Perez, 25, in his third full season with the Reds, was named the All-Star Game MVP.
The Big Dog rode the bench until the 10th inning, when manager Walt Alston told him to replace Phillies third baseman Dick Allen. Perez struck out against Hunter in the 12th, then belted the game-winner to deep left field with one out in the top of the 15th.
In an oddity, all three runs came on solo homers by third basemen: Dick Allen off the Angels’ Dean Chance in the second; the Orioles’ Brooks Robinson off the Cubs’ Fergie Jenkins in the seventh; and Perez. It was the longest game in All-Star history, a mark tied in 2008.
Another Cuban, lefty Mike Cuellar, was representing Houston on the NL roster.
The 1967 rosters included 21 future Hall of Famers: Perez, Seaver, Drysdale, Jenkins, Mazeroski, Hunter, Bob Gibson, Juan Marichal, Joe Torre, Ernie Banks, Hank Aaron, Lou Brock, Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, Harmon Killebrew, Mickey Mantle, Rod Carew, Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, Al Kaline and Carl Yastrzemski.
It was a great night for Tony Perez of Ciego de Avila.
