The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 23

fig Mudw. July 11 1W4 THI TEHNCSStAM No. 20, July 11, "94 0 E. II I yyCp am Nl r-iV J. IP i "a home runs: Matt Williams of the San Francisco Giants has 33 All-Stars' chase may strike out Ken Griffey Jr.

of the Seattle Mariners was the star of the first half of the 1994 baseball season for his chase of one of baseball's great records, Roger Maris' single-season home run mark. He's chasing the record, though, under the shadow of baseball's looming, likely players' strike. The players union seems set to strike some time in August. Griffey with 33 home runs is close to Maris' 1961 pace, and ahead of Babe Ruth's 1927 pace, when the Bambino hit 60 home runs in a 154-game season. But a strike would make it almost impossible for Junior to break the record.

Griffey isn't the only contender to break Maris' record, either. The Chicago White Sox's Frank Thomas is right behind Griffey with 32 home runs, putting him in pursuit not only of Maris' record but of Hack Wilson's National League-record 56 home runs with the 1930 Chicago Cubs. Thomas is one of a few statistical standouts who could be helped by a strike, though. Thomas is hitting .383. Paul O'Neill of the New York Yankees is at .382, and the San Diego Padres' Tony Gwynn is hitting .383.

Each one is a hot streak away from .400. Thomas, O'Neill or Gwynn could be the first player to hit .400 since Ted Williams batted .406 in 1 941 20 years before Maris' record year, but likely would do so only with the benefit of a strike-shortened season. AMERICAN LEAGUE MmmMim 1 Outfield fvn Kirby Puckett, I Minnesota Outfield eyJr.Seattle li Ken Griffey JL1 RESERVES Catcher Mickey Tettleton, Detroit Infielders Will Clark, Texas Chuck Knoblauch, Minnesota Scott Cooper, Boston Travis Fryman, Detroit Outfielders Albert Belle, Cleveland Kenny Lofton, Cleveland Chili Davis, California Paul Molitor, Toronto Paul O'Neill, New York Ruben Sierra, Oakland Pitchers Wilson Alvarez, Chicago Jason Bere, Chicago Ricky Bones, Milwaukee David Cone, Kansas City Pat Hentgen, Toronto Randy Johnson, Seattle Jimmy Key, New York Mike Mussina, Baltimore Lee Smith, Baltimore Outfield Joe CarteY.Toronto Second base Roberto Alomar.Toronto First base Frank Thomas, Chicago Shortstop Cal Ripken, Baltimore Pitcher TBA Third base wade Boons. New York Ivan Rodriguez, Texas LEAGUE Outfield Lenny Dykstra, Philadelphia (injured) Hi Outfield Oavid Justice, Atlanta RESERVES Catchers Darrin Fletcher, Montreal Infielders Jeff Bagwell, Houston Craig Biggio, Houston Ken Caminiti, Houston Wil Cordero, Montreal Carlos Garcia, Pittsburgh Barry Larkin, Cincinnati (inj.) Fred McGriff, Atlanta Outfielders Moises Alou, Montreal Second base Duncan, Outfield Barry Bonds.San Francisco First base Greo Jefferies, JldUU Straightaway center field averages 405 feet In i I i i American League parks. How far jit 1 Ken Griffey Jrs home runs have gone f.f ys this season (through last 4 i 11' Tuesdaysgames): Jeff Conine.

yijV St. Louis 1 Florida Marquis Grissom, Montreal Tony Gwynn, San Diego Shortstop Ozzie Smith, St. Louis Pitcherl Itba Third base Matt Williams. Catcher 'it? San Francisco pNc Mike Piaaa, Los Angeles jp Pitchers Rod Beck, San Francisco Doug Drabek, Houston Ken Hill, Montreal John Hudek, Houston Danny Jackson, Philadelphia Randv Mvers. Chicaao SOURCE: IXJ-j MCI Proof Positive ICCt Long Distance Leaders USA TODAY Doug Jones, Philadelphia Jose Riio, Cincinnati (inj.) Greg Maddux, Atlanta Bret Saberhagen, New York by OS All-Timo AAA All-Star Team Big-name Major Leaguers who have appeared in the AAA All-Star Game.

AAA All-Star schedule TOMORROW Time Event Position Name Year -AAA team Present team Ramon Martinez 1989 -Albuquerque Los Angeles Pedro Martinez 1992 -Albuquerque Montreal Tommy Greene 1989 -Richmond Philadelphia Mike Piazza 1992 -Albuquerque Los Angeles 1B Hal Morris 1989 -Columbus Cinncinnati 2B MarkLemke 1989 -Richmond Atlanta 3B Todd Zeile 1989 Louisville St. Louis SS Andujar Cedeno 1991 Tucson Houston OF Juan Gonzalez 1990 -Oklahoma City Texas OF Tim Salmon 1992 -Edmonton California OF Kenny Lofton 1991 -Tucson Cleveland DH Jeff Conine 1992 -Omaha Florida Mike Piazza American League batting practice National League batting practice American League pitchers sign autographs American League position players sign autographs American League infield practice National League pitchers sign autographs National League infield practice 5 Home Run hitting contest (AL vs. NL) 5 National League position players sign autographs Hollywood All-Stars warm up Hollywood All-Stars softball game Past local AAA All-Stars Position Name Year -AAA team gf 2B 1B 1B Joey Cora Scotti Madison Alan Cockrell Tom Bolton Vegas 1989 Nashville 1990 Colorado Springs 1989-Pawtucket Hollywood All-Star game Comedian Fred Willard, television and motion picture actors Jason Bateman, Barry Bostwick and Treat Williams and daytime drama actor Kristoff St. John are among some of the all-stars set to play. WEDNESDAY 1 1994 Sounds All-Stars Position Name vx Past Sounds AAA All-Stars Jason Bateman Position Name Year DrewDenson Repeat selection for AAA All-Star game.

Leads Sounds in home runs Time Event and rbi. OF Skeeter Barnes 1989 1B Scotti Madison 1989 OF Geronimo Berroa 1992 INF Marty Brown 1988 OF Leo Garcia 1990 Hugh Kemp 1988" 1B Terry Lee 1991 JoeyVierra 1992 1B DrewDenson 1993 Brian Drahman 1993 2B Tickets: $12 reserved, $8 general admission TV: SportSouth, 7:35 p.m. 5:10:5:55 American League batting practice National League batting practice American League infield practice National League infield practice 7:20 Introductions 7:35 AAA All-Star game Ray Dulham One of the top base stealers in the American Association. Scott Ruffcorn On the disabled fist, and will not play Wednesday. Steve Schrenk Added to the team when Ruffcorn went on the disabled list.

Sounds pitcher Steve Schrenk Page Design by Kent Travis, Compiled by Paul Domeief, Photo by Freeman Ramsey.