Triple A – All Star Game Details

With the Lehigh Valley hosting the 2010 AAA All Star game between the Pacific Coast League and International League I thought it would benefit us all to look at details of the game.

The first AAA All Star game was held in Buffalo, NY in 1988.

The original format was American League affiliate players vs. National League affiliate players. (At the time there were 3 Triple A leagues. When the American Association folded after the 2007 season it became a head to head match between leagues)

The League who wins the All Star game gets home field advantage at the single game Triple A – National Championship game that showcases both League’s respective champions in one game to determine the overall AAA champion.

The Home team is determined by the stadium chosen. This year the International League will be considered at Home as the game with be played at Coca Cola Park.. home to our Ironpigs.

Each team is selected as voted on by fans, the media, team managers and general managers. (I haven’t seen the voting website yet, but will post as soon as I do. Last year there were 4 or 5 options for each position and a field for write ins)

• 1988–1997: American League vs. National League (Attendance)
  • 1988 – Buffalo, NY (19,500)
  • 1989 – Columbus, OH (14,131)
  • 1990 – Las Vegas, NV (10,323)
  • 1991 – Louisville, KY (20,725)
  • 1992 – Richmond, VA (12,186)
  • 1993 – Albuquerque, NM (10,541)
  • 1994 – Nashville, TN (11,601)
  • 1995 – Moosic, PA (10,965)
  • 1996 – Salt Lake City, UT (15,500)
  • 1997 – Des Moines, IA

  (11,183)

• 1998–present: International League vs. Pacific Coast League
  • 1998 – Norfolk, VA (11,049)
  • 1999 – Metairie, LA (8,895)
  • 2000 – Rochester, NY (12,810)
  • 2001 – Indianapolis, IN (15,868)
  • 2002 – Oklahoma City, OK (11,343)
  • 2003 – Memphis, TN (15,214)
  • 2004 – Pawtucket, RI (11,192)
  • 2005 – Sacramento, CA (14,414)
  • 2006 – Toledo, OH (11,300)
  • 2007 – Albuquerque, NM (12,367)
  • 2008 – Louisville, KY (13,131)
  • 2009 – Portland, OR

  (16,637)

American League vs. National League Results 88-97
1988 – AL 2 – NL 1
1989 – AL 3 – NL 8
1990 – AL 6 – NL 8
1991 – AL 5 – NL 6
1992 – AL 2 – NL 1
1993 – AL 3 – NL 14
1994 – AL 5 – NL 8
1995 – AL 9 – NL 0
1996 – AL 1 – NL 2
1997 – AL 5 – NL 3

International League vs. Pacific Coast League 1998 – Present
1998 – IL 8 – PCL 4
1999 – IL 5 – PCL 9
2000 – IL 2 – PCL 8
2001 – IL 5 – PCL 9
2002 – IL 0 – PCL 5
2003 – IL 13 – PCL 9
2004 – IL 4 – PCL 3
2005 – IL 5 – PCL 11
2006 – IL 6 – PCL 0
2007 – IL 7 – PCL 5
2008 – IL 5 – PCL 6
2009 – IL 6 – PCL 5

The current IL/PCL series is tied at 6 wins each.

Ok, we got all the stats and history out of the way. Let’s look at the teams themselves. Granted, each team will most likely have at least one representative. That’s just respect to the organization and marketing. No players on the team means less viewing of the game on hometown TV’s and less viewers equal less advertising.

The fans, managers, general managers and media all get votes. Who do we pick? Well, to me an All Star is the best player at that position up to the All Star game date. Voting in popular players because of past performance is not my idea of accurate selections. If someone plays well enough, regardless of past performance or future potential, they should make the team. Of course, there are folks who have a point when they say, at the AAA level, they want to see future stars and prospects out there. Being in the international league, us Pig fans don’t get the chance to see pacific coast league players often and to see their top prospects would be a treat. However, and this is where my opinion comes in.. it’s an All star game, not a Futures or Top Prospects game. Those do sound like a good idea though! So if a 35 year old AAAA level player hits .375 with 15 homeruns to make the squad… good for them. I would also like to see prospects but this is All Star time. I feel the same way about the MLB Hall of Fame. It’s not the Hall of Honor.. it’s a hall of fame. That’s a whole different topic but if you need ammunition, just compare someone like Ty Cobb to anyone else who has ever played the game and you will see that honor was not included in the initial criteria to be registered as a Hall of Famer.

Anyways, read this, enjoy… hope to see you at CCP on July 14th!