Orioles in the All-Star Game over the Past Decade
Jul 22, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones (10) blows a bubble in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
2009 – St. Louis – AL 4, NL 3
Orioles – Adam Jones (OF)
Today, in 2014, Adam Jones is an established star in the game of baseball going to his fourth All-Star game. In 2009 he was still a young prospect who had recently come to the Orioles in a trade two years prior with the Seattle Mariners.
At the break in 2009, Jones was hitting .303 with 17 doubles, 12 home runs, and 47 RBIs.
Adam entered in the fifth inning and in his first at-bat lined out. In the bottom of the eighth, with the score tied at three, he hit a sac fly to right field to drive in the winning run for the American League.
In this very excellent article that highlights Jones’ experience at his first All-Star Game, you can hear the youthful enthusiasm and expressed hopes to be able to sustain success over a career like so many of those around him that day had already done.
2008 – New York (Yankees) – AL 4, NL 3
Orioles – George Sherrill (LHP)
Sherrill was also a part of the trade with the Mariners that brought Jones to the Orioles along with Chris Tillman, for Erik Bedard. That is what you might call an “all-star trade.”
George Sherrill was a left-handed relief pitcher on an Orioles team that was especially frustrating to follow. It was not a good team at all.
Feb 21, 2013; Surprise, AZ, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher George Sherrill (30) poses for a picture during photo day at the Royals Spring Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Sherrill appeared in 57 games for the O’s in 2008. Over nine seasons, one would expect this single all-star year to be his best. In fact, statistically it was about his worst. At the end he finished with a 3-5 record and 4.73 ERA … and with a WHIP of 1.500. Yikes!
At the break, Sherrill was 2-4 / 4.08 with 28 saves and six blown saves. But somebody from the Orioles had to be on the team.
However, he proved to be a value to the AL in the game – getting the final out of the 12th inning and pitching the 13th and 14th. He gave up one hit and struck out two, extending the game until the AL won it in the 15th.