Willie Mays Changes the Game

[44:33–47:19]

• Whitey Ford replaces Billy Pierce for the AL.
• Ken Boyer singles and Willie Mays, pinch-hitting, blasts a home run into the left-center field bleachers.
  • “That ball is going to go for a home run.” — Color Commentator [46:59]
  • “Willie Mays has just put the National League ahead three to one with a drive into the left center field bleachers.” — Play-by-Play Announcer [47:19]
• NL extends the lead: 3–0.

5. The National League Power Surge and Key Defensive Plays

[54:50–66:21]

• NL piles on with hits from Roy McMillan and more from Ken Boyer (who finishes with three hits).
• Notable: Defensive alignments with Musial moving to left and Mays taking over in right.
• Score grows to: NL 4, AL 0.

6. The American League Rally: Back-to-Back Homers

[87:07–91:07]

• Sixth inning:
  • Nelly Fox singles.
  • Ted Williams launches a towering home run (his fourth in All-Star play, tying Musial for the record).
  • Mickey Mantle follows with a homer of his own, back-to-back, thrilling the crowd.
    • “Ted Williams with that towering homer into the bullpen out in right center field. And Mantle’s line shot into the new seats and left center has given the American League three quick runs.” — Color Commentator [91:08]
• Five consecutive hits bring the AL within two runs.
• Score at the end of 6: NL 5, AL 3.

7. "The Man" Strikes Back — Musial Sets All-Star HR Record

[103:10–108:08]

• Duke Snider strikes out; Stan Musial belts a home run into the left-field seats, his fifth in All-Star play, reclaiming the record from Williams.
  • “Stan Musial with a home run into the new seats in left just a couple of rows back in left center… And the odd part about that is that Ted Williams, who had just previously tied Musial for the record, now watches the ball sail up over and sends him to the seats as Musial again forges out in front with his fifth All-Star homer.” — Color Commentator [103:10]
• Ted Kluszewski adds RBI doubles; Mays races home from first.
• Top 7th ends: NL up 7–3.

8. Final Innings and Closing Drama

[119:10–151:10]

• The AL is kept in check by Johnny Antonelli, the National League’s third pitcher.
• Defensive changes include Hank Aaron entering for Musial and Jimmy Piersall for the AL.
• In the 9th, the AL threatens:
  • Singles by Vic Power and George Kell, but Roy Seivers pops up and Harvey Keane grounds out to end the comeback threat.
• Final Score: National League 7, American League 3

Notable Quotes and Moments

• On Billy Pierce’s Dominance:
  “Billy Pierce continues to write a new chapter to the strikeout story as he adds his four strikeouts in the six men he has faced so far.” — Play-by-Play Announcer [12:06]

• On Ken Boyer’s Defensive Prowess:
  “Ken Boyer with two sensational plays this afternoon. That’s a hard hit ball, inside of third; Boyer took a headlong dive, speared it on the hop, threw to first base.” — Color Commentator [72:06]

• Willie Mays’s Home Run:
  “That swing on a start. A little breeze blowing out there in center field. Willie was out to really wrap that one.” — Play-by-Play Announcer [46:59]

• On Stan Musial’s Record:
  “Stan the man comes up. His 13th All Star game, his 15th year in the majors… There goes a fly ball, a deep left. Williams is going back. It’s going up. It’s a home run for Musial.” — Color Commentator [103:10]

• Back-to-Back Homers Excite the Crowd:
  “Excitement mounts... the American League has come to life here in the sixth with three successive hits, a single, and two homers in a row.” — Color Commentator [91:08]

• Musial’s Spectacular Catch and Exit:
  “Musial made the dive for the ball, took it, hit the ground, came up with the ball, but has left the ball game... That was a great catch by Stan, Player of the decade.” — Color Commentator [132:38]

• On Ted Kluszewski’s Strength:
  “When a pitcher looks in there, he has to know that he is facing a menacing person at the plate.” — Color Commentator [74:54]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:31–07:58] — Inning-by-inning breakdown, Opening Pitcher Duel, Defensive Highlights
• [28:29–33:18] — NL Scores First Run, AL Threatens
• [44:33–54:50] — Willie Mays Homers, NL Surges Ahead
• [87:07–91:08] — American League Rallies: Williams & Mantle Go Deep
• [103:10–108:10] — Musial Sets HR Record, NL Adds On
• [119:10–151:10] — Final Innings, Defense and Pitching Shine, National League Secures Victory

Tone & Language

The commentary radiates excitement and reverence for the game, with classic descriptive language (“Menacing figure at the plate,” “towering homer,” “big swinging men”). Colorful narration and banter between play-by-play announcers and color commentators deepen the sense of drama and nostalgia, making the broadcast both informative and evocative of the era.

Final Score & Wrap-up

Final Score:
National League 7, American League 3
Hits: 11 apiece, No errors, 7 left on base for each

The 1956 All-Star Game was a showcase of baseball’s greatest talent, featuring legendary home runs, a dramatic AL rally, and unforgettable defensive efforts. The National League’s power bats and clutch pitching ultimately carried the day.

For Listeners

This episode is a nostalgic, play-by-play window into mid-20th-century baseball at its most thrilling. Through passionate narration and historic moments from legends of the game, it more than delivers on the promise of Old Time Radio's golden age ambiance.