This Date In Royals History--1984 Edition: July 9
Get your scorecards ready for the 1984 All-Star lineups!
The All-Star break is upon us, and both managers revealed their starting lineups for the game, which was being played at Candlestick Park in San Francisco the next night. After snapping an 11-game losing streak the previous year, the AL was now looking for a second straight win.
For the American League, Baltimore manager Joe Altobelli filled out his lineup card like so: Lou Whitaker, second base; Rod Carew, first base; Cal Ripken Jr., shortstop; Dave Winfield, left field; Reggie Jackson, right field; George Brett, third base; Lance Parrish, catcher; Chet Lemon, center field; Dave Stieb, pitcher.
National League skipper Paul Owens decided to go with this batting order: Tony Gwynn, left field; Ryne Sandberg, second base; Steve Garvey, first base; Dale Murphy, center field; Mike Schmidt, third base; Darryl Strawberry, right field; Gary Carter, catcher, Ozzie Smith, shortstop; Charlie Lea, pitcher.
Detroit shortstop Alan Trammell had to withdraw due to an arm injury, so Toronto shortstop Alfredo Griffin was named as his replacement. But Griffin didn’t have to scramble to reach San Francisco; he had come with teammate Damaso Garcia anyway.
“It’s crazy. My wife was out of town and his wife was out of town, and he could bring a guest, so Damaso said why not come out to see the game. Today, I was sitting in the hotel room watching TV and I got a call asking if I wanted to play.”--Griffin, quoted by the Associated Press, July 10, 1984
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela was also added to the game as a replacement; St. Louis pitcher Joaquin Andujar was excused to visit his ailing grandmother in the Dominican Republic.
Today’s birthdays: Willie Wilson (1955), Tommy Hottovy (1981), Oscar Hernandez (1993)