Greats gather on hallowed ground

USA TODAY, July, 2008 by Mel Antonen

NEW YORK -- A throng of 49 Hall of Famers -- dressed in blazers, ties and baseball caps of their former teams -- spread out across the green grass Tuesday night to meet the players who played in the final All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.

Though it was billed as the greatest collection of baseball All-Stars, the pregame ceremony might not have packed the emotional punch of the 1999 game at Fenway Park, where All-Stars held up the game as they gathered in awe of Ted Williams, who played 19 seasons with the Boston Red Sox and was considered by many the greatest hitter of all time.

Before that game, Williams sat in a golf court in the infield. He threw out the first pitch with the help of Tony Gwynn.

At Yankee Stadium, the Hall of Famers -- Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan and Sandy Koufax were not present -- ...