Sports Radio Service


		Schmidt going to Gala in Pittsburgh By Jeremy Kahn July 3, 2006
	San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Jason Schmidt throws against the Texas Rangers' Gary