DiMaggio didn't need a base hit in the All-Star Game to extend the streak. Like the exhibition game some six weeks before, his All-Star performance wouldn't count. But fans took the All-Star game seriously. Had Joe failed to get a hit, then extended the streak, the record would have lost considerable luster.

Before the game, played in Detroit's Briggs Stadium on July 8, DiMaggio quashed a rumor that he'd been hurt in an automobile accident. He came to bat in the first inning and popped out off Brooklyn pitcher Whitlow Wyatt. In the fourth, with the game scoreless, Cecil Travis doubled for the American League. DiMaggio came to bat against Paul Derringer and brought the crowd to its feet with a long drive to the deepest part of center field, but Pete Reiser pulled the drive down after a long run. Then Ted Williams doubled to right to score Travis and give the AL a 1-0 lead.

The National League tied the game in the top of the sixth. With one out, DiMaggio worked a rare walk. Williams flied out, then Jeff Heath walked, moving DiMaggio to second. Lou Boudreau singled to center, and when Reiser muffed the play, Joe came around to score and give the AL a 2-1 lead.

In the seventh, Arky Vaughan of the NL hit a home run to put the NL ahead 3-2. The AL failed to score, and in the eighth Vaughan hit another two-run homer and the NL lead increased to three. In the bottom of the eighth, with one out, DiMaggio doubled. Wiilliams then struck out and endured the jeers of the Detroit fans. But Dominic DiMaggio drove his brother home with a hit.

The score was still 5-3 when the American League came to bat in the ninth. With one out, Ken Keltner and Joe Gordon singled before Cecil Travis walked to load the bases for DiMaggio. The setting was perfect. He had already scored twice and now had the opportunity to cap his amazing first half of the season by winning the game for the American League.

Cub pitcher Claude Passeau got two quick strikes on DiMaggio. But Joe, the hero of the moment, became goat. He swung at the next pitch and bounced a perfect double play ball to National League shortstop Eddie Miller, who flipped the ball to Billy Herman at second as the crowd at Briggs Stadium started to rise and head home.

But Cecil Travis surprised Herman by going into second hard and breaking up the double play. Keltner scored and DiMaggio reached first. Ted Williams stepped to the plate, still wearing goat horns and hearing about it for his eighth-inning strikeout.

It was Williams who turned hero. He smashed a Passeau pitch deep into right field for a three-run home run to end the game, giving the American League a 7-5 win. It was a precious moment for Williams, and he fairly danced around the bases, jumping for joy and waving his arms. At the last possible instant, he'd one-upped DiMaggio, and for a day at least, Williams pushed DiMaggio off the headlines of sporting pages around the country. Ted's home run caused the press to take notice. DiMaggio had indeed hit in 48 straight games, but Williams was hitting .405. DiMaggio's .357 was only fourth best in the league.

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