ALL-STAR GAME RECAP

July 10th - American League 4 National League 1 - Attendance 47,364

A classic game! The pre-game ceremonies were really well done and included a display of 30 flags representing all of the countries that have players in the major and minor leagues. There were Japanese and Brazilian drummers and they had the crowd going as well. After this extravaganza, the introductions were made, and the Seattle fans were great, applauding everyone heartily, including A-Rod, but reserving their loudest cheers for their hometown heroes.

Roger Clemens started for the AL and pitched two perfect innings. In the first inning, A-Rod asked Cal Ripken to move from third to short in honor of the number of years that Cal was the all-star shortstop. A classy move by all.  Randy Johnson started for the NL in place of Curt Shilling, who had just pitched on Sunday and pulled himself from the game, and after yielding an infield single to lead-off batter Ichiro, he sailed through his two innings.

In the third inning, Cal Ripken led off against Chan Ho Park. A standing ovation was given and Cal acknowledged it by patting his chest to indicate that he was feeling nervous. But what followed was a classic moment in All-Star history - a first pitch fastball that was sent flying over the left field fence for a home run and a 1-0 AL lead. Frankly, the rest of the game was anti-climatic, because we all knew who would be MVP after that.

In the 5th, Ripken was replaced by Troy Glaus, and they stopped the game to honor Cal and Tony Gwynn, both of whom are retiring at the end of this season. Commissioner Bud Selig presented each player with a trophy while the other All-Stars gathered around.

With the score 2-1 for the AL, Jon Lieber of the Cubs came in to pitch in the 7th and gave up back-to-back jacks to Derek Jeter and Magglio Ordonez to make it 4-1. That is the way it ended, as Kazuhiro Sasaki came in to get the save.

Sasaki pitches

The theme of the game was "Baseball Around the World" and it was fitting that the winning pitcher (Freddy Garcia), losing pitcher (Chan Ho Park) and the save (Sasaki) all went to non-American players. But the MVP was no contest - Cal Ripken Jr getting his second All-Star MVP for his 3rd-inning homer.

A great game that will always be remembered by anyone who was there. Next year the midsummer classic travels to Milwaukee, if you can make it, you should. A great park and a great event for any baseball fan,