TV ratings fall (07/14/99)
Despite being played in the cozy confines of Fenway Park, the final baseball All-Star game of the century had few runs - and the second-lowest television rating in 30 years.

A Blaze of glory (07/14/99)
After an emotion-draining prelude that left the greatest players past and present awash in tears around Hall of Famer Ted Williams, it was difficult to imagine that anyone playing in the 70th All-Star Game could make this stage his alone.

Williams is Star among the stars (07/14/99)
Ted Williams returned to Fenway for last night's All-Star Game, a 4-1 American League win. Correctly introduced as''the greatest hitter that ever lived,'' Teddy Ballgame, now 80, rode into Fenway on a golf cart driven by somebody who worked here when Williams played in Boston, 42-year Sox employee Al Forester.

A heads-up for Green's relatives (07/14/99)
Shawn Green, the gifted young outfielder from the Toronto Blue Jays, is the nephew of a Harvard professor, Marc Kirschner, Green said is head of the cellular biology department.

NL comes to Pedro's park sees what fuss is about (07/14/99)
PEDRO CITY, USA - The National Leaguers remember Pedro Martinez, but they haven't seen him since he got into local politics. They haven't seen him since he switched uniforms, got himself elected the Chief Operating Officer of a storied patch of real estate in the Fenway section of Boston, and decided that he might as well become the best pitcher in baseball.

Tough act to follow (07/14/99)
Curt Schilling admits he had pregame jitters to begin with.

Legends of the century are stars among Stars (07/14/99)
Enough about the All-Stars. What about the All-Stars of All-Stars?

So-so play takes joy out for Sosa (07/14/99)
Sammy Sosa arrived at Fenway Park this week at the absolute peak of his career. Leading the National League with 32 homers, he was the top vote-getter in the NL, another sign of how last year's record-setting home run duel with Mark McGwire turned him into a household name.

Hits were far and few between for National Leaguers (07/14/99)
Larry Walker, the second of his victims, had a question for Pedro Martinez.

McGwire hitless, but meeting with Williams is big hit (07/14/99)
It's often said that baseball is a game that will humble the people who play it. Mark McGwire understands that now.

Fox allows moments to speak for themselves (07/14/99)
Fox couldn't have planned it better. Ted Williams in Fenway Park, surrounded by All-Stars past and present.

The carnival comes to town (07/14/99)
For the fans, fantasy became reality when Kevin Costner announced the All-Century Team. The actor, known for the baseball movies ''Field of Dreams'' and ''Bull Durham'' added even more drama to the night.

Walker rock solid for Colorado (07/14/99)
The chances of the Red Sox prying Larry Walker from the Colorado Rockies is miniscule, particularly after Rockies management has deemed Walker ''untouchable'' in trade proposals.

No shortage of memories for Garciaparra (07/14/99)
Long after the final score is a statistic in a record book, and long after the box score of last night's All-Star Game has yellowed a bit in his scrapbook, Nomar Garciaparra's enduring memory will be a moment of conversation with a baseball legend.

Power outage for NL (07/14/99)
The night before last, Barry Larkin had seen Mark McGwire and pals from the National League hammer balls high and long over the fences at Fenway Park, particularly the Green Monster in left field.

Bagwell's back where he belongs (07/14/99)
He was playing for the University of Hartford when he first set foot upon the Fenway Park greensward, realizing, finally, a childhood dream of playing in the legendary ballpark. ''But there was like 1,200 people there at that game,'' recalled Jeff Bagwell. ''It was a little different.''

Martinez El Estrella Mas Valioso (07/14/99)
Pedro Martinez hizo historia anoche en el Juego de Estrellas al ponchar los primeros tres bateadores del partido pero eso no fue lo que mas le emocionu de su participacion.

Selig isn't keen to reinstating Rose(07/13/99)
With nearly two dozen Hall of Famers sitting beside him, Bud Selig said Tuesday that Pete Rose can pretty much forget about reinstatement to baseball as long as he's commissioner.

Youth served, but Ripken remains (07/13/99)
Cal Ripken, making his 17th consecutive All-Star appearance, 16th as a starter, was asked about the changing of the guard in baseball. There are 24 first-time All-Stars in this year's game.

Talk of a new Fenway the talk of the All-Stars (07/13/99)
Upstairs, Bud Selig and John Harrington were pitching their latest thoughts on a new Fenway Park, claiming a new Fenway would be a ''classic new ballpark.'' Downstairs, on the field, those National Leaguers making their first visit were selling nothing but words from the heart.

Garvey to have hip replacement (07/13/99)
Two-time All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Steve Garvey said he will undergo replacement surgery on his left hip.

