Triple-A All-Star Game
| Triple-A All-Star Game | |
|---|---|
 Logo for the 2016 Triple-A All-Star Game | |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Location(s) | Varies (see prose) |
| Inaugurated | 1988 |
| Most recent | July 13, 2016 (BB&T Ballpark, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States) |
| Previous event | July 15, 2015 (Werner Park, Papillion, Nebraska, United States) |
| Next event | July 2017 (Cheney Stadium, Tacoma, Washington, United States) |
| Participants | Triple-A minor league baseball players |
| Organized by | Triple-A Baseball |
| Website | Official website |
The Triple-A All-Star Game is an annual baseball game sanctioned by Minor League Baseball between professional players from the two Triple-A leagues in minor league baseball—the International League (IL) and the Pacific Coast League (PCL). Each league fields a team composed of players in their respective leagues as voted on by fans, the media, and each club's field manager, coaches, and general manager.[1] The event has taken place every year since 1988 when the first Triple-A All-Star Game was played in Buffalo, New York. Prior to 1998, a team of American League-affiliated Triple-A All-Stars faced off against a team of National League-affiliated Triple-A All-Stars.
Traditionally, the game has taken place on the day after the mid-summer Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[2] The game is meant to mark a symbolic halfway-point in the season (though not the mathematical halfway-point which, for most seasons, is usually one month prior). Both Triple-A leagues share a common All-Star break, with no regular-season games scheduled for two days before the All-Star Game itself. Some additional events, such as the All-Star Fan Fest and Triple-A Home Run Derby, take place each year close to and during this break in the regular season.[3] The PCL's Tacoma Rainiers will host the 2017 game at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Washington.[4]
History
The Triple-A All-Star Game has been played every season since 1988.[5] At the time, there were three Triple-A leagues in the United States: the American Association, International League, and Pacific Coast League. Due to the odd number of leagues, it was decided that one team would be made up of All-Stars from American League affiliates and the other of National League affiliates.[5] The American Association ceased operations after the 1997 season. So in 1998, the teams were reorganized so that one team consisted of International League All-Stars and the other of Pacific Coast League All-Stars.[6]
The game itself consists of a single nine-inning game to determine a champion. The only All-Star game to ever go beyond the proscribed nine innings was the 2004 game held in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, at McCoy Stadium.[7] Triple-A rules restricted the game from going beyond 10 innings, but the International League scored in the bottom of the tenth inning, avoiding a tie game as the result.[7] The league in which the host city competes is considered the home team for the game and the other team is designated the visiting team. Players wear their respective team uniforms. Players on the home team wear their club's white home uniforms, while players on the away team wear their club's gray road uniforms.
Since 2006, the league that wins the All-Star Game has also earned the distinction of having its league champion (determined at the end of the season) being given home team status for the Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game, a Triple-A championship game held between the IL and PCL in the post-season.[8]
Results
1988–1997: American League vs. National League
| National League (6 wins) | American League (4 wins) |
1998–present: International League vs. Pacific Coast League
| International League (12 wins) | Pacific Coast League (7 wins) |
Awards
The Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards at the Triple-A All-Star Game have gone by various names. From the inaugural 1988 contest through 1997, one player from each Triple-A league was selected for the SportsTicker "Star of Stars" Award. For 2004, this award was renamed the TSN "Star of the Game" Award. Since 2005, it has been known as the MiLB.com "Top Star" Award.[9]
From 2000 to 2003, two players were honored as the Maurice Lacroix/Lou Gehrig Players of the Game—one as "Player of the Game" and one as "Pitcher of the Game". In 2004, one player was selected as the "Dodge Most Valuable Player". From 2005 to 2007, this award has given out as the Bank of America Most Valuable Player Award. The Bank of America Most Valuable Pitcher Award was given in 2008.[9]
The team with the most MVP winners (excluding additional awards from 2000 to 2008) is the International League's Gwinnett Braves (formerly the Richmond Braves) with six MVPs. The IL's Buffalo Bisons and Pacific Coast League's Oklahoma City Dodgers (formerly the 89ers and RedHawks) are tied for second place with five MVPs. The only player to win more than one regular MVP award is Luis Lopez who won in 1994 with the IL's Richmond Braves and in 1995 with the IL's Buffalo Bisons.[9]
Notable All-Stars
Of the more than 1,000 players named as Triple-A All-Stars, 98 have also been selected for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[13] These players are:
- Sandy Alomar, Jr.
- Garret Anderson
- Bronson Arroyo
- Jay Bell
- Ronnie Belliard
- Hank Blalock
- Aaron Boone
- Bret Boone
- Jackie Bradley Jr.
- Jeromy Burnitz
- Jeff Conine
- Ron Coomer
- Scott Cooper
- Joey Cora
- Jesse Crain
- Carl Crawford
- Joe Crede
- Nelson Cruz
- Michael Cuddyer
- Josh Donaldson
- Justin Duchscherer
- Adam Dunn
- Ray Durham
- Adam Duvall
- Damion Easley
- Edwin Encarnación
- Alcides Escobar
- Johnny Estrada
- Carl Everett
- Steve Finley
- Darrin Fletcher
- Carlos García
- Brian Giles
- Álex González
- Juan González
- Alex Gordon
- Dan Haren
- Corey Hart
- Matt Harvey
- Todd Helton
- Ken Hill
- Orlando Hudson
- Todd Hundley
- Jason Isringhausen
- Gregg Jefferies
- Derek Jeter
- Lance Johnson
- Adam Jones
- Chipper Jones
- Howie Kendrick
- Ian Kinsler
- Jason Kipnis
- Ryan Klesko
- Paul Konerko
- Bryan LaHair
- Paul Lo Duca
- Kenny Lofton
- Javy López
- Mark Loretta
- Mike Lowell
- Ryan Ludwick
- Starling Marte
- Pedro Martínez
- Ramón Martínez
- Tino Martinez
- Andrew McCutchen
- Nate McLouth
- Devin Mesoraco
- Justin Morneau
- Brandon Moss
- Edward Mujica
- Wil Myers
- Denny Neagle
- Eduardo Núñez
- José Offerman
- Magglio Ordóñez
- Joc Pederson
- Jhonny Peralta
- Mike Piazza
- Rick Reed
- Henry Rodríguez
- José Rosado
- Joe Saunders
- Marco Scutaro
- Richie Sexson
- George Sherrill
- Alfonso Soriano
- Geovany Soto
- Ed Sprague
- Jim Thome
- Mark Trumbo
- Chase Utley
- Greg Vaughn
- Joey Votto
- Michael Wacha
- Bob Wickman
- Bernie Williams
- Dmitri Young
See also
References
- General
- "Triple-A All-Star Game". Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- "Triple-A All-Star Game Records" (PDF). Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- In-line citations
- ^ "Online Fan Voting Begins Soon for 2016 Triple-A All-Star Game" (PDF). Minor League Baseball. May 24, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
- ^ "Omaha Storm Chasers and Werner Park to Host 2015 Triple-A Baseball All-Star Game". Omaha Storm Chasers. Minor League Baseball. March 5, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ "Durham Lands 2014 Triple-A ASG". Minor League Baseball. February 20, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ Speddon, Zach (June 8, 2016). "Tacoma to Host 2017 Triple-A All-Star Game". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Triple-A All-Star Game Results (1988–1992)". Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f "Triple-A All-Star Game Results (1993–1997)". Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Triple-A All-Star Game Results (2003–2007)". Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ "Bricktown Showdown To Determine Triple-A Baseball Champion" (PDF). Triple-A Baseball. July 12, 2006. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Triple-A All-Star Game Records" (PDF). Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Triple-A All-Star Game Results (1998–2002)". Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Triple-A All-Star Game Results (2008–2012)". Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Triple-A All-Star Game Results (2013–present)". Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ a b "Triple-A All-Star Game – Participants". Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
External links
