Tuesday, January 19, 2010

bdj610's End of Year MLB All-Star Teams: 1999 Edition

Baseball was popular again in 1999. The Home Run Derby from a year ago brought it back into the people's conscience, and everyone was looking forward to an encore. The year saw the Yankees win (again), the Cubs and Sox go nowhere (again), and everyone was getting ready for Y2K (remember that)?

My wife and I celebrated our first anniversary with a trip to St. Louis. One of these days, we have to go back. In fact, during our weekend in St. Louis, the Cards...were in San Diego, helping Tony Gwynn to his 3,000th hit. Go figure. We were both working, happy, young, and before the kids, carefree. Then the 2000's hit...but that's another story.

I did follow baseball a lot during the summer (who couldn't???), and I learned of a card shop in the area that would become my shop of choice for a number of years (Brian Proulx, you and your shop are still missed.) In fact, after three years of not producing one, Topps finally created a Traded set for the 1999 season. But that, too, is another story. Somehow, through all the hysteria, and looking forward to a new millennium, I still had time to make up my All-Star Teams. As has been tradition, there are 10 pitchers on each team (six starters, four closers), and because the 2000 ASG would be in Atlanta (at Turner Field), 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 1999 End of Year MLB All-Star Teams (in alphabetical order by position):

(Party like it's 1999 folks...)











American League

First Basemen

  • Ron Coomer, Twins*
  • Jason Giambi, Athletics*
  • Jim Thome, Indians

Second Basemen

  • Roberto Alomar, Indians
  • Damion Easely, Tigers
  • Randy Velarde, Athletics*

Third Basemen

  • Tony Fernandez, Blue Jays
  • Joe Randa, Royals*
  • Cal Ripken, Orioles

Shortstops

  • Nomar Garciaparra, Red Sox
  • Derek Jeter, Yankees
  • Alex Rodriguez, Mariners

Outfielders

  • Garrett Anderson, Angels*
  • Albert Belle, Orioles
  • Juan Gonzalez, Rangers
  • Shawn Green, Blue Jays
  • Ken Griffey, Jr., Mariners
  • Kenny Lofton, Indians
  • Magglio Ordoñez, White Sox*
  • Manny Ramirez, Indians
  • Bernie Williams, Yankees

Catchers

  • Brad Ausmus, Tigers*
  • Ivan Rodriguez, Rangers
  • Jason Varitek, Red Sox*

Pitchers

  • Bartolo Colon, Indians*
  • Orlando Hernandez, Yankees*
  • Roberto Hernandez, Devil Rays
  • Mike Jackson, Indians
  • Pedro Martinez, Red Sox
  • Mike Mussina, Orioles
  • Mariano Rivera, Yankees
  • Aaron Sele, Rangers
  • John Wetteland, Rangers
  • David Wells, Blue Jays

Manager:

  • Jimy Wiliams, Red Sox

The Starters:

  • 1B: Thome
  • 2B: Alomar
  • 3B: Ripken
  • SS: Garciaparra
  • OF: Griffey, Jr.
  • OF: Lofton
  • OF: Ramirez
  • C: Rodriguez
  • P: Martinez

*First-Time All-Star


National League

First Basemen

  • Jeff Bagwell, Astros
  • Sean Casey, Reds*
  • Mark McGwire, Cardinals

Second Basemen

  • Jay Bell, Diamondbacks
  • Craig Biggio, Astros
  • Jeff Kent, Giants

Third Basemen

  • Jeff Cirillo, Brewers
  • Chipper Jones, Braves
  • Matt Williams, Diamondbacks

Shortstops

  • Alex Gonzalez, Marlins*
  • Mark Grudzielanek, Dodgers
  • Barry Larkin, Reds

Outfielders

  • Barry Bonds, Giants
  • Brian Giles, Pirates*
  • Doug Glanville, Phillies*
  • Luis Gonzalez, Diamondbacks*
  • Vladimir Guerrero, Expos
  • Tony Gwynn, Padres
  • Gary Sheffield, Dodgers
  • Sammy Sosa, Cubs
  • Larry Walker, Rockies

Catchers

  • Mike Lieberthal, Phillies*
  • Ed Taubensee, Reds*
  • Mike Piazza, Mets

Pitchers

  • Mike Hampton, Astros*
  • Trevor Hoffman, Padres
  • Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks
  • Jose Lima, Astros*
  • Greg Maddux, Braves
  • Kevin Millwood, Braves*
  • John Rocker, Braves*
  • Curt Schilling, Phillies
  • Ugueth Urbina, Expos*
  • Billy Wagner, Astros*

Manager:

  • Jack McKeon, Reds

The Starters:

  • 1B: McGwire
  • 2B: Kent
  • 3B: Williams
  • SS: Larkin
  • OF: Bonds
  • OF: Sosa
  • OF: Walker
  • C: Piazza
  • P: Johnson



Twenty-three players are first-time all-stars (10 for the American League, 13 for the Nationals). One-person teams on my 1999 rosters include the Angels (Anderson), Devil Rays (RHernandez), Royals (Randa), Twins (Coomer), White Sox (Ordoñez), Brewers (Cirillo), Cardinals (McGwire), Cubs (Sosa), Marlins (AGonzalez), Mets (Piazza), Pirates (Giles), and Rockies (Walker). The Indians send six representatives to the AL, leading both leagues. The Reds send five players to the NL team. So this year's rosters have an Ohio feel to them.

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 (unless we party too late).

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

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