Tuesday, March 19, 2024

#343---All-Star Game, 7/10/2001

 

The AL won this midsummer classic on the strength of three solo homers: back-to-back shots from Derek Jeter and Magglio Ordonez off Jon Lieber in the sixth, but most infamously Cal Ripken’s third inning homer off Chan Ho Park. Ripken celebration was the theme of the day, and my notes suggest that I wasn’t having it – the note at the very top bemoans the delay “before first pitch for Gwynn/Ripken waste of time”. Tony Gwynn did not play in this game, while Ripken was also feted by A-Rod moving him to shortstop for the first inning before they switched back to their appointed positions in the second.

Rookie Albert Pujols made his All-Star debut, entering at third base in the bottom of the fifth, drawing a walk in his only PA, and playing second base in the eighth inning. During the regular season, Pujols’ career at second base consisted of 3 1/3 innings in one 2008 game.

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