Victorino, Inge Win Record-Breaking All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote Races
Fans of Tigers, Phillies help first-time All-Stars earn St. Louis spots
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino and Detroit Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge were chosen by fans as the winners of the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote in record-shattering voting exclusively on MLB.com, the official Web site of Major League Baseball, and the individual Club sites.
Baseball fans supported the 10 candidates named by All-Star managers Joe Maddon and Charlie Manuel in unprecedented fashion by casting a record 68.6 million votes since the program commenced on Sunday, July 5 at 2:00 p.m. (EDT). This year’s record number of votes represents an increase of 43.5 percent from the previous mark of 47.8 million set in 2008. Since its inception in 2002, the All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote has now recorded nearly 200 million votes.
The National League winner, Victorino, received the highest total number of votes ever, surpassing Evan Longoria’s nine million in 2008, and led all vote-getters with 15.6 million en route to becoming the second Phillies player to win the balloting (Bobby Abreu, 2004). He was followed by Pablo Sandoval of the San Francisco Giants, Mark Reynolds of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cristian Guzman of the Washington Nationals.
On the American League ballot, Inge became the first Detroit player to win the All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote by holding off Ian Kinsler of the Texas Rangers to claim the final spot on the All-Star roster with a final tally of 11.8 million votes, the most ever for an American League player. Inge and Kinsler were followed by Chone Figgins of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim; Carlos Pena of the Tampa Bay Rays; and Adam Lind of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Previous winners of the All-Star Sprint Game Final Vote are: Evan Longoria (AL, 2008); Corey Hart (NL, 2008), Hideki Okajima (AL, 2007); Chris Young (NL, 2007); A.J. Pierzynski (AL, 2006); Nomar Garciaparra (NL, 2006); Scott Podsednik (AL, 2005); Roy Oswalt (NL, 2005); Hideki Matsui (AL, 2004); Bobby Abreu (NL, 2004); Jason Varitek (AL, 2003); Geoff Jenkins (NL, 2003); Johnny Damon (AL, 2002); and Andruw Jones (NL, 2002).
Source: MLB.com
Lead changes, record voting set stage for dramatic finish to All-Star Game Sprint Final vote
Victorino takes NL lead; Inge stays atop AL; Polls close today at 4pm (EDT) Real-time updates available today at 12pm and 2pm on MLB.com and @MLB on Twitter
Shane Victorino gave Philadelphia Phillies fans late-inning heroics last night with his game-winning single and Phillies fans just might be giving the outfielder their own late-inning rally by propelling him into first place on the National League ballot with just under eight hours left in the record-setting All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote on MLB.com and the individual Club sites. The All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote has already surpassed all-time records for total ballots cast and total votes with 33.1 million and 53.4 million, respectively.
In the American League, Brandon Inge of the Detroit Tigers maintains a narrow advantage over Ian Kinsler of the Texas Rangers while Chone Figgins of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim has gained significant ground in the race for the final spot on the All-Star Team. They are followed by Carlos Pena of the Tampa Bay Rays and Adam Lind of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Victorino, who has already accumulated 10.8 million votes to surpass Evan Longoria’s record-setting nine million in 2008, holds a slight edge over his top contender, Pablo Sandoval of the San Francisco Giants. Mark Reynolds of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cristian Guzman of the Washington Nationals round out the standings in the National League.
Mobile voting is available exclusively on Sprint capable mobile phones and fans can send the word “Vote” to 1122 to receive the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote ballot. Standard text rates apply. In Canada, fans should text the word “Vote” to 88555.
Real-time updates for each of the tightly-contested races will be made available today at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. (EDT) on MLB.com and via @MLB on Twitter. The winners will be announced shortly after the conclusion of balloting at 4 p.m. (EDT).
Source: MLB.com
SIRIUS XM Radio announces comprehensive broadcast coverage of 2009 MLB All-Star Game
Play-by-play of the 80th All-Star Game will air July 14 on XM channel 175 MLB Home Plate, Mad Dog Radio and SIRIUS XM Stars Too channels will broadcast live from St. Louis
SIRIUS XM Radio announced that it will offer baseball fans comprehensive coverage of 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Week, including the 80th All-Star Game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 14 on XM channel 175.
XM will air the All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 14 (8:00 pm ET), plus live coverage of the Home Run Derby (July 13 at 8:00 pm ET) and the exclusive radio broadcast of the XM All-Star Futures Game (July 12 at 2:00 pm ET), featuring the top minor league prospects from the U.S. and abroad. All three events will air live nationwide on XM channel 175.
Prior to the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, MLB Home Plate, SIRIUS XM’s 24-hour baseball talk channel, will broadcast live (6:00 – 8:00 pm ET) from the field at Busch Stadium. SIRIUS XM’s Seth Everett and Jim Duquette will host the pre-game coverage both days, which will include one-on-one interviews with the All Stars, managers and coaches as well as live updates on everything happening on the diamond. The MLB Home Plate channel is available to both XM and SIRIUS subscribers on XM channel 175 and SIRIUS channel 210 with the “Best of XM” programming package.
Additionally, three channels from across the SIRIUS XM platform will broadcast live from MLB All-Star FanFest at the America’s Center in downtown St. Louis on the days leading up to the All-Star Game.
From MLB Home Plate (XM channel 175 and SIRIUS channel 210 (“Best of XM”)):
Saturday, July 11 (11:00 am – 1:00 pm ET) – Hall of Famer Cal Ripken
Jr. and his brother and fellow major league veteran Billy Ripken will host their weekly show, Ripken Baseball, live from the SIRIUS XM broadcast booth at All-Star FanFest.
Saturday, July 11 (1:00 – 4:00 pm ET) – Former MLB general manager Jim
Duquette will host Talking Baseball live from the SIRIUS XM broadcast booth at All-Star FanFest.
Saturday, July 11 (4:00 – 7:00 pm ET) – Former major league pitcher
and longtime broadcaster Jim Kaat and SIRIUS XM’s Scott Graham will host a special edition of Baseball This Morning Xtra live from All-Star FanFest.
Sunday, July 12 (10:00 am – 2:00 pm ET), prior to the XM All-Star Futures Game,
SIRIUS XM’s Seth Everett and Jim Duquette will host a special edition of their MLB Home Plate show, Power Alley, live from All-Star Fanfest.
From Mad Dog Radio, SIRIUS XM’s all-sports talk channel (SIRIUS channel 123 and XM channel 144):
Monday, July 13 (2:00 – 7:00 pm ET) Gary Williams, Mad Dog Radio’s morning show host,
will host a special All-Star preview show live at FanFest. Williams will be joined live on set by Jim Kaat and Jim Duquette.
From SIRIUS XM Stars Too, SIRIUS XM’s talk radio channel for guys (SIRIUS channel 108 and XM channel 139):
Monday, July 13 (11:00 am – 2:00 pm ET) and Tuesday, July 14 (noon -3:00 pm ET), SIRIUS XM personalities Steve Covino and Rich Davis will host their daily talk show live from FanFest. Maxim Radio with Covino and Rich airs weekdays on SIRIUS XM Stars Too.
XM listeners can hear every game from all 30 Major League teams live on XM channels 175 to 189. A schedule of upcoming MLB games on XM can be found at www.xmradio.com/mlb.
In addition to live play-by-play coverage, SIRIUS XM offers baseball fans 24-hour coverage of the game on MLB Home Plate, the only radio channel dedicated to covering Major League Baseball seven days a week, 365 days a year. Available to both XM and SIRIUS subscribers (XM channel 175, SIRIUS channel 210 with the “Best of XM” programming package), MLB Home Plate offers the most comprehensive radio coverage of the Major Leagues with a daily lineup of talk shows hosted by baseball experts and insiders like Cal Ripken Jr., Bill Ripken, Rob Dibble, Jim Duquette, Kevin Kennedy, Buck Martinez and others.