NEW YORK (AP) — World Series MVP Mariano Rivera and a pair of Boston Red Sox, Pedro Martinez and Nomar Garciaparra, were among five first-time players on The Associated Press Major League All-Star Team, which was released Monday.
Seven of the 12 players picked were born in Latin America: Rivera in Panama; the Indians’ Roberto Alomar and the Rangers’ Ivan Rodriguez in Puerto Rico; Martinez, the Indians’ Manny Ramirez and the Cubs’ Sammy Sosa in the Dominican Republic; and the Rangers’ Rafael Palmeiro in Cuba.
Texas, with Rodriguez at catcher and Palmeiro at designated hitter, and Cleveland, with Alomar at second and Ramirez in the outfield, were the only other teams to have two players elected.
Palmeiro and Ramirez were also first-time picks for the team, selected in nationwide voting by sports writers and broadcasters.
Mark McGwire, who led the major leagues with 65 home runs, lost out at first base to Houston’s Jeff Bagwell.
Martinez, the favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award after going 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA and 313 strikeouts, was the most overwhelming winner, getting 101 of 103 votes at right-hander pitcher. Kevin Millwood of Atlanta and Aaron Sele of Texas got one vote each.
Garciaparra got 50 votes at shortstop, with New York’s Derek Jeter second at 35 and Seattle’s Alex Rodriguez third at 13.
Rivera, who won the Series MVP following the Yankees’ sweep of Atlanta last week, led relievers with 44 votes, two more than Houston’s Billy Wagner.
Bagwell edged the McGwire 39-37 at first base. Bagwell was elected to the team in 1994, while McGwire was the most overwhelming winner at any position in last year’s voting.
Arizona’s Randy Johnson led left-handed pitchers with 78 votes. Houston’s Mike Hampton, who had 78, was the only other player to get a vote at the position.
Alomar won easily at second base, getting 80 votes to just eight for Houston’s Craig Biggio, who finished second. Alomar also was on the team when he played for Toronto in 1992 and ’93.
Atlanta’s Chipper Jones repeated at third base, winning 73-17 over Arizona’s Matt Williams. Rodriguez, another repeat winner, beat the Mets’ Mike Piazza at catcher, 82-14.
Sosa led the outfield for the second straight year, getting 82 votes. Ramirez was second with 71, followed by Ken Griffey Jr. with 65 and Colorado’s Larry Walker with 29. Griffey also made the team in 1991, ’94, ’96 and ’98.
Palmeiro got 58 votes at designated hitter, easily beating Seattle’s Edgar Martinez, who received 11.
