After Getting Big Bucks, Canseco Gets Big Votes

The Oakland Athletics, who will pay Jose Canseco $23.5 million over five seasons, are not the only ones who value their right fielder.

He is also the player the fans want to see.

Canseco led the balloting and two other A’s also made the American League starting All-Star team, it was announced Wednesday. Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs topped the balloting in the National League.

Canseco led all players with 2,313,091 votes, the most since catcher Gary Carter received 2,785,407 in 1982 while playing for Montreal. Sandberg was next with 2,262,245 votes.

The 61st All-Star game is scheduled for Tuesday night in Wrigley Field at Chicago.

There were no Dodgers or Angels voted to the starting lineup, although Dodger catcher Mike Scioscia could be named to replace San Diego’s Benito Santiago, who has a broken arm. The reserves and pitchers for both leagues will be announced today.

Canseco has been elected twice before as an AL starter. Sandberg will be making his fifth consecutive start for the NL.

Also in the AL outfield will be Seattle’s Ken Griffey Jr. and Oakland’s Rickey Henderson, making his sixth start. Griffey is the first Mariner selected to start.

Canseco, who recently came off the disabled list, is hitting .300 with 20 home runs and 50 runs batted in.

Starting in the AL infield will be third baseman Wade Boggs of Boston, shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. of Baltimore, second baseman Steve Sax of New York and first baseman Mark McGwire of Oakland.

Cleveland rookie Sandy Alomar was voted to start for the AL at catcher. Only two other Cleveland players--Ray Fosse in 1971 and Manny Trillo in 1983--have been picked as starters by the fans.

Also in the NL infield will be first baseman Will Clark of San Francisco, third baseman Chris Sabo of Cincinnati and shortstop Ozzie Smith of St. Louis, making his eighth consecutive start.

The NL outfield consists of Chicago’s Andre Dawson, Philadelphia’s Lenny Dykstra and San Francisco’s Kevin Mitchell.

Santiago was elected for the second consecutive year. Scioscia was runner-up with 571,378 votes to Santiago’s 1,785,412.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Player Pos. Team Sandy Alomar C Indians Mark McGwire 1B Athletics Steve Sax 2B Yankees Cal Ripken Jr. SS Orioles Wade Boggs 3B Red Sox Jose Canseco OF Athletics Ken Griffey Jr. OF Mariners Rickey Henderson OF Athletics

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Player Pos. Team Benito Santiago* C Padres Will Clark 1B Giants Ryne Sandberg 2B Cubs Ozzie Smith SS Cardinals Chris Sabo 3B Reds Andre Dawson OF Cubs Kevin Mitchell OF Giants Lenny Dykstra OF Phillies

* Injured and will not play.