1999 AAA All-Star Game

The 1999 AAA All-Star Game was held on July 14, 1999 in New Orleans, LA. The game was hosted by the New Orleans Zephyrs, the AAA affiliate of the Houston Astros, at Zephyr Field.

The home Pacific Coast League team was managed by Greg Biagini of the Oklahoma Redhawks. His assistants were Joel Horlen of the Fresno Grizzlies and Tony Torchia of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Buffalo Bisons manager Jeff Datz led the International League squad. The assistants for the International League were Bill Evers of the Durham Bulls and Gene Roof of the Toledo Mud Hens. The game was broadcast on ESPN2 with Bob Carpenter, Dave Campbell and Ted DeLuca announcing.

In a high scoring affair both teams put runs on the board in the first inning with the PCL jumping out to a 3-1 lead on a Daryle Ward home run. Both pitching staffs were then settled down as the score remained the same until the fifth when both teams added another run. In the eighth home runs by Geoff Blum and Russell Branyan put the IL up 5-4. But the PCL struck back in their half of the inning scoring five runs to take the lead and the game by a score of 9-5. Jason Boyd of the Tucson Sidewinders got the win while Eddie Gaillard, of the Durham Bulls, took the loss.

The Stars of Stars Awards were given to the top player on each team. The PCL award went to Daryle Ward of the hometown Zephyrs. Ward went 2-4 with 4 RBI and a home run. The IL award was given to Russell Branyan, of the Buffalo Bisons, who went 3-5 with a solo home run.

The game featured some future big leaguers. In addition to Ward and Branyan, the game also saw action from Dave Roberts, Casey Blake and Adam Kennedy.

Starting Lineups

International League				Batting Order		Pacific Coast League
Player	Position	Team				Player	Position	Team
Michael Coleman	RF	Pawtucket Red Sox		1		Shawn Gilbert	CF	Albuquerque Dukes
Tony Graffanino	2B	Durham Bulls		2		Frank Menechino	2B	Vancouver Canadians
Steve Cox	1B	Durham Bulls		3		Scott Sheldon	SS	Oklahoma Redhawks
D.T. Cromer	LF	Indianapolis Indians		4		Daryle Ward	1B	New Orleans Zephyrs
Chad Mottola	RF	Charlotte Knights		5		Chris Hatcher	LF	Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Russell Branyan	DH	Buffalo Bisons		6		George Williams	C	Salt Lake Buzz
Casey Blake	3B	Syracuse SkyChiefs		7		Ozzie Timmons	DH	Tacoma Rainiers
Izzy Molina	C	Columbus Clippers		8		Kit Pellow	3B	Omaha Golden Spikes
D'Angelo Jimenez	SS	Columbus Clippers		9		Dusty Allen	RF	Las Vegas Stars
Micah Bowie	P	Rochester Red Wings		SP		Larry Luebbers	P	Memphis Redbirds

Box Score

Sources

AAA Baseball