Gowdy: Yawkey got a big charge out of the 1961 power outage (07/13/99)
Curt Gowdy was in the booth in 1961 when the last All-Star Game was played at Fenway Park. Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey didn't like all the talk about the high scoring and grumbled to Gowdy throughout the day that Fenway was not that easy of a park. Yawkey was right.

Gwynn's presence a hit (07/13/99)
Tony Gwynn was dressed like a spokesman - gray double-breasted suit, gold tie, commemorative blue All-Star Game cap -- as he gently picked apart Juan Gonzalez's decision to boycott the game because the fans didn't elect him as a starter.

Harrington bats around ballparks old and new (07/13/99)
Yesterday was his 63d birthday, and he began it by swinging the bat at Fenway Park. He stepped into the batters box against a minor league pitcher who was nervous. And for good reason. The batter was his boss, Red Sox chief executive officer John Harrington.

Back for seconds, Junior has a blast (07/13/99)
Mark McGwire got most of the oohs and aahs with his show-stopping performance in the first round of last night's All-Star Home Run Derby at Fenway Park. But Ken Griffey left with the hardware.

Griffey sizes up his place in game, future in Seattle (07/13/99)
His popularity with fans surprises even him. For a variety of reasons, Seattle center fielder Ken Griffey has emerged not only as the top vote-getter for tonight's 70th All-Star Game at Fenway Park (for the fourth consecutive season) but also as one of the most marketable athletes in pro sports.

McGwire makes powerful impression (07/13/99)
Ken Griffey may have won the Oscar for most smashing performance in last night's All-Star Home Run Derby at Fenway Park, but Mark McGwire was clearly the People's Choice. At least as far as the rest of the participants were concerned.

Like much of his team, NL's Bochy is an All-Star rookie (07/13/99)
Bruce Bochy is one of the lucky ones. He spent seven years managing the Padres before finally winning a pennant in 1998. His reward is his first visit to Fenway Park as manager of the National League All-Stars, and he couldn't be happier.

Garciaparra among jewels (07/13/99)
Nomar Garciaparra, in his third season with the Red Sox, has yet to cause Ted Williams to reconsider the stunning proclamation he made this spring at his hitters museum, when he said, ''Boy, I'm looking at someone who is going to be as good as anyone who has ever played the game.''

Offerman surprised, satisfied (07/13/99)
At the beginning of the season, almost everyone was anticipating the return of former Red Sox players such as Mo Vaughn, Roger Clemens, and Jose Canseco to Fenway Park for the 70th All-Star Game. What no one figured, however, was that Jose Offerman, whose offseason signing triggered a wave of criticism would be an All-Star and Vaughn would not.

Past snubs don't discourage Palmeiro (07/13/99)
Over the past two weeks, baseball analysts and fans have been compiling their annual list of All-Star Game snubs. A perennial member of the snub club has been Texas Rangers first baseman Rafael Palmeiro. Few players have been as consistent during the past decade -- or as overlooked.

Pedro Martinez has cast spell with scary first-half numbers (07/13/99)
Connect all the dots, and you have Pedro Martinez by the numbers. His pitch for history is there for all to see: 15 wins at the All-Star break, a majors-leading 2.10 earned run average, 184 strikeouts.

Even players awed by constellation of talent (07/13/99)
Be it baseball, basketball, football, or hockey, the thing about an all-star game that turns on great players is their own company. In some cases, it is renewing old acquaintance. In others it is satisfying curiosity. The great ones really want to know what makes the other great ones tick.

Home Run Derby a smashing success (07/13/99)
When Fenway Park's walls finally come tumbling down, and all the decades of stories are told and retold, the show Mark McGwire put on last night in the Back Bay will be on the enduring list of lore.

Sosa truly a pop hero (07/13/99)
He stood at the podium during yesterday's All-Star Game press conference at the Westin Hotel, where the managers, honorary captains, and leading vote-getters of the American and National leagues were recognized. Gracious as ever, Sammy Sosa accepted a glass trophy from NL president Leonard Coleman for being the league's top vote-getter with 2,315,204.

Lining up to play power ball (07/12/99)
Shoulder to shoulder with Ken Boyer, decked out in his spotless Milwaukee Braves baggy white woolens, Hank Aaron listened intently to the part about the prize money. Every ballplayer did. This was 1959. "Home Run Derby," the television show that brought together the game's greatest long-ball hitters of the day, offered big-leaguers the chance to add significantly to their income.

