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
DateJuly 13, 2004
VenueMinute Maid Park
CityHouston, Texas
Managers
MVPAlfonso Soriano (TEX)
Attendance41,886
Ceremonial first pitchMuhammad Ali
TelevisionFox (United States)
MLB International (International)
TV announcersJoe Buck and Tim McCarver (Fox)
Gary Thorne and Rick Sutcliffe (MLB International)
RadioESPN
Radio announcersDan Shulman and Dave Campbell

Rosters

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

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

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Umpires

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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  • 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

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