2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

The 2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 75th edition of the midseason exhibition baseball game between the all-stars of the American League (AL) and National League (NL), the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 13, 2004, at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, the home of the Houston Astros of the National League. The game resulted in the American League defeating the National League 9–4, thus awarding the AL home-field advantage in the 2004 World Series.

2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E American League 6 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 9 14 0 National League 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 9 1
Date	July 13, 2004
Venue	Minute Maid Park
City	Houston, Texas
Managers	Joe Torre (NYY) Jack McKeon (FLA)
MVP	Alfonso Soriano (TEX)
Attendance	41,886
Ceremonial first pitch	Muhammad Ali
Television	Fox (United States) MLB International (International)
TV announcers	Joe Buck and Tim McCarver (Fox) Gary Thorne and Rick Sutcliffe (MLB International)
Radio	ESPN
Radio announcers	Dan Shulman and Dave Campbell
← 2003 Major League Baseball All-Star Game 2005 →

Rosters

Players in italics have since been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

American League Elected starters Position Player Team All-Star Games C Iván Rodríguez Tigers 11 1B Jason Giambi Yankees 5 2B Alfonso Soriano Rangers 3 3B Alex Rodriguez Yankees 8 SS Derek Jeter Yankees 6 OF Vladimir Guerrero Angels 5 OF Manny Ramírez Red Sox 8 OF Ichiro Suzuki Mariners 4 Pitchers Position Player Team All-Star Games P Francisco Cordero Rangers 1 P Tom Gordon Yankees 2 P Tim Hudson Athletics 2 P Ted Lilly Blue Jays 1 P Esteban Loaiza Yankees 2 P Mark Mulder Athletics 2 P Joe Nathan Twins 1 P Mariano Rivera Yankees 6 P Francisco Rodríguez Angels 1 P Kenny Rogers Rangers 2 P CC Sabathia Indians 2 P Curt Schilling Red Sox 6 P Javier Vázquez Yankees 1 P Jake Westbrook Indians 1 Reserves Position Player Team All-Star Games C Víctor Martínez Indians 1 1B Ken Harvey Royals 1 1B David Ortiz Red Sox 1 2B Ronnie Belliard Indians 1 3B Hank Blalock Rangers 2 SS Carlos Guillén Tigers 1 SS Miguel Tejada Orioles 2 SS Michael Young Rangers 1 OF Carl Crawford Devil Rays 1 OF Matt Lawton Indians 2 OF Hideki Matsui [FV] Yankees 2 OF Gary Sheffield Yankees 8

National League Elected starters Position Player Team All-Star Games C Mike Piazza Mets 11 1B Albert Pujols Cardinals 3 2B Jeff Kent Astros 4 3B Scott Rolen Cardinals 3 SS Édgar Rentería Cardinals 4 OF Ken Griffey Jr.[a] Reds 12 OF Barry Bonds Giants 13 OF Sammy Sosa Cubs 7 Pitchers Position Player Team All-Star Games P Armando Benítez Marlins 2 P Roger Clemens Astros 10 P Éric Gagné Dodgers 3 P Tom Glavine Mets 9 P Danny Graves Reds 2 P Liván Hernández Expos 1 P Randy Johnson Diamondbacks 10 P Dan Kolb Brewers 1 P Carl Pavano Marlins 1 P Jason Schmidt Giants 2 P Ben Sheets Brewers 2 P Carlos Zambrano Cubs 1 Reserves Position Player Team All-Star Games C Johnny Estrada Braves 1 C Paul Lo Duca Dodgers 2 1B Sean Casey Reds 3 1B Todd Helton Rockies 5 1B Jim Thome Phillies 4 2B Mark Loretta Padres 1 3B Mike Lowell Marlins 3 SS Barry Larkin Reds 12 SS Jack Wilson Pirates 1 OF Bobby Abreu[FV] Phillies 1 OF Moisés Alou Cubs 5 OF Carlos Beltrán Astros 1 OF Miguel Cabrera Marlins 1 OF Lance Berkman[b] Astros 3

Notes

• ^a Player was selected to start, but did not play due to injury.
• ^b Player was selected as a reserve, but became a starting replacement.
• ^FV Player was selected by the fans through the All-Star Final Vote.

Game

Umpires

Home Plate	Ed Montague
First Base	John Hirschbeck
Second Base	Doug Eddings
Third Base	Jim Reynolds
Left Field	Marvin Hudson
Right Field	Sam Holbrook

Starting lineups

American League				National League
Order	Player	Team	Position	Order	Player	Team	Position
1	Ichiro Suzuki	Mariners	CF	1	Édgar Rentería	Cardinals	SS
2	Iván Rodríguez	Tigers	C	2	Albert Pujols	Cardinals	1B
3	Vladimir Guerrero	Angels	RF	3	Barry Bonds	Giants	LF
4	Manny Ramírez	Red Sox	LF	4	Scott Rolen	Cardinals	3B
5	Alex Rodriguez	Yankees	3B	5	Sammy Sosa	Cubs	RF
6	Jason Giambi	Yankees	1B	6	Mike Piazza	Mets	C
7	Derek Jeter	Yankees	SS	7	Lance Berkman	Astros	CF
8	Alfonso Soriano	Rangers	2B	8	Jeff Kent	Astros	2B
9	Mark Mulder	Athletics	P	9	Roger Clemens	Astros	P

Game recap

All-Star Game participants gather around the mound before the first pitch.

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 7:35 pm (CDT) at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
American League	6	0	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	9	14	0
National League	1	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	4	9	1
WP: Mark Mulder (1–0)   LP: Roger Clemens (0–1) Home runs: AL: Manny Ramírez (1), Alfonso Soriano (1), David Ortiz (1) NL: None

National Anthems

The Canadian national anthem was sung by The Tragically Hip lead vocalist Gord Downie. The American national anthem was sung by American Idol Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino.

Home Run Derby

Minute Maid Park, Houston—A.L. 47, N.L. 41
Player	Team	Round 1	Semis	Finals	Total
Miguel Tejada	Baltimore	7	15	5	27
Lance Berkman	Houston	7	10	4	21
Rafael Palmeiro	Baltimore	9	5	–	14
Barry Bonds	San Francisco	8	3	–	11
Sammy Sosa	Chicago (N)	5	–	–	5
Jim Thome	Philadelphia	4	–	–	4
Hank Blalock	Texas	3	–	–	3
David Ortiz	Boston	3	–	–	3

Trivia

• Jack McKeon became the oldest manager to manage an All-Star game after becoming the oldest manager to manage a World Series in 2003 with the Florida Marlins.
• Roger Clemens gave up six runs in one inning for the first time in his major-league career.
• In the top of the first inning, the American League hit for the cycle for the first time in All-Star Game history.
• This was the first All-Star Game to be broadcast in high-definition.
• This was also the first All-Star Game in which Joe Buck, the play-by-play announcer for Fox, announced the coaches, reserves, managers and starters for both the American League and National League.
• Carlos Beltrán was originally selected to start in the outfield for the AL and represent the Kansas City Royals, but was traded to Houston a few weeks before this game, but still played in the game as a defensive substitution for Lance Berkman. Beltrán was on the roster because original starter Ken Griffey Jr. was hurt and Beltrán took his spot as a substitute.
• This was also the last All-Star Game for Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin, as he would retire before the 2005 season.
• The day after hosting the game, the Astros fired manager Jimy Williams and replaced him with Phil Garner.^[1]

References

1. "Williams Fired by Sinking Astros". Los Angeles Times. July 15, 2004.

External links

• Game Recap