ALL-STAR NOTEBOOK : There Still Are Tickets Available

The Padres and Major League Baseball announced Saturday that unclaimed and returned tickets for Tuesday’s All-Star Game will go on sale to the public this morning beginning at 7 a.m. at Window H.

Interested people arriving at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium will receive a priority number that will give them the opportunity to purchase two tickets when the sales windows open. All sales will be on a cash-only basis.

The tickets, at a variety of prices, are from supplies that have been returned from other major league teams or were unclaimed from the Padres’ postcard drawing held a few weeks ago.

The Padres’ Fred McGriff and Gary Sheffield and Oakland’s Mark McGwire are among the eight major leaguers who will participate in Monday’s home run derby at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

McGriff (18) and Sheffield (17) currently rank 1-2 in homers in the NL. McGwire’s 27 lead the majors, and the Oakland first baseman is on pace to become only the second major leaguer to hit 50 or more since 1961.

Joining McGriff and Sheffield on the NL team is Montreal’s Larry Walker (16 homers) and Pittsburgh’s Barry Bonds (15).

Teaming with McGwire for the AL are Toronto’s Joe Carter (19), Seattle’s Ken Griffey Jr. (15) and Baltimore’s Cal Ripken (10).

The participants will compete for both team and individual championships. Each player gets 10 outs. Any swing that does not result in a homer in an out.

Last year at Toronto’s SkyDome, Ripken hit a record 12 homers to lead the AL to its second consecutive victory.

Some tickets remain for the workout day, which also includes an old-timers’ game and NL and AL All-Star team workouts. They are on sale at the San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium ticket office.