ong 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.
''It was great,'' said Garciaparra, whose evening began with a 30-second ovation when he was announced as the starting shortstop and continued with a memorable convergence of All-Stars, past and present, at the mound with Ted Williams. After his 0-for-2 outing, Garciaparra's night ended with another ovation when he was replaced by Derek Jeter at the start of the fourth inning.
''I thought it was really nice the way everybody just kind of surrounded him. It was kind of funny when they announced for people to please leave for the dugout, and everybody said, `No.' Nobody wanted to leave,'' said Garciaparra of the emotional, impromptu gathering around Williams.
''I just said, `Ted, how's everything?' And he said, `Nomar, how's everything going? It's so good to see you.' He said, `We'll definitely be talking, and I'll see you again.' And I said, `That's for sure.'''
When the pregame ceremonies were over, Garciaparra got down to some not-so-familiar business. His groin injury had kept him out of the Sox lineup for nine games over a two-week span, but he said he felt fine after his brief stint last night.
The way Pedro Martinez and David Cone were pitching, there wasn't much opportunity for Garciaparra to show off in the field.
Batting second, Garciaparra, the first Sox shortstop to start in the midsummer classic since Rick Burleson in 1977, had a crack at Curt Schilling in the first inning (a warning track fly out) and Randy Johnson in the third (a soft popup).
Afterwards, Garciaparra downplayed being voted the starting shortstop for the American League, choosing instead to salute all of his major-league peers.
''As far as I'm concerned, we're the best in the world. We're all All-Stars,'' he said. ''I felt good. I felt really good. Everything's coming along great, and I'm looking forward to getting back out there and starting the second half on Thursday.''
The closest Garciaparra came to making a play in the field came with two outs in the third. With Jeromy Burnitz on second, Barry Larkin hit a hard grounder up the middle, and Garciaparra's lunge just missed as Burnitz scored the National League's first run.
Garciaparra's night officially ended when he took the field for the fourth and was replaced by Jeter before the first pitch was thrown, something Garciaparra knew would happen after being told beforehand by American League manager Joe Torre.
''That just shows what a class guy he [Torre] is,'' said Garciaparra. ''I thanked him over and over again.''
There were a couple of light moments at the postgame press conference when Garciaparra strode to the podium just as Texas stars Ivan Rodriguez and Rafael Palmeiro were making their exit. Rodriguez motioned with a sweep of his arm for Garciaparra to take center stage.
Before the first question could be asked, Garciaparra joked, `No questions? Good, I'll see you.'' Then he was joined by Mark McGwire, who was asked about Martinez's performance.
McGwire paused, turned to Garciaparra, and said, ''Thank God you don't have to face him.''
It was a humorous climax to a special evening for Garciaparra.
''There was an electricity out there,'' he said. ''Nobody wanted to leave [after Williams was introduced]. It was just one of those things where they appreciated the game and understanding there's a tradition and we are part of it. That was a special moment.''