Can anyone hit it to the Pike? (07/12/99)
Beyond the tape measure, every ballpark has a home run distance marked by legend and lore. Clearing the roof at old Forbes Field. Upper deck at Three Rivers Stadium. The light tower at Tiger Stadium. For Fenway Park, the Massachusetts Turnpike has always held a distant mystique. No one's hit it yet.

Bad back sidelines Canseco (07/12/99)
Former Red Sox slugger Jose Canseco, tops in the American League with 31 homers, won't be taking aim in tonight's Home Run Derby at Fenway Park.

Rice answers the challenge (07/12/99)
There were familiar chants of ''Loo-wee, Loo-wee,'' for Luis Tiant, who threw out the first ball at yesterday's All-Star Futures Game at Fenway Park. But it was Jim Rice, who tattooed the left-field wall and also dented a Boston Police cruiser parked on the street beyond the wall during the hitting contest, who really turned on the crowd.

Williams led Boston barrage in classic's 1946 Fenway debut (07/12/99)
Fifty-three years ago, when all the players were white and most of the best ones were in the American League, the All-Star Game came to Fenway Park for the first time.

Game in '61 just a game (07/12/99)
The last time they played the All-Star Game at Fenway was one of those years they played two games. Twenty days earlier, they'd played in San Francisco and it all became so laughable - what with Stu Miller being blown off the mound in the process of saving a 5-4, 10-inning win. Tickets for the Monday, July 31, game were easy to come by. Just walk up to the window during a four-game series with the Senators in June and buy one for $8.

On home plate in '36 (07/12/99)
At Braves Field, Boston got its first chance to host -- and there were subplots galore.

Glavine gets left out (07/12/99)
It's the final All-Star Game at Fenway Park before Boston sports a new state-of-the-art ballpark early in the next millennium. A fitting scenario for the final All-Star Game of the century would include Roger Clemens, Mo Vaughn, Wade Boggs, and, yes, Tom Glavine.

Sox played starring roles (07/12/99)
Eighty ballplayers have been selected to represent the Red Sox in baseball's All-Star Game. Ted Williams provided the most memorable moments, but it hasn't been all Ted since the Sox were first represented in 1933.

Teddy's ballgame: Williams was a star among All-Stars (07/12/99)
Teddy Ballgame might as well be Teddy All-Star Game. He enjoyed the greatest individual performance in the game's history, bashing two homers and going 4 for 4 with a walk and five RBIs in a 12-0 victory in his hometown park in 1946.

They got the call, but not the ball (07/12/99)
They are a Red Sox fraternity of 22: All-Stars in name who never got into the game. Among them are names most know - Bill Lee, Pedro Martinez (who'll get his chance tomorrow), Jerry Remy, Jim Lonborg, and Bruce Hurst -- as well as names many will struggle to recall -- Jerry Moses, Dave Ferriss, Oscar Judd, Eddie Bressoud, and Sonny Siebert.

As a rookie, Fidrych took wing (07/12/99)
A two-hitter in his first major league start sent Mark "The Bird" Fidrych soaring, and he landed the job of All-Star starter.

Futures Game premieres at Fenway (07/11/99)
Alfonso Soriano is confident he can be a major-league star. The Yankees farmhand just has to find another position with Derek Jeter entrenched at shortstop in New York.

Celebrity Hitting Challenge spices up All-Star game (07/11/99)
Matt Damon stepped to the plate, missed one pitch, hit four others foul and put only two balls into fair territory. Not exactly a McGwiresque performance, but a crowd pleaser nonetheless.

Aaron, Mays featured in new credit card commercial (07/11/99)
Hank Aaron and Willie Mays are going to bat for a credit card provider, offering another ``priceless'' experience in a commercial that makes its debut during Tuesday night's All-Star game.

Baseball is the star of the show (07/11/99)
It's not the game. It's the celebration of the game, and the players who make it great.

Memories to bat around (07/11/99)
The All-Star Game has provided both some historical and hysterical moments, and the latter brings to mind Randy Johnson's encounters with John Kruk in 1993 and Larry Walker four years later.

Garciaparra set to go (07/11/99)
The Red Sox shortstop will play in Tuesday's All-Star Game and compete in tomorrow's All-Star Home Run Derby.

Stars not shining on airwaves (07/11/99)
Since the '70s, television audiences for All-Star Games have steadily declined. The '80s saw an average rating of 21.3, while in the '90s ratings have nose-dived to a 14.1 average.

Martinez will answer call (07/09/99)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Sooner or later, Pedro Martinez said yesterday afternoon, he expects a phone call from American League All-Star manager Joe Torre, informing him of what Torre already has told the world and said again yesterday: Martinez will start for the AL team in Tuesday's All-Star Game in Fenway Park.

