Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 3, 1995 TAG: 9507030158
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
So will Hideo Nomo, perhaps baseball's biggest star these days as Ken Griffey Jr. and Matt Williams heal their broken bones.
Nomo on Sunday became the first Japanese player picked for an All-Star Game, and six Indians were chosen for the first time since 1955.
``Now people have to realize what good players we have around here,'' said second baseman Carlos Baerga.
Baerga and outfielder Albert Belle were voted in as starters for the game in Arlington, Texas, and AL manager Buck Showalter said Kenny Lofton will take Griffey's place in the starting lineup. Also picked were outfielder Manny Ramirez and pitchers Dennis Martinez and Jose Mesa.
``I could have easily chose a few more,'' said Showalter, the manager of the New York Yankees. ``I thought long and hard of Eddie Murray. He certainly was worthy of consideration.''
Murray got his 3,000th hit Friday night but broke two ribs Sunday. The Indians are 42-18, the best record in baseball, and have a 10-game lead in the AL Central Division.
With his selection, Lofton's salary next year automatically jumps from $3.1 million to $3.5 million.
``I'm still pretty new, so I'm still not sure what it'll be like,'' he said. ``But it is an honor, especially to go with so many teammates.''
Nomo, the 26-year-old rookie who is 6-1 with a 2.05 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers, was among five first-time All-Stars on the NL staff, joined by Denny Neagle of Pittsburgh, Carlos Perez of Montreal, and Tyler Green and Heathcliff Slocumb of Philadelphia.
``I didn't think I could come this far,'' Nomo said through a translator. ``Hopefully, I'm not too psychologically overwhelmed.''
Griffey, Williams and Ozzie Smith were elected as starters even though they are injured and will miss the game.
Griffey, who broke his left wrist May 27, led AL outfielders with 1,204,748 votes. Williams, who broke his right foot June 3, led NL third basemen with 1,029,519 votes.
Cal Ripken of the Baltimore Orioles, closing in on Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 consecutive games played, led all players with 1,698,524 votes. The closest voting was for the third outfield spot in the AL. Lofton was fourth, 21,822 votes behind Kirby Puckett of Minnesota.
The number of votes was down sharply from 1994, primarily because Texaco Inc. didn't distribute ballots and baseball attendance this season has dropped 20 percent. In 1994, a record 14,040,122 votes were cast and Griffey got the most - 6,079,688. This year, 5,808,000 votes were cast, the fewest since 5.5 million votes in 1987.
Also elected to start for the AL were Chicago White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas, New York Yankees third baseman Wade Boggs and Texas catcher Ivan Rodriguez.
In the NL, Fred McGriff of Atlanta was elected at first, Craig Biggio of Houston at second and Mike Piazza of Los Angeles at catcher. The elected outfielder starters were Barry Bonds of San Francisco, Lenny Dykstra of Philadelphia and Tony Gwynn of San Diego.
Smith, disabled since May 24 with a sore shoulder, was voted to start for the 12th time. The only player elected more times was Rod Carew (15).
National League manager Felipe Alou of Montreal said he intends use Colorado's Vinny Castilla at third in place of Williams and Cincinnati's Barry Larkin at shortstop instead of Smith.
by CNB