1998 C.A.B.L. ALL-STAR GAME

September 12, 1998

ALOMAR TAKES MVP AWARD IN FRONT OF HOME TOWN CROWD!

     The first annual CABL all-star game was held tonight in Tiger Stadium, home of the Windsor Chiefs. The Chiefs, who won the right to host the game by virtue of their first place ranking in overall league standings, were well represented in the game which was won by the National League by a score of 6-5. Chiefs second baseman Roberto Alomar sent the hometown fans home happy with an MVP performance that included two home runs and several stellar defensive plays in the field. "To win that award is great, but it is especially nice to have it happen in our home park. The fans were great all night any time one of us did something", said Alomar in the post game press conference.

     The game featured most of its scoring early on as American League starter Greg Maddux of the Missouri Mules and National League starter Rick Reed of the Norwood Irish, both had trouble in the second inning. Reed was touched for two runs in the second on a two run home run by Vinny Castilla of Seattle. In the bottom of the inning, Maddux was victimized by a two run single by Reed which was followed by a two run shot by Alomar deep into the upper deck in right. The American Leaguers managed a run in the third off Pedro Martinez of Windsor to get to within one run. Alomar restored the two run lead with a solo homer that hit the facing of the third deck in right.

     Both teams had trouble scoring until the eighth when Dave Justice of Oregon drilled a Troy Percival (Stormville)  fastball into the bleachers in right-center. The game got interesting in the top of the ninth when the National League sent saves leader Jeff Montgomery to the hill to nail down the win. Ken Caminiti of Lynchburg hit a one out double which was followed by a Jeff Bagwell blast into the upper deck down the left field line. Montgomery proceeded to walk the next two batters before an Ivan Rodriguez (South Park) error loaded the bases. Montgomery then got Tim Salmon (Lynchburg) on a questionable called third strike before inducing Omar Vizquel (Denver) into a game ending ground out. After the game, Montgomery was diplomatic about the Salmon at bat when he said, "Hey, we won the game, and that's what matters. That was an American League umpire back there, so his strike zone might be a little different. He hasn't seen my this year, and I hadn't seen him. I'm just happy we won because we didn't have anyone left to pitch, so if it went into extra innings, I was going to be out there for who knows how long?".

     All but two players managed to see action in the game. Rod Beck of Carmel and James Baldwin of Stormville did not see any action for the American League. Both were warming up and were scheduled to pitch in the bottom of the ninth if the AL had been able to tie or take the lead in the top half of the inning. Both told reporters after the game that they were just happy to be named to the team. "I got to spend the last three days with some of the best players in baseball", said Baldwin, "just because I didn't pitch it doesn't take anything away from the experience". Beck told the media, "Hey, I was up and warming, what more could I want. I had a chance to close out an all-star game, but we just didn't get the runs". Two players who never expected to be named to the team were Mike Stanton of South Park and Mike Trombley of Windsor. Stanton, who has not given up an earned run on more than 32 innings this season, said he was flattered that the selection committee recognized the season he is having. "Usually the only guys who make the all-star game are starters and closers. This is very special to me that I was selected for this game", said Stanton, who pitched a third of an inning in the seventh, retiring the only batter he faced. Trombley, who lead the NL in saves for most of the season,  relieved Stanton and retired the next two hitters, including an inning ending strikeout.

     The hometown Windsor Chiefs had the largest contingent of all-stars with five, including recently traded David Cone. Cone, along with Roger Clemens represented their former teams in the all-star game as they had earned their spots on the all-star game rosters before they were traded. Cone received a thunderous ovation from the Windsor crowd when he came out to start the eighth inning, a moment that Cone called, "A special moment. I will never forget the Windsor fans for that. The Chiefs are a great organization and I'm very happy that I was able to wear that uniform one more time in front of those fans". For the American League, Denver and Stormville led with four representatives each.

     In other all-star related news, Tino Martinez of Oregon defeated Vinny Castilla in the home run derby by a combined total of 12 to 10. CABL home run leader Ellis Burks of Boston was only able to connect for one home run in the first round, disappointing many who had come to see the man threatening the 60 home run plateau. Other notables were Ken Griffey of Kentucky and Jose Cruz Jr. of Chicago who hit nine,  and Larry Walker of Stormville who hit eight.
 
1998 CABL ALL-STAR GAME ROSTERS
             
AMERICAN LEAGUE ROSTER   NATIONAL LEAGUE ROSTER
*=Starter 
     
*= Starter 
   
NAME TEAM POS   NAME TEAM POS
             
Jeff Bagwell Denver 1B   Edgardo Alfonzo Norwood 3B
Craig Biggio Stormville 2B   Roberto Alomar * Windsor B
Ellis Burks * Boston OF   Tony Clark Charlston 1B
Ken Caminiti Lynchburg 3B   Jose Cruz Jr. Chicago OF
Vinny Castilla * Seattle 3B   Scott Hatteberg * Texas C
Shawon Dunston * Carmel SS   Bob Higginson * Oregon OF
Ken Griffey Jr. * Kentucky CF   Dave Justice * Oregon OF
Todd Hundley Boston C   Ray Lankford * Chicago OF
Butch Huskey * Missouri OF   Kenny Lofton Quincy OF
Mike Lansing * Denver 2B   Tino Martinez * Oregon 1B
Mike Piazza * Kentucky C   Jose Offerman Portland 2B
Tim Salmon Lynchburg OF   Joe Randa * Charlston 3B
Frank Thomas * Missouri 1B   Alex Rodriguez * Quincy SS
Omar Vizquel Denver SS   Ivan Rodriguez South Park C
Larry Walker Stormville OF   Bernie Williams Portland OF
James Baldwin Stormville P   Kevin Appier St. Petersburgh P
Rod Beck Carmel P   David Cone Windsor P
Andy Benes Seattle P   Jon Lieber Charlston P
Kevin Brown Queens P   Pedro J. Martinez Windsor P
Roger Clemens Hartsville P   Jeff Montgomery Quincy P
Doug Jones Denver P   Rick Reed * Norwood P
Darryl Kile Boston P   Mike Stanton St. Petersburgh P
Greg Maddux * Missouri P   Justin Thompson Windsor P
Troy Percival Stormville P   Mike Trombley Windsor P
Andy Pettitte Carmel P   Mark Wohlers Oregon P
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