Orioles in the All-Star Game over the Past Decade

2005 – Detroit – AL 7, NL 5

Orioles – Brian Roberts (2B), Miguel Tejada (SS), Melvin Mora (3B), B.J. Ryan (P) – Miguel Tejada MVP

At the All-Star break in 2005, the Orioles were 47-40 and just two games out of first place. On May 26^th they were 30-16 and in first place by 4.5 games. After the break, they would fall apart and go 27-48 for the remainder of the season.

2005 was probably BRob’s best year, as he ended with a .314 average. At the break, Roberts was hitting .345 with 22 doubles, 15 home runs, 49 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. Those are huge numbers!

Tejada had a typically very good year in 2005 (hitting .304), though probably the two years just before and after were slightly better. He did have the most doubles in his career in 2005 with a total of 50. At the break, Tejada was hitting .329 with 30 doubles, 19 home runs and 62 RBIs.

Melvin Mora had a solid season in 2005 with 27 home runs and a .283 average, though 2004 was actually better – also with 27 homers, but with an average of .340 and #1 OBP of .419.  At the break in 2005 he was hitting .298 with 15 home runs.

B.J. Ryan was a very fine relief pitcher for the Orioles in 2004 and again in 2005 – when he saved 36 games. He had another fine season (also an All-Star) with Toronto in 2006.

In the starting lineup for the AL, Tejada batted fifth and Roberts ninth.  Mora was a sub for ARod and struck out in his only at-bat. Roberts doubled and scored a run in two at-bats. Ryan pitched in the 9^th inning and gave up a double and two groundouts, scoring a run … before yielding to Mariano Rivera who got the final out and a save.

The MVP of the game was Miguel Tejada, who hit a two-run homer off Dontrelle Willis in the sixth inning that gave the AL a 7-0 lead at the time. In the middle of the infield, Roberts and Miggy turned two double plays as well.

Here is a great picture of Melvin Mora …

2004 – Houston – AL 9, NL 4

Orioles – Miguel Tejada (SS)

The year of 2004 was a great season for the Orioles’ lone representative at the All-Star Game. This was the season that Miggy set the Orioles RBI record at 150 for the season.

The Orioles were 37-48 at the break, and Tejada was hitting .311 with 15 home runs and 75 RBIs in 85 games. He would ultimately hit 40 doubles, 34 home runs, and maintain a .311 average on the season.

Tejada came into the game in the seventh inning and grounded out to second base in his only plate appearance.