Black living legends honored during 75th All-Star Game celebration

Jet, August 2, 2004

The American League won its sixth-consecutive All-Star Game, beating the National League 9-4, in a game marked by big hits, and a week marked by a celebration of the baseball's biggest bitters. Held at Houston's new Minute Maid Park, it was baseball's 75th All-Star Game, the third in Texas' largest city.

It was a star-studded event as "American Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino sang The National Anthem, while previous idol Ruben Studdard crooned the God Bless America. Muhammad Ali participated in the throwing out of the ceremonial first pitch, after which he was surrounded by All-Stars for a group photograph.

A day earlier, the Home Run Derby was captured by Baltimore Orioles short stop Miguel Tejada, who beat fan favorites San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds and Chicago Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa. Before the power-hitting competition, Major League Baseball honored the 14 living players who have hit 500 or more career home runs. The African-Americans honored were: Hank Aaron (733), Barry Bonds (681), Willie Mays (660), Frank Robinson (586), Reggie Jackson (563), Willie McCovey (521), Ernie Banks (512), Eddie Murray (504) and Ken Griffey Jr. (501).

Bonds, who is 33 home runs shy of Babe Ruth and 77 short of Aaron, predicted that the 500 Home Run Club will continue to grow. "I think we're all great," said Bonds, who leads in All-Star experience having been selected 13 times. "We all have done what we've done in our time, in our era. But there's going to be someone who's going to pass us, and they're going to be just as great and do what they do. That's just the way of life."

During the game, the American League jumped to a six-run lead in the first inning and never trailed. In that inning, Boston Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez hit a home run to left field off future Hall of Famer Roger Clemens, as did Texas Rangers' second baseman Alfonso Soriano, who was later named the game's Most Valuable Player. It was the first time that Clemens had given up six runs in the first inning, and the first time it happened in the All-Star game, which marks the midpoint of the season.

The nearly 42,000 fans in attendance watched the National League score three runs in the fourth off Cleveland Indians star pitcher C.C. Sabathia to cut the lead to 7-4. But the American League All-Stars answered in the sixth with a two-run homer by Boston's David Ortiz.

The All-Star Game was a homecoming for Florida Devil Rays left fielder and Houston native Carl Crawford. Houston Mayor Bill White proclaimed the day Carl Crawford Day in honor of the 22-year-old athlete. "It's always nice to come back home in front of family and friends," Crawford said. "For it to be the All-Star Game, that's huge. I'm living a dream right now."

The New York Yankees had the most All Stars with seven. Overall, the National League holds a 40-33-2 advantage in All-Star competition.