Phone Tag Gets Figgins to St. Louis

ST. LOUIS -- Once he didn't win the online vote for the final AL roster spot in the All-Star Game, Chone Figgins figured he had three days off and decided not to answer his phone.

He had no idea that Evan Longoria had an infected finger and might not be able to play.

So when Longoria was scratched and Figgins was picked to replace him on the roster, it became a bit of an issue trying to track down the Angels third baseman.

Angels vice president of communications Tim Mead tried to call Figgins but got no answer. So he called former Angel Garret Anderson.

Anderson called Figgins' mom. She called Figgins' uncle.

The uncle remembered that Keith Johnson, who manages an Angels' Single-A team and is friends with Figgins, was staying with Figgins at his house in Newport Beach, Calif.

So the uncle told Anderson about Johnson, Anderson called Mead and -- at about 8 AM PT -- Mead called Johnson.

"He was sleeping in the other room," Figgins said. "He started banging on the door. I was panicking. I am like, 'What is going on?' "

MLB All-Star Game Photos

ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) greets National League All-Star Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals after throwing out the first pitch before the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Albert Pujols;Barack Obama

MLB Photos via Getty Images

ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: U.S. President Barack Obama throws out the first pitch before the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Barack Obama

MLB Photos via Getty Images

ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: U.S. President Barack Obama walks onto the field before the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Barack Obama

MLB Photos via Getty Images

ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: Sheryl Crow sings the National Anthem before the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sheryl Crow

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ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: American League All-Star Victor Martinez #41 of the Cleveland Indians congratulates American League All-Star Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees after the American League team won the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mariano Rivera;Victor Martinez

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ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: A general view of Busch Stadium during the pregame ceremonies of the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Jessica Foster/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: American League All-Star Victor Martinez #41 of the Cleveland Indians tags National League All-Star Ryan Howard #6 of the Philadelphia Phillies out after dropping the ball in the bottom of the eighth inning during the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Victor Martinez;Ryan Howard

MLB Photos via Getty Images

ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: American League All-Star Carl Crawford #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays catches a ball off the bat of National League All-Star Brad Hawpe #11 of the Colorado Rockies during the seventh inning during the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Carl Crawford

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ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: National League All-Star Miguel Tejada #10 of the Houston Astros turns a double play against American League All-Star Josh Hamilton #32 of the Texas Rangers in the sixth inning of the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Josh Hamilton;Miguel Tejada

MLB Photos via Getty Images

ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: American League All-Star Joe Mauer #7 of the Minnesota Twins throws to first base during the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joe Mauer

MLB Photos via Getty Images

Johnson said, "You've got to get on the phone."

Said Figgins, "For what?"

"Tim Mead wants to talk to you."

"For what?"

"I don't know, man. Just take the phone."

And that's how he found out he was an All-Star for the first time in his career.

"The first thing I thought was, just get me on a plane," Figgins said. "I want to at least make introductions."

He did, arriving at Busch Stadium at about 6:30 PM CT.

Figgins arrived too late to meet President Obama and didn't get it the game. No matter.

"More than worth it," Figgins said.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-15-2009 @ 4:57PM

Lakergregg said...

In my opinion its a little shitty that after all that Joe Maddon a former Angels coach didn't find a way to get him in the game but thats just my opinion and Figgy is way classier than me.
But, how come Brian Fuentes didn't get to pitch to a batter and he leads the majors in saves?