University of North Carolina Athletics
Roberts Named All-Star Starter
July 4, 2005 | Baseball
July 4, 2005
by Ronald Blum, The Associated Press
NEW YORK -- The All-Star Game will have a fresh look this year.
The July 12 game at Detroit will feature 11 first-time starters, including Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee and Baltimore second baseman Brian Roberts, who lead their leagues in batting average.
The 11 players elected to start for the first time ties the record set in 1976, the commissioner's office said.
Among the perennial All-Stars missing this year because of injuries or substandard seasons are Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling. Derek Jeter wasn't picked but could be voted in as the final AL player through Internet balloting.
Defending World Series champion Boston became the first team with four starters since the 1976 Cincinnati Reds had five, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The NL champion Cardinals have six All-Stars, more than any other team and the most for St. Louis since 1959.
"There could be more All-Stars in this group," Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols said. "There's a lot of guys we left behind because there's no room."
Also elected by fans to start for the first time in the AL were Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek, outfielder Johnny Damon and Ortiz; Texas first baseman Mark Teixeira; and Baltimore shortstop Miguel Tejada.
Roberts, a former UNC star who attended Chapel Hill High School, is hitting .360 with a career-high 14 homers -- two more than he had in his major league career before this season.
Roberts and Tejada give the Orioles both starting middle infielders on the AL team for the first time since Cal Ripken Jr. and Roberto Alomar in 1996.
"It's exciting, but at this point we're frustrated as a team," Roberts said of being named to the team. "It would be nice to have that come on a little brighter note."
The Orioles have lost nine of their past 11 games.
Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was elected to his sixth straight start and eighth overall.