Put me in, coach, I'm ready to play

tbogg posts about the baseball All-Star game tonight:

. . . here is the batting order for 1965 National League All Star Team:

Willie Mays
Hank Aaron
Willie Stargell (who started in the outfield)
Dick Allen
Joe Torre
Ernie Banks
Pete Rose
Maury Wills
Juan Marichal

On the bench

Roberto Clemente
Ron Santo
Frank Robinson
Billy Williams

In the bullpen

Sandy Koufax
Don Drysdale
Bob Gibson

All I can say is that those are some mighty big cleats to step into.

However, there are some serious contenders for HOF players in tonight's game:

Alex Rodriguez
Derek Jeter
Vladimir Guerrero
Kenny Rogers
Pudge
Ichiro
David Ortiz

Interesting, those are all AL players. Odd, considering that the AL is 10-0 for the last ten All-Star games. Hmm.

The lone NL player that might be HOF material, IMHO, is Albert Pujols.

And this:

In a poignant moment underlying the rich baseball history in Pittsburgh, the game was interrupted before the start of the fifth inning so that Commissioner Bud Selig could present Vera Clemente, widow of Pirates legend Roberto Clemente, with the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award in honor of her late husband's achievements on and off the baseball diamond.

"Roberto will be remembered as long as the game of baseball is played," said Selig.

Right, Bud. Clemente stands for so much more than your tiny mind can ever realize.

Idiot.