Crowd Honors Homer Kings

HOUSTON —  On one side of home plate stood four American League sluggers, including Miguel Tejada, who would win Monday’s All-Star Home Run Derby. On the other side stood five National League sluggers, including Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Ken Griffey Jr.

The sluggers of the present honored the sluggers of the past, forming a bridge through which the 10 retired and living members of baseball’s 500-home run club passed on the way to the first-pitch ceremony. The club numbers 20, including the four active players who participated in the ceremony -- Bonds, Sosa, Griffey and Rafael Palmeiro.

Hank Aaron, who said he expected Bonds to break his all-time record of 755, threw out the first pitch, flanked by Willie Mays, Frank Robinson, Mark McGwire, Harmon Killebrew, Reggie Jackson, Mike Schmidt, Willie McCovey, Ernie Banks and Eddie Murray.

All received standing ovations, from fans and from other All-Star players. Even sometimes-prickly Griffey, forced out of the All-Star game because of a hamstring injury, made sure to show up for the festivities.

“The more you know as a player about the history of the game, the more you tend to respect the game, and the better off you’re going to be,” said Tom Glavine of the New York Mets. “I’m a firm believer in guys either respecting the game or not respecting the game. I think the guys you see that don’t respect the game tend to be the players people just don’t like.

“To me, the more you can get younger players understanding the history of the game, to see how things have evolved and be able to identify with Hank Aaron and Mike Schmidt and these guys, it’s a history class day in and day out.”

If the All-Star game is any indication, baseball’s image has not been tarnished by the federal investigation into illegal steroid distribution among athletes. Of the three most prominent players who testified before a San Francisco grand jury, Bonds and Jason Giambi were voted into the starting lineup by fans and Gary Sheffield was voted onto the American League roster by players, coaches and managers.

Tejada, who had a record 15 home runs in the second round, beat Houston’s Lance Berkman, 5-4, in the Home Run Derby final.

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The lasting memory of last year’s All-Star game was Texas infielder Hank Blalock hitting a home run off Dodger closer Eric Gagne. In a year in which Gagne converted every save opportunity that counted, he blew the save in the All-Star game.

Blalock is back, again as a reserve. Gagne is back too, so the two might face each other in the late innings again tonight.

“I’m not going to tell him what I’m going to throw,” Gagne said with a smile, “but it might be something different. Maybe I’ll throw him a changeup.”

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Francisco Rodriguez of the Angels flew here from Toronto on Sunday night, with a light heart. His grandmother, who raised him in Venezuela and who never has seen him pitch in the United States, already had arrived in Houston for the game.

She was sleeping when Rodriguez got to the hotel, so he let her sleep. When he woke up Monday, she was gone -- to the mall, with his girlfriend.

“I wanted to hug her,” he said. “But it’s almost a day and a half, and I haven’t seen her.”

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Angel closer Troy Percival has made four All-Star appearances, none since 2001. But American League players have voted his setup man into the All-Star game in each of the last two years -- Brendan Donnelly last year, Rodriguez this year.

With Percival eligible for free agency this fall, the Angels could replace him with Rodriguez. Although Rodriguez wants the job -- “I feel like I’m ready,” he said -- he encouraged the Angels to bring back Percival next year.

“If it was my choice, I would keep him in the closer role and keep me in the setup role, so I could learn more from him,” Rodriguez said. “The more I learn, the better for me.”

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The Cleveland Indians are the first team with five All-Stars and a losing record since the 1995 Dodgers sent pitchers Hideo Nomo and Todd Worrell, catcher Mike Piazza, infielder Jose Offerman and outfielder Raul Mondesi to the All-Star game. The Cleveland representatives are pitchers C.C. Sabathia and Jake Westbrook, catcher Victor Martinez, infielder Ron Belliard and outfielder Matt Lawton.

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The proposed World Cup of Baseball might be delayed until 2006, said Sandy Alderson, executive vice president of Major League Baseball. Alderson said the already lengthy planning process was complicated last week, when Japanese baseball officials said they would prefer the event be organized by the International Baseball Federation, not by major league officials and the players’ union.

It is increasingly uncertain the event could be staged as scheduled, eight months from now. “We’ll have a better feel for the timing in the next week,” Alderson said.

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Jered Weaver, the Angels’ top draft pick, is unlikely to sign before August or play in the minor leagues this season. He could start his pro career in the fall instructional league or the Arizona Fall League.

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Home Run Derby Winners

*--* Year Player Team 2004 Miguel Tejada Orioles 2003 Garret Anderson Angels 2002 Jason Giambi Yankees 2001 Luis Gonzalez Diamondbacks 2000 Sammy Sosa Cubs 1999 Ken Griffey Jr. Mariners 1998 Ken Griffey Jr. Mariners 1997 Tino Martinez Yankees 1996 Barry Bonds Giants 1995 Frank Thomas White Sox 1994 Ken Griffey Jr. Mariners 1993 Juan Gonzalez Rangers 1992 Mark McGwire Athletics 1991 Cal Ripken Orioles 1990 Ryne Sandberg Cubs

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