Roanoke Times Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: THURSDAY, July 8, 1993 TAG: 9307080120 SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO SOURCE: Associated Press DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
Ken Griffey Jr., who last year made his family the first father-son combo to hit All-Star homers, topped American League players in the final voting announced Wednesday.
Bonds' total of 3,074,603 votes was the most since Davey Lopes of the Los Angeles Dodgers received 3,862,403 in 1980. Bonds was elected to start last year for the first time, when he was with Pittsburgh.
"Well, I earned it," Bonds said. "It wasn't given to me. I've worked very hard, especially with the big-contract deal."
Griffey, the top vote-getter in the American League in 1991, received 2,696,918 votes, and will start for the fourth straight season.
The starting lineups will have a new look this season, with five first-time starters in the NL and three in the AL. The eight first-time starters are the most since there were nine in 1976.
Barry Larkin of the Cincinnati Reds won at shortstop in the NL, stopping Ozzie Smith's streak of 10 elections. Larkin received 1,259,939 votes to 1,147,552 for his St. Louis rival, the closest race for any spot.
Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs, last year's NL voting leader, was elected to start at second base for the eighth straight time and the ninth time in 10 years. Outfielder Andy Van Slyke of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who is on the disabled list, was elected for the second straight time.
The other five NL starters are all first-timers: Darren Daulton of Philadelphia at catcher, Phillies teammate John Kruk at first base, Gary Sheffield of Florida at third base, David Justice of Atlanta in the outfield and Larkin.
Sheffield, traded from San Diego to the Marlins in June, is the first player elected from an expansion team.
The new AL starters are John Olerud of Toronto at first base, Blue Jays teammate Joe Carter in the outfield and catcher Ivan Rodriguez of Texas. Olerud, hitting .401 entering Wednesday's game, finished ahead of Detroit's Cecil Fielder, who has 23 home runs and 76 RBI.
Baltimore shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. will start for the 10th straight season, including 1988, when he replaced Alan Trammell of Detroit, who was elected to start.
Wade Boggs of the New York Yankees was elected at third base for the seventh year in a row. His first six appearances were with the Boston Red Sox.
Blue Jays second baseman Roberto Alomar was elected for the third straight season, and Minnesota outfielder Kirby Puckett was elected for the second year in a row. Puckett and Griffey were elected for the fourth time.
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB