bdj610's End of Year MLB All-Star Teams: 1995 Edition

In 1995, baseball was not a popular sport. Last year's strike, the cancellation of the World Series, the use of replacement players for 29 of the teams (the Baltimore Orioles abstained)...it was not a fun time for baseball. But, the strike ended, the players got back to business, Cal Ripken broke the consecutive games streak record, and the Braves, FINALLY, won their World Series. It's been eight seasons since I started this little, private tradition, and thanks to Baseball Weekly, even with all of the distractions, college life, plus work life, and the beginning of a social life, just like every season since I started following baseball, I named All-Star teams.

Baseball Weekly, how I miss thee. Every week, I'd make a trip to the local gas station or 7-Eleven to get my hands on the latest copy of the magazine. And I brought it everywhere I'd go. EVERYWHERE!!! And if they still put it out now the way they did in 1995, I'd still be buying the magazine today. Too bad that isn't the case. But anyway, I read the stats, followed along with the season, and by the end of the season, was confident enough to pick players for these teams based on merit. Of course, those players who actually made that summer's teams still had sway over others, sticking to the "every team has a rep" requirement, but adding the extra position holes was where using statistics came in very handy. As in previous years, there are 10 pitchers on each team (six starters, four closers), and because the 1996 ASG would be in Philadelphia (at Veterans Stadium), there was no DH needed. So the rosters contracted to 34 players per team.

So without further ado, for the first time online, I am proud to introduce my 1995 End of Year MLB All-Star Teams (in alphabetical order by position):

(Space, the final frontier...)

American League First Basemen Rafael Palmeiro, Orioles Frank Thomas, White Sox Mo Vaughn, Red Sox Second Basemen Roberto Alomar, Blue Jays Carlos Baerga, Indians Chuck Knoblauch, Twins Third Basemen Wade Boggs, Yankees Edgar Martinez, Mariners Kevin Seitzer, Brewers Shortstops Gary DiSarcina, Angels* Cal Ripken, Orioles John Valentin, Red Sox* Outfielders Albert Belle, Indians Jay Buhner, Mariners* Chad Curtis, Tigers* Jim Edmonds, Angels* Kenny Lofton, Indians Paul O'Neill, Yankees Kirby Puckett, Twins Manny Ramirez, Indians* Tim Salmon, Angels Catchers Ivan Rodriguez, Rangers Mike Stanley, Yankees* Terry Steinbach, Athletics Pitchers Rick Aguilera, Red Sox David Cone, Yankees Orel Hershiser, Indians Randy Johnson, Mariners Jose Mesa, Indians* Jeff Montgomery, Royals Mike Mussina, Orioles Kenny Rogers, Rangers* Lee Smith, Angels Tim Wakefield, Red Sox* Manager: Lou Pinella, Mariners The Starters: 1B: Thomas 2B: Baerga 3B: Boggs SS: Ripken OF: Belle OF: Lofton OF: Puckett C: Rodriguez P: Johnson *First-Time All-Star

National League First Basemen Mark Grace, Cubs Eric Karros, Dodgers* Fred McGriff, Braves Second Basemen Craig Biggio, Astros Bret Boone, Reds* Mickey Morandini, Phillies* Third Basemen Vinny Castilla, Rockies* Chipper Jones, Braves* Terry Pendleton, Marlins Shortstops Jay Bell, Pirates Shawon Dunston, Cubs Barry Larkin, Reds Outfielders Dante Bichette, Rockies Barry Bonds, Giants Jeff Conine, Marlins Ron Gant, Reds Tony Gwynn, Padres Raul Mondesi, Dodgers* Reggie Sanders, Reds Sammy Sosa, Cubs Larry Walker, Rockies Catchers Darrin Fletcher, Expos Todd Hundley, Mets* Mike Piazza, Dodgers Pitchers Tom Glavine, Braves Tom Henke, Cardinals Greg Maddux, Braves Ramon Martinez, Dodgers Randy Myers, Cubs Jaime Navarro, Cubs* Hideo Nomo, Dodgers* Pete Schourek, Reds* Heathcliff Slocumb, Phillies* Todd Worrell, Dodgers* Manager: Don Baylor, Rockies The Starters: 1B: McGriff 2B: Biggio 3B: Castilla SS: Larkin OF: Bichette OF: Bonds OF: Gwynn C: Piazza P: Maddux

Twenty-two players are first-time all-stars (10 for the American League, 12 for the Nationals). One-person teams on my 1995 rosters include the Athletics (Steinbach), Blue Jays (Alomar), Brewers (Seitzer), Royals (Montgomery), Tigers (Curtis), White Sox (Thomas), Astros (Biggio), Cardinals (Henke), Expos (Fletcher), Giants (Bonds), Mets (Hundley), Padres (Gwynn), and Pirates (Bell). The Indians and Dodgers send six representatives to the AL and NL rosters, leading their respective leagues. The Cubs (Chicago bias rules!!!) and Reds each send five players to the NL squad.

As always, seven regular games (10,000 simulations each, six with the same starting pitchers, one where lineups and starting pitchers change), and one All-Star Game will be simulated during the course of the week. I hope to have the results of all the games by the end of the week.

Now it's time for me to create the .DAT files before getting the games set. Results to come on Monday.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama