Rox Pile
Fansided

Colorado Rockies history: Denver hosts the 1998 All-Star Game

By Noah Yingling

DENVER, CO - APRIL 22: Snow falls ouside the stadium as the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Colorado Rockies was postponed due to snow at Coors Field on April 22, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. The game will be made up as a split double header on Tuesday April 23, 2013. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - APRIL 22: Snow falls ouside the stadium as the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Colorado Rockies was postponed due to snow at Coors Field on April 22, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. The game will be made up as a split double header on Tuesday April 23, 2013. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next
DENVER, CO – APRIL 22: Snow falls ouside the stadium as the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Colorado Rockies was postponed due to snow at Coors Field on April 22, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. The game will be made up as a split double header on Tuesday April 23, 2013. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – APRIL 22: Snow falls ouside the stadium as the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Colorado Rockies was postponed due to snow at Coors Field on April 22, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. The game will be made up as a split double header on Tuesday April 23, 2013. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

We continue with our top 32 moments in Colorado Rockies franchise history with the 1998 All-Star Game, the first and, to date, only MLB All-Star Game that Denver has seen.

The 1998 All-Star Game was held in Denver at Coors Field on July 7. Not surprisingly, it was, and still is, the highest scoring All-Star Game in history as the American League won by the score of 13-8.

American League Roster

This was the starting lineup for the visiting American League and their manager, Mike Hargrove, of the Cleveland Indians. Players who were later inducted into the Baseball Hall-of-Fame are denoted by (HOF) and the number of times that they were an All-Star including this game follow.

  1. Kenny Lofton, LF, Cleveland Indians, 5th
  2. Roberto Alomar, 2B, Baltimore Orioles (HOF), 9th
  3. Ken Griffey Jr., CF, Seattle Mariners (HOF), 9th
  4. Juan Gonzalez, RF, Texas Rangers, 2nd
  5. Jim Thome, 1B, Cleveland Indians (almost certain future Hall-of-Famer. He’s on the ballot for the first time this coming year), 2nd
  6. Alex Rodriguez, SS, Seattle Mariners, 3rd
  7. Ivan Rodriguez, C, Texas Rangers (HOF), 7th
  8. Cal Ripken Jr., 3B, Baltimore Orioles (HOF), 16th (I know, the American League had a really deep lineup)
  9. David Wells, SP, New York Yankees, 2nd

Some of the notable pitchers who did not start are Hall-of-Famer Pedro Martinez of the Boston Red Sox and Roger Clemens of the Toronto Blue Jays. On the bench for the AL, some notable players include first baseman Rafael Palmeiro of the Baltimore Orioles, shortstops Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees (in his first All-Star game) and Omar Vizquel of the Cleveland Indians, and outfielder Manny Ramirez (who was also playing for the Indians).

National League Lineup

Here was the National League starting lineup made by Marlins manager Jim Leyland. Ironically, the next season (and only the next season), he was the manager of the Rockies.

  1. Craig Biggio, 2B, Houston Astros (HOF), 7th
  2. Tony Gwynn, RF, San Diego Padres (HOF), 14th
  3. Mark McGwire, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals, 10th
  4. Barry Bonds, LF, San Francisco Giants, 8th
  5. Chipper Jones, 3B, Atlanta Braves (see the note for Jim Thome above), 3rd
  6. Mike Piazza, C, New York Mets (HOF), 6th (he spent time with the Dodgers and Marlins this season before being traded to the Mets)
  7. Larry Walker, CF, Rockies, 3rd
  8. Walt Weiss, SS, Atlanta Braves, 1st
  9. Greg Maddux, SP, Braves (HOF), 7th

Notable pitchers who didn’t start for the NL include future Hall-of-Famer Tom Glavine, San Diego Padres closer Trevor Hoffman, Curt Schilling of the Philadelphia Phillies, former Rockie first baseman Andres Galarraga, Rockies third baseman Vinny Castilla, Rockies outfielder Dante Bichette, and Chicago Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa.

Home/Colorado Rockies History