Griffey Becomes Leading Man for American League All-Stars

Ken Griffey Jr. doesn’t plan on missing the All-Star game this year.

“I’m happy because this time I get to play,” Griffey said Monday after he was elected to the AL All-Star team for the eighth consecutive year and topped the voting for the second consecutive time. “Oh, I shouldn’t say that because I have seven more games left.”

The Seattle Mariner outfielder, who missed the past two All-Star games because of injuries, got 3,514,340 votes in the final total released Monday--nearly a million more than any other AL player. He also was the leading vote-getter last year and in 1994.

Once again, Griffey, who was slowed last week by a hamstring injury but has returned to the lineup, showed why he may be the most-popular player in baseball.

“I’m not surprised. He’s the best player in the game, and he relates to the fans and the kids better than anyone,” said Tino Martinez of the New York Yankees, elected to start at first base.

Baltimore Oriole third baseman Cal Ripken, elected to play in his 15th All-Star game, was second with 2,571,985.

Completing the starting lineup for the AL team are Texas catcher Ivan Rodriguez, Baltimore second baseman Roberto Alomar, Seattle shortstop Alex Rodriguez, Mariner designated hitter Edgar Martinez, Cleveland outfielder David Justice and Baltimore outfielder Brady Anderson.

Final NL totals will be released today. Reserves for the July 8 game at Jacobs Field in Cleveland will be announced Wednesday.

AL Manager Joe Torre already was thinking about filling out his roster.

“The toughest position for me is going to be first base, and I think that’s the case every year,” the Yankee manager said. “How do you choose that without leaving the other positions short?”

Seattle could wind up with four players in the starting lineup. The AL’s starting pitcher is expected to be Toronto’s Roger Clemens or the Mariners’ Randy Johnson.

Ripken will be starting at third base for the first time after 14 seasons at shortstop.

“It’s a little bit different, just like the season’s a little different being at third,” said Ripken, the top vote-getter in 1995. “There’s a certain level of excitement playing at third, certain challenges of making bunt plays and diving. I’m sure it’ll feel a little weird, just like the first game over there, but I’ve had quite a few games under my belt there and I feel comfortable.”

Alomar, despite last year’s incident in which he spit on an umpire, will be making his eighth consecutive appearance.

“It’s real nice to be voted in by the fans again,” Alomar said. “I feel real happy this year to be part of the All-Star game. It’s like a dream for any player to be voted in.”

Ivan Rodriguez will be making his sixth consecutive All-Star appearance, Edgar Martinez his fourth, Anderson and Justice will be playing for the third time and Tino Martinez and Alex Rodriguez will be playing in their second All-Star games.

The closest voting was at first base, where Martinez beat Cleveland’s Jim Thome by 19,306 votes.

The winning margin was at least 100,000 at every other position.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

AL All-Star Voting

Leading vote-getters by position for the 1997 American League All-Star team released Monday:

*--*

Pos. Player, Team Votes 1B Tino Martinez, New York 866,722 2B Roberto Alomar, Baltimore 1,657,418 3B Cal Ripken, Baltimore 2,571,985 SS Alex Rodriguez, Seattle 1,854,758 OF Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle 3,514,340 OF David Justice, Cleveland 1,840,716 OF Brady Anderson, Baltimore 1,197,617 C Ivan Rodriguez, Texas 1,666,384 DH Edgar Martinez, Seattle 1,213,429

*--*