Paving the way (07/09/99)
It was the summer of 1992 and the weather was perfect for visiting Cooperstown, home of the baseball Hall of Fame.

Exhibiting a love for the game (07/09/99)
You think you know baseball. You're a bona fide expert. Then you meet a guy like Ted Spencer. Then it's back to the library.

Making a public spectacle (07/09/99)
At Major League Baseball's first official All-Star Game in 1933, there was no Home Run Derby contest featuring Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe Cronin, and the other leading sluggers of the day. No cavernous exhibition hall near Comiskey Park in Chicago was filled with baseball memorabilia and touring fans.

Still Yaz's game (07/09/99)
Carl Yastrzemski was to the All-Star Game what Tip O'Neill was to the House of Representatives - a constant contributor from Massachusetts, always seen, and sometimes the best player in the game.

Carlton had the stuff of legends (07/09/99)
Steve Carlton stepped into the batter's box, tapped his shoes, and dug in. He took a few practice swings and stared down the pitcher. Steve Carlton got the signal from the catcher, stood, looked toward first, then fired toward home plate.

All-Star managers say the rosters need to be larger (07/08/99)
NEW YORK - For every player who felt slighted after being left off the All-Star game rosters, managers Joe Torre and Bruce Bochy can only sympathize and plead for understanding.

All-Star Bonuses (07/08/99)
Red Sox second baseman will earn the second largest All-Star bonus according to figures released today. Only Ken Griffey Jr., of Seattle will make more.

A grand slam for the local economy (07/08/99)
Only two sports events in Massachusetts history are likely to be judged to have had more impact on the local economy: the 100th running of Boston Marathon in 1996 and the Ryder Cup upcoming in September at The Country Club in Brookline.

Cleveland fans knock stuffing out of AL voting (07/08/99)
MINNEAPOLIS - Cleveland outfielder David Justice has been in this position before, sitting back in a clubhouse chair waxing semi-philosophical about All-Star voting. In this state where a bald-headed former athlete serves as governor, the similarly shaved Justice sounds as if he's on the campaign trail.

Dow's field of dreams (07/08/99)
''Baseball parks,'' says photographer Jim Dow, ''are the contemporary equivalent of cathedrals. They're the outgrowth of that medieval ideal. They show the aspirations and texture of their community.

Kerrigan sets up mini-vacation at top of rotation (07/08/99)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Even though he'll be busy during the All-Star break - he has a date to take the mound as the American League's starting pitcher next Tuesday at Fenway Park - the Red Sox are trying to keep Pedro Martinez as fresh as possible for the second half.

Offerman unexpected addition to All-Stars (07/08/99)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - While the honor of being named an All-Star now belongs to pitcher Pedro Martinez and second baseman Jose Offerman as well as shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, surely the triumph of the moment belongs to Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette.

New look for All-Star teams (07/07/99)
Offerman, Martinez chosen
NEW YORK - This year's All-Star game will have a decidedly new look. Twenty-three players will make their All-Star debuts next Tuesday, many taking the place of familiar names who have been slowed by injuries and ineffectiveness.

Guerrero will have to wait for bonus (07/07/99)
NEW YORK - Vladimir Guerrero is getting a $250,000 raise for making the NL All-Star team for the first time. Only he won't see the money for another four years.

This hack tried but couldn't connect (07/07/99)
The worst suspicions harbored by Yankee fans were true. In an attempt to swing the close vote for the American League's All-Star shortstop in Nomar Garciaparra's favor, a 25-year-old computer hacker from Carver, Mass., cast around 25,000 votes on the Internet for the Red Sox star on the last day of balloting.

Vaughn has not lost hope (07/07/99)
Mo Vaughn came to the ballpark last night thinking there was no way that he'd be returning to Fenway Park for the 70th All-Star Game next Tuesday. Then he heard rumors that he might be chosen today as a reserve

Gwynn to sit out All-Star game (07/06/99)
Although he was voted in as a starting NL outfielder, Tony Gwynn declared himself out of next Tuesday's All-Star game at Boston's Fenway Park. He made his decision after the Padres chose to keep him on the disabled list through the break.

NL fields strong team (07/06/99)
Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, who led baseball's resurgence with their home-run race last summer, will be starting together in the All-Star Game for the first time.

Garciaparra edges out Jeter for All-Star shortstop nod (07/06/99)
Garciaparra, who trailed Jeter by 30,655 votes in balloting a week ago and had also fallen behind Vizquel, won by 20,446 votes over Jeter, with Vizquel trailing by more than 51,000 votes.

Torre to honor Gonzalez's request to skip All-Stars (07/04/99)
Joe Torre is honoring Juan Gonzalez's request to skip the All-Star game but doesn't agree with the decision by the Texas Rangers' outfielder.

You've got to catch Fenway bash (07/04/99)
It'll be raining Rawlings on Lansdowne Street when the All-Star festival comes to Fenway Park next Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.

Williams named All-Star coach (07/01/99)
NEW YORK - Jimy Williams of the hometown Red Sox, former Boston manager Don Zimmer and Jerry Manuel of the Chicago White Sox were picked Thursday as AL coaches for the All-Star game at Fenway Park on July 13.

Canseco has Star power (06/30/99)
Maybe Jose Canseco really didn't know that he was a runaway leader in the voting to be designated hitter for the American League All-Stars July 13 in Boston.

Evans to umpire plate at All-Star game (06/29/99)
Jim Evans will be the home plate umpire for next month's All-Star game, the commissioner's office said Tuesday.

Garciaparra loses ground in Jeter race (06/29/99)
After the voting was closed Sunday, Boston shortstop Nomar Garciaparra had dropped from second to third in the results trailing Derek Jeter and Omar Vizquel.

All-Star Future teams present and accounted for (06/25/99)
Organizers of the John Hancock All-Star FanFest announced yesterday that tickets are selling quickly, with more than half of the time slots already sold out.

On deck: Team of the century (06/23/99)
Beginning at the All-Star Game July 13 at Fenway Park, fans will have the opportunity to select the 25 members of baseball's All-Century Team.

All-Star Future teams present and accounted for (06/22/99)
Greenfield native Peter Bergeron, an outfielder for the Montreal Expos, was named to the United States roster for the Futures game to be played July 11 at Fenway Park during All-Star weekend.

Garciaparra just short (06/22/99)
ith a week to go before the polls close, Nomar Garciaparra closed the gap again on Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter in the latest balloting for the American League All-Star team.

FanFest should be star of shows (06/02/99)
Today, even the All-Star Weekend festivities are not enough to satiate the baseball fan's appetite, as evidenced by the John Hancock All-Star FanFest - the five-day baseball carnival to be held at the Hynes Convention Center July 9-13.

Yastrzemski gives boost to FanFest (04/27/99)
Yesterday, Major League Baseball announced that the Red Sox Hall of Famerwill be part of that event, naming Yaz official spokesman for the All-Star FanFest festivities.

Red Sox push for more seats (04/23/99)
The Red Sox want to install about 650 new seats at Fenway Park for the July 13 All-Star Game in order to accommodate the expected flood of media and fans.

Resale of tickets may be eased (04/15/99)
Governor Paul Cellucci's Consumer Affairs Office is weighing a plan that would eliminate penalties for reselling tickets within a specified "zone'' near the ticket office of the event.

No All-Star tickets for the public (03/17/99)
The Red Sox announced last night that no tickets for the July 13 All-Star Game at Fenway Park will be available to the public.

All-star game expected to be a bigger hit (07/16/98)
Major League Baseball, tourism officials, and Boston city officials now predict the 1999 All-Star Game will generate at least $50 million in tourist spending for the city.

The sport is baseball; the game is money (07/16/98)
They held a luncheon at Fenway yesterday to trumpet the 1999 baseball All-Star Game, and the ratio of non-baseball people to baseball people in attendance was about 10-1. In other words, just about the modern norm.

Full schedule puts pressure on Boston (07/13/98)
Hundreds of thousands of tourists are expected to pour into Boston in 1999 for the Ryder Cup, the Women's and Major League Baseball's All-Star Game at Fenway Park.

Cities hope to score with All-Star game (07/07/98)
The Red Sox have Sox have sent 25 employees to Denver to help them conceptualize what the team must do in and around Fenway Park next July.

Fenway pressed for space (07/06/98)
Without going into yet another tedious discussion about replacing storied Fenway Park with a shinier, bigger baseball stadium, it's safe to say that next year's All-Star Game presents a problem for Red Sox officials.

A Fenway classic is looming on deck (07/01/98)
The big story -- one that has gone largely unnoticed around here -- is that next summer's All-Star Game will be played at Fenway Park in 1999. It will be the toughest ticket in the history of Fenway.

Stars on horizon for Boston in 1999 (09/25/97)
Major League Baseball, the city of Boston, and the Red Sox showcased their heavy hitters yesterday at Fenway Park to formally announce the 1999 All-Star Game is coming to town.

Harrington strikes deal for '99 game (07/13/97)
The 1999 All-Star Game will be awarded to Boston, sources said yesterday, as the result of an agreement struck between Red Sox CEO John Harrington and acting commissioner Bud Selig.