2001 All-Star Game

After four consecutive years of American League victories, the National League returned to the role of underdog and was looking for a win. The 2001 script had been written, but the star of this show was Cal Ripken, Jr. The Iron Man had announced his impending retirement earlier in the season and grateful baseball fans thanked him over and over with honors in every ballpark that he played in.

The 2001 Midsummer Classic took on a whole new identity as Cal took the field at third base for his final All-Star appearance. Everyone in attendance and watching at home knew history was in the making. Class-act Alex Rodriguez suggested Ripken move over to his customary shortstop position and Cal reluctantly agreed.

The memories had only just begun for Ripken who came to the plate during the third inning with the theme from The Natural being played over Safeco Fields' sound system. The fans gave Cal one of the longest standing ovations ever bestowed on an All-Star player and he tipped his batting helmet in appreciation. Stepping into the batters box he swung amid a sea of flashbulbs and hit the first pitch he saw from Chan Ho Park over the left field wall.

The final chapter in his story was written before the sixth inning by Commissioner Bud Selig who presented Ripken and Tony Gwynn, who was also retiring after the season, with the Commissioners' Historic Achievement Award. The award, which was created in 1998, is presented at the commissioner's discretion to any player whose body of work is in itself historical or any player who sets a record of historical significance.

In between tributes a game was also taking place. Leading only 3-2 after a fifth-inning RBI single, the American League put the game away with three runs in the ninth. With the victory, the junior circuit cut its overall deficit to 40-30-1. Yankee boss Joe Torre joined Tony La Russa and Tommy Lasorda as the only managers to win their first three All-Star Games.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"Cal (Ripken, Jr.) comes up, sees one pitch and hits a home run off a pitcher he has probably never seen before. That's the kind of magic that Cal brings to the field, that he's brought to the field for 20 years or however long he's played. It would have been very fitting if it ended up being a 1-0 ball game and he got the game-winning home run." - Randy Johnson

2001 All-Star Game

2001 All-Star Official Program
2001 All-Star Official Program
Ichiro Suzuki Edition
2001 All-Star Official Program
2001 All-Star Official Program
Ken Griffey, Jr. Edition
2001 All-Star Official Program
2001 All-Star Official Program
Derek Jeter Edition
2001 All-Star Official Program
2001 All-Star Official Program
Pedro Martinez Edition
2001 All-Star Official Program
2001 All-Star Official Program
Mike Piazza Edition

2000 | 2001 Major League Baseball All-Star Game | 2002

Game Number 72
Date / Box Score 07-10-2001
Location Safeco Field
Attendance (Rank) 47,364
M.V.P. Award Cal Ripken, Jr.
1st Pitch From To
Luis Aparicio Bret Boone
Orlando Cepeda Edgar Martinez
Fergie Jenkins Freddy Garcia
Juan Marichal Mike Cameron
Tony Perez Kazuhiro Sasaki
Starting Pitchers Roger Clemens Randy Johnson
Managers Joe Torre Bobby Valentine
Coaches Bruce Bochy Tony Muser
Dusty Baker Lou Piniella
Honorary Captains

Kirby Puckett

Ralph Branca
Bobby Thomson

2001 All Star Game

Line Score

League 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
National 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 3 1
American 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 x 4 8 0
Randy Johnson
Chan Ho Park (L, 3rd)
John Burkett (4th)
Mike Hampton (5th)
Jon Lieber (6th)
Matt Morris (7th)
Jeff Shaw (8th)
Billy Wagner (8th)
Ben Sheets (8th)
Roger Clemens
Freddy Garcia (W, 3rd)
Andy Pettitte (4th)
Joe Mays (5th)
Paul Quantrill (6th)
Mike Stanton (6th)
Jeff Nelson (7th)
Troy Percival (8th)
Kazuhiro Sasaki (S, 9th)
None
-
-
Cal Ripken, Jr. (3rd)
Derek Jeter (6th)
Magglio Ordonez (6th)

2001 All-Star Game

National League All-Star Squad

Moises Alou Houston Astros OF
9. Rich Aurilia San Francisco Giants SS
Lance Berkman Houston Astros OF
3. Barry Bonds San Francisco Giants OF
John Burkett Atlanta Braves P
Sean Casey Cincinnati Reds 1B
Cliff Floyd Florida Marlins OF Replaced Reed
Brian Giles Pittsburgh Pirates OF
1. Luis Gonzalez Arizona Diamondbacks OF
Vladimir Guerrero Montreal Expos OF
Mike Hampton Colorado Rockies P
2. Todd Helton Colorado Rockies 1B
Charles Johnson Florida Marlins C
Randy Johnson Arizona Diamondbacks P Starting Pitcher
7. Chipper Jones Atlanta Braves 3B
8. Jeff Kent San Francisco Giants 2B
Ryan Klesko San Diego Padres 1B
Jon Lieber Chicago Cubs P
Matt Morris St. Louis Cardinals P
Phil Nevin San Diego Padres 3B
Chan Ho Park Los Angeles Dodgers P
6. Mike Piazza New York Mets C
Albert Pujols St. Louis Cardinals 3B
Rick Reed New York Mets P Replaced - Injury
Jimmy Rollins Philadelphia Phillies SS
Curt Schilling Arizona Diamondbacks P Did Not Pitch
Jeff Shaw Los Angeles Dodgers P
Ben Sheets Milwaukee Brewers P
4. Sammy Sosa Chicago Cubs OF
Billy Wagner Houston Astros P
5. Larry Walker Colorado Rockies OF
BOLD = Fan's choice to start the game (Manager chooses pitcher).

2001 All-Star Game

American League All-Star Squad

Roberto Alomar Cleveland Indians 2B
4. Bret Boone Seattle Mariners 2B
Mike Cameron Seattle Mariners OF Replaced Vaughn
Tony Clark Detroit Tigers 1B
Roger Clemens New York Yankees P Starting Pitcher
Freddy Garcia Seattle Mariners P
Jason Giambi Oakland Athletics 1B
Troy Glaus Anaheim Angels 3B
5. Juan Gonzalez Cleveland Indians OF
Cristian Guzman Minnesota Twins SS
Derek Jeter New York Yankees SS
7. Edgar Martinez Seattle Mariners DH
Joe Mays Minnesota Twins P
Eric Milton Minnesota Twins P Did Not Pitch
Jeff Nelson Seattle Mariners P Replaced Rivera
6. John Olerud Seattle Mariners 1B
Magglio Ordonez Chicago White Sox OF
Troy Percival Anaheim Angels P
Andy Pettitte New York Yankees P
Jorge Posada New York Yankees C
Paul Quantrill Toronto Blue Jays P
3. Manny Ramirez Boston Red Sox OF
8. Cal Ripken, Jr. Baltimore Orioles 3B M.V.P.
Mariano Rivera New York Yankees P Replaced - Injury
2. Alex Rodriguez Texas Rangers SS
9. Ivan Rodriguez Texas Rangers C
Kazuhiro Sasaki Seattle Mariners P
Mike Stanton New York Yankees P
1. Ichiro Suzuki Seattle Mariners OF
Mike Sweeney Kansas City Royals 1B
Greg Vaughn Tampa Bay Devil Rays OF Replaced - Injury
Bernie Williams New York Yankees OF

BOLD = Fan's choice to start the game (Manager chooses pitcher).

Audio Moment: Hear The Game!
Game / Box Links: 2001 Box Score | 2001 Play-by-Play| PDF Score Card (by Seattle Post)
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baseball almanac fast facts

Cal Ripken Jr., who was playing in his final All-Star Game, became the oldest player to hit a home run during an All-Star Game, the first American League player to win two All-Star Most Valuable Player Awards, and the fourth player to win two of them.

Perhaps the most memorable "light" moment took place during the sixth inning when Vladimir Guerrero's bat shattered and flew towards honorary National League coach Tommy Lasorda. The National Baseball Hall of Fame manager did not bleed Dodger blue, but he did take a hard tumble, lost his hat, then hopped off where he had to fend off Barry Bonds who attempted to place a chest protector on Lasorda.

Did you know that the 72nd All-Star Game had twenty-two first time all-stars, eight rookie all-stars and players from seven different countries?