Voters "turned out" online in record-shattering numbers to help send Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino and Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge to next Tuesday's All-Star Game in St. Louis in the fans' final vote.Voting was done exclusively on MLB.com and the number of votes cast was astonishing. For both the American and National League teams, the fans cast 68.6 million votes to send first-time All-Stars, in Inge and Victorino, to play in the 80th All-Star Game.
Inge outlasted Ian Kinsler, who finished the close race in second place ahead of Chone Figgins, Carlos Pena and Adam Lind.
Victorino finished just ahead of Pablo Sandoval, Mark Reynolds, Matt Kemp and Cristian Guzmanto to earn his place on the National League squad.
All-Star voting increased by 43.5 percent this year, due in small part to social media sites like Twitter and Facebook and some voting shenanigans. A few radio and television stations got into the act of campaigning for their local player and even former presidential hopeful John McCain threw in an endorsement for Arizona's Reynolds.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter went door-to-door with Victorino to get last-minute votes cast. Three fans won a radio station promotion to sit in the press box lounge for 52 hours and click non-stop for Victorino. Fans attending games live at the ballpark or watching on television were constantly reminded to "Vote for Shane." The governors for the states of Hawaii (Victorino's home state) and Pennsylvania also made a friendly wager to see which state could cast the most votes for Victorino.
In the end, no matter how each of these players made it to the All-Star Game, their statistics speak for themselves. Inge is tied for eighth in the American League with 19 home runs. He also has 54 runs batted in. Victorino ranks ninth in the National League with 15 stolen bases and has a .308 batting average.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Which is the bigger joke, fans voting for the final All-Star roster position or the play in game for the ncaa basketball tournament?
What a joke that someone is voted into as an allstar because of fans voting frome a radio station promo. what happened to players earning the right to be an all star, it should not be a pubicity stunt or ballot stuffing
CONGRATULATIONS, guys!!! I'm so happy the fans voted you in!!! I know that's what I wanted, too!!! Brandon has worked so very hard to help the Tigers win games and has earned this honor!!! All of my favorite tigers have made the A-List ---- Good for you all!!!----I stayed up all night -- just voting my heart out!!! YAY TIGERS!!! You go guys beat the pants off your opponants!!!
Just wondering if Joe Morgan has anything good to say about the white boy pitching from the Giants, seems that all bros are great, never heard him run his mouth about whites, think the bro is a little racist.
I found a dating site .................WealthyF inder C o m........... .where you have the opportunity dreaming about dating a millionaire and make it true! u dont have to be a millionaire.but u can meet one. I thought everyone needed to meet some miracle after all the terrible stuff in the news and the economy .
brandon is a great player at multtipule positions and swings a strong bat too bad curtis isnt there too