Double-A All-Star Game

The Double-A All-Star Game was an annual baseball game held from 1991 to 2002 between professional players from the affiliated Double-A leagues of Minor League Baseball—the Eastern League (EL), Southern League (SL), and Texas League (TL). Teams of American League-affiliated Double-A All-Stars faced off against teams of National League-affiliated Double-A All-Stars. Seven games were won by American League teams, and five were won by National League teams.

Double-A All-Star Game
StatusDefunct
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)Varied (see prose)
Years active12
InauguratedJuly 10, 1991
(Joe W. Davis Stadium, Huntsville, Alabama, United States)
Most recentJuly 10, 2002
(Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium, Norwich, Connecticut, United States)
ParticipantsDouble-A minor league baseball players
Organized byDouble-A Baseball

History

The three Double-A leagues of Minor League Baseball—the Eastern League (EL), Southern League (SL), and Texas League (TL)—were inspired by the success of the Triple-A All-Star Game, which was first held in 1988, to combine for their own meeting of their classification's All-Stars.[1] The first Double-A All-Star game was played in 1991 at Joe W. Davis Stadium in Huntsville, Alabama.[1] Players were divided into teams of American League affiliates and National League affiliates as voted on by members of the local media in each of the classification's 26 cities.[1] In later years, teams were selected by the three league presidents.[2]

Despite the game's initial commercial success, the travel logistics involving teams stretching from El Paso, Texas, to Altoona, Pennsylvania, made organizing the game difficult.[3] The creation of the All-Star Futures Game in 1999 drew away both publicity and players.[3] The final Double-A All-Star Game was played in 2002 at Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium in Norwich, Connecticut.[4]

Results
Date Winning team
(All-time record)		 Score City Ballpark Host team (league) Attendance Ref.
July 10, 1991 American
(1–0 AL)		 8–2 Huntsville, Alabama Joe W. Davis Stadium Huntsville Stars (SL) 4,022 [5]
July 13, 1992 American
(2–0 AL)		 4–3 Charlotte, North Carolina Knights Stadium Charlotte Knights (SL) 4,009 [6]
July 12, 1993 National
(1–2 NL)		 12–7 Memphis, Tennessee Tim McCarver Stadium Memphis Chicks (SL) 6,335 [7]
July 11, 1994 American
(3–1 AL)		 10–4 Binghamton, New York Binghamton Municipal Stadium Binghamton Mets (EL) 6,543 [8]
July 10, 1995 American
(4–1 AL)		 3–1 Shreveport, Louisiana Fair Grounds Field Shreveport Captains (TL) 6,247 [9]
July 8, 1996 National
(2–4 NL)		 6–2 Trenton, New Jersey Mercer County Waterfront Park Trenton Thunder (EL) 8,369 [10]
July 7, 1997 American
(5–2 AL)		 4–0 San Antonio, Texas Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium San Antonio Missions (TL) 7,114 [11]
July 8, 1998 National
(3–5 NL)		 2–1 West Haven, Connecticut Yale Field New Haven Ravens (EL) 6,248 [12]
July 14, 1999 National
(4–5 NL)		 3–0 Mobile, Alabama Hank Aaron Stadium Mobile BayBears (SL) 6,174 [13]
July 12, 2000 American
(6–4 AL)		 5–2 Bowie, Maryland Prince George's Stadium Bowie Baysox (EL) 14,077 [14]
July 11, 2001 National
(5–6 NL)		 8–3 Round Rock, Texas Dell Diamond Round Rock Express (TL) 12,046 [15]
July 10, 2002 American
(7–5 AL)		 11–2 Norwich, Connecticut Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium Norwich Navigators (EL) 8,009 [4]
American League (7 wins) National League (5 wins)

Most Valuable Player Award
A man in a gray baaseball uniform and black cap
Jim Thome, the 1991 Eastern League MVP, became a five-time MLB All-Star and was enducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018.[16]
A man in a navy blue baseball jersey and cap and gray pants
Michael Cuddyer, the 2001 Eastern League MVP, was voted onto two MLB All-Star teams.[17]

Through 1996, a Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award was given to the player with the best performance from each Double-A league.[18] One award was planned for the overall Most Valuable Player in 1997, but two players were selected as co-MVPs.[19] Single MVPs were also selected in 1998 and 2000. In the final two years of contention, 2001 and 2002, the classification reverted to the original format and selected three MVPs, one from each league.

Three players from the El Paso Diablos and Huntsville Stars were each selected for MVP Awards, more than any other teams. The Harrisburg Senators, Knoxville/Tennessee Smokies, Memphis Chicks, Midland Angels/RockHounds, New Britain Red Sox/Rock Cats, and Orlando SunRays/Cubs each had two MVPs.

Year EL MVP SL MVP TL MVP Ref(s).
1991 Jim Thome
(Canton-Akron Indians, 3B)		 Pat Mahomes
(Orlando SunRays, RP)		 Mark Howie
(Midland Angels, DH)		 [20]
1992 Len Picota
(Harrisburg Senators, RP)		 Marcos Armas
(Huntsville Stars, 1B)		 Jon Shave
(Tulsa Drillers, 2B)		 [18]
1993 Rondell White
(Harrisburg Senators, OF)		 Les Norman
(Memphis Chicks, RF)		 Dwayne Hosey
(Wichita Wranglers, LF)		 [21][22]
1994 Matt Stairs
(New Britain Red Sox, LF)		 Chris Stynes
(Knoxville Smokies, 2B)		 Tim Unroe
(El Paso Diablos, 3B)		 [23][24]
1995 Pork Chop Pough
(Trenton Thunder, DH)		 Jason Thompson
(Memphis Chicks, 1B)		 Brian Banks
(El Paso Diablos, RF)		 [25]
1996 Todd Dunwoody
(Portland Sea Dogs, OF)		 Kevin Orie
(Orlando Cubs, 3B)		 Russ Johnson
(Jackson Generals, SS)		 [26]
1997 Mel Rosario
(Bowie Baysox, C)		 Mike Coolbaugh
(Huntsville Stars, SS)		 — [11][19]
1998 Wonder Monds
(New Haven Ravens, CF)		 — — [12][27]
1999[lower-alpha 1] — — — [13]
2000 — Stoney Briggs
(Jacksonville Suns, OF)		 — [14]
2001 Michael Cuddyer
(New Britain Rock Cats, 3B)		 Dave Gibralter
(Huntsville Stars, 3B)		 Lyle Overbay
(El Paso Diablos, 1B)		 [15][28]
2002 Jorge Sequea
(Erie SeaWolves, {PR/3B)		 DeWayne Wise
(Tennessee Smokies, CF)		 Marshall McDougall
(Midland RockHounds, SS)		 [29][30]

See also

Notes
  1. There are no records of an MVP being selected in 1999.

References
  1. "Huntsville to Host AA All-Star Game". The Greenville News. Greenville. October 3, 1990. p. 2D – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "All-Stars Want to Have Fun". The Times. Shreveport. July 10, 1995. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Point, Michael (July 11, 2001). "End May Be Near". Austin American-Statesman. Austin. p. C5 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Gonzalez, Roberto (July 11, 2002). "End Comes in Seventh". Hartford Courant. Hartford. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "SL Sets First All-Star Tilt". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando. July 11, 1991. p. B-4 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Olson, Stan (July 14, 1992). "Walbeck Not Quite the Hero". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte. p. B1 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Higgins, Ron (July 13, 1993). "NL Romps, 12–7, in AA All-Star Game". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore. p. 9C – via Newspapers.com.
  8. Rosenberg, Cheryl (July 12, 1994). "AL Rides Homers". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Feducia, Stacy; Ferrell, Scott (July 11, 1995). "Pork Chop Sizzles in Win". The Times. Shreveport. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Helton's HR Powers NL Minor-League Stars". The Courier-News. Bridgewater. July 9, 1996. p. C-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "American Double A All-Stars Win". Hartford Courant. Hartford. July 8, 1997. p. C4 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Monds' Home Run Wins Double A Game". Hartford Courant. Hartford. July 9, 1998. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Cammack Perfect in All-Star Stint". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton. July 15, 1999. p. 5D – via Newspapers.com.
  14. Hoffmann, John (July 13, 2000). "Seaford Native Wins AA Game, Named MVP". The Daily Times. Salisbury. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. Point, Michael (July 12, 2001). "A Night of Fireworks". Austin American-Statesman. Austin. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Jim Thome Stats". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  17. "Michael Cuddyer Stats". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  18. Olson, Stan (July 14, 1992). "A.L. Stars Hang On for 4-3 Win Over N.L." The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte. p. 5B – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "AA All-Star Game". Hartford Courant. Hartford. July 8, 1997. p. C6 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Mahomes, AL Affiliates Win AA All-Star Tilt". Tyler Morning Telegraph. Tyler. July 11, 1991. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. "Gens Help NL Win AA All-Star Game". Clarion-Ledger. Jackson. July 13, 1993. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
  22. "Nationals Prevail in AA All-Star Game". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando. July 13, 1993. p. D-4 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. Rosenberg, Cheryl (July 12, 1994). "Unroe's Homer Makes Dad Back Home Proud Papa". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton. p. 4C – via Newspapers.com.
  24. "Box Score". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton. July 12, 1994. p. 6C – via Newspapers.com.
  25. Feducia, Stacy; Ferrell, Scott (July 11, 1993). "All-Star Game More Than Just a Baseball Game". The Times. Shreveport. p. 4C – via Newspapers.com.
  26. Fisher, Rich (July 9, 1996). "NL Wins Battle of Double A". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia. p. D4 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. "Double A All-Star Box". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton. July 9, 1998. p. 4D – via Newspapers.com.
  28. "National All-Stars 8, American All-Stars 3". Austin American-Statesman. Austin. July 12, 2001. p. C5 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. Anthony, Mike (July 11, 2002). "Cashman Drops Over". Hartford Courant. Hartford. p. C5 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. "Double A All-Star Game". Hartford Courant. Hartford. July 11, 2002. p. C7 – via Newspapers.com.
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