MLB All-Star Game

Kentucky All-Star Game Facts and Figures

Major League Baseball

Pee Wee Reese baseball card

Bowling Green native and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Corey Hart introduced himself to casual baseball fans last night with his impressive home run derby first-round, but he’ll look to add to his reputation tonight when he starts the MLB All-Star game for the National League. Tonight marks Hart’s second all-star selection putting him in an exclusive club of Kentuckians with multiple all-star appearances. Check out that state and others below in an All-Star edition of facts and figures:

  • In total, 16 players born in Kentucky have been selected as MLB all-stars.
  • Just 11 have been selected to multiple all-star teams.
  • Hall-of-famer Pee Wee Reese leads all Kentuckians with 10 all-star selections.
  • Ashland native and Arizona Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb leads active Kentuckians with three selections.
  • Florida Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla, born in Louisville, and Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher Aaron Cook, born in Fort Campbell, are the other active Kentuckian all-stars.
  • Former MLB outfielder David Justice, who was born in Cincinnati but attended high school in Covington and college at Thomas More was selected to three all-star games.
  • Webb (UK), Justice and Paul Derringer (Georgetown College) are the only alumni of Kentucky colleges to be selected as all-stars.

Check out the full list of all-stars born in Kentucky with number of appearances below with active players in italics:

  • Pee Wee Reese — 10
  • Jim Bunning — 9
  • Paul Derringer — 6
  • Travis Fryman — 5
  • Stan Spence — 4
  • Gus Bell — 4
  • Brandon Webb — 3
  • Dan Uggla — 2
  • Mike Greenwell — 2
  • Woodie Fryman — 2
  • Corey Hart — 2
  • Aaron Cook — 1
  • Len Barker — 1
  • Jay Buhner — 1
  • Vern Bickford — 1
  • Paul Byrd — 1

* Stats are via Baseball-Reference.com

All-Star Links: Hart will start for NL, participate in HR Derby; Kentucky players struggle in Futures Game

Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Corey Hart; Photo by Steve Paluch via Flickr

Relevant Kentucky links from All-Star Festivities:

  • Jordan Schelling of MLB.com reports Bowling Green native and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Corey Hart will start Tuesday’s game for the National League after elected starter and Braves’ outfielder Jason Hayward was removed from the roster with an injury.
  • Hart will also participate in tonight’s State Farm Home Run Derby.
  • The Associated Press reports the Brewers will knock $1 off the price of tickets in one section of Miller Park for two select games for each home run Hart hits during the Derby.
  • Tyler Kepner of The New York Times lists Hart and former Morehead State University pitcher Jon Rauch among his list of unsung 2010 stars.
  • In Sunday’s MLB Futures Game Lexington native Ben Revere was 0-3 for the U.S. team, which defeated the World 9-1. Former Eastern Kentucky University left-handed pitcher Christian Friedrich retired the only batter he faced, and former University of Louisville right-handed pitcher Trystan Magnuson surrendered one run in two-thirds of an innings for the World. Louisville Bats first baseman Yonder Alonso was 1-4 for the World team.
  • Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star profiles Magnuson and writes the Canadian owes much of his success to his uncle, Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Keith Magnuson, and former Blue Jays pitching coach Mel Queen, who was influential in Roy Halladay’s career.
  • Baseball America correspondent Phil Miller awards Revere the Minnesota Twins’ mid-season best player award in the team’s organization report. (subscription required)

Former Bat Votto leads NL final man vote

Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Joey Votto; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Former Louisville Bat and current Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto leads in the National League final man vote for the last spot on the NL All-Star team, Mark Newman of MLB.com reports. But do Kentucky baseball fans owe it to Votto to ensure he gets the final spot? That’s the argument Courier-Journal columnist Eric Crawford is making.

“Though impatient to get on to the majors, he never took his eye off the ball in Louisville, and that same kind of ethic has put him among the best players in the majors,” Crawford writes. “Votto could use some partners in Louisville, too. It’d be a great way for this city to say thanks and to once again play a role in Votto stepping up to the level where he belongs.” (Read more)

If you agree with Crawford and want to support Votto’s campaign for the NL All-Star team here.

Hart, Former Legend Buck selected to MLB All-Star Game

Major League Baseball

Corey Hart; Photo by Steve Paluch via Flickr

Bowling Green native and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Corey Hart was selected to his second All-Star team Sunday by being named a reserve for the National League squad. Hart is batting .286 with a league-leading 18 home runs. The Greenwood High School alum has already driven in 60 runs this season and boasts a .350 on-base percentage and .564 slugging percentage. Hart was also named a NL All-Star in 2008.

Former Lexington Legend and Toronto Blue Jays catcher John Buck was also named an All-Star as an American League reserve. Buck is batting .271 with 13 home runs and 40 RBI. The Lexington Legends Hall of Famer batted .275 with 22 home runs and 73 RBI during the Legends’ inaugural season in 2001. (AL Roster) (NL Roster)