San Diego Is Selected for 1992 All-Star Game : Baseball Officials Impressed With Handling of Super Bowl, America’s Cup and With Weather

For the second time in its history, San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium will be host to the annual All-Star Game in 1992, officials representing major league baseball announced Thursday.

National League President Bill White said after a meeting of baseball’s executive council, now meeting in Milwaukee, that San Diego was its unanimous choice. The 1978 All-Star Game was also held here.

“Obviously, I’m quite pleased for the city of San Diego,” said Mayor Maureen O’Connor, who, as part of the city’s All-Star Game task force, helped lobby baseball’s executive council. “It’s a big compliment to the city to be chosen and especially to have it be a unanimous choice.”

Previous Achievements Noted

Baseball executives said San Diego had beaten out Houston, Montreal and Philadelphia. They cited the city’s success in putting on both Super Bowl XXII and the America’s Cup yacht race last year.

They also lauded the city’s moderate weather, which did not go unnoticed by the CBS television network, which paid $1 billion late last year for the right to broadcast 12 regular-season games, plus the All-Star Game, the playoffs and the World Series from 1990 through 1993.

“This is a great example of what teamwork can accomplish,” said San Diego Padres owner Joan Kroc, who participated in the lobbying. “I’m really proud of the people in the Padres’ organization and the way our San Diego community pitched in. This is one of baseball’s showcase events.”

Houston last played host to the All-Star Game in 1986, Montreal in 1982 and Philadelphia in 1976.

Those involved with returning the game to San Diego seemed intent on seeing it as symbolic of the city’s growth and stature.

O’Connor called it “a turning point.”

“There’s no question that, 10 years ago, San Diego was rarely thought of as a contender for such big events,” she said. “But, within the last three to four years, whether you’re talking the Super Bowl, the America’s Cup or the All-Star Game, San Diego is turning out to be one of the preeminent cities in the country in everyone’s thinking. We are America’s finest city. We have an excellent reputation.”

Bill Adams, vice president of business operations for the Padres, said that San Diego’s success in holding Super Bowl XXII was a decisive factor in baseball’s decision to return the All-Star Game to the stadium.

“Super Bowl XXII was a marvelous experience, no doubt about it,” said Adams, who headed the lobbying effort, “but other things counted, too. We did a great job with the All-Star Game in ’78 and with the National League Championship Series and the World Series in 1984. . . . They (baseball’s executive committee) liked how we pulled the Series together.”

Adams said factors besides weather weighed in the city’s favor, but that was the one that pleased CBS the most.

“They pointed out a lack of construction in the area around the stadium, traffic flow in and out, (low) crime in the area, access by emergency helicopter, role of police and fire units,” he said. “All kinds of things were considered, and San Diego came out a winner in every way. I would say, though, that security seemed to be a bigger priority this time around.”

Adams said one reason security loomed as a greater concern is that in recent years baseball All-Star games have been attended more frequently by present or former U. S. presidents. Former President Reagan showed up at this year’s All-Star Game, played in Anaheim.

Not every San Diegan, however, was inclined to feel so unabashedly filled with boosterism about the game’s being played here.

Gordon Clanton, a sociologist at San Diego State University, said that such an event is “important to regional morale,” but he questioned whether the game carries much impact for the city as a whole or even for most sports fans.

“A certain amount of self-congratulation always follows an announcement like this, but the people who cheer the loudest and longest are usually the ones who profit the most,” Clanton said. “There’s nothing wrong with that, but we do need to keep a perspective.

Padre General Manager Tony Siegle said, “It puts you in the spotlight, that’s good. It should put a whole lot of money into the coffers of this city. Not that San Diego needs any attention, because it’s a pretty well-known team, but it’s the city in another spotlight. It’s fantastic for us just because of its prestige.”

Added Padre Manager Jack McKeon: “It’s great for the city. I just hope we can win the 1991 pennant now, and I can manage the National League team. What an honor that would be.”

Perennial all-star outfielder Tony Gwynn said, “I don’t know if I’ll be on that (All-Star) team, but it’s great having it here. That should add about $15 million to $20 million to the economy. This is the perfect place to have one.

Contributing to this story was Times Staff Writer Bob Nightengale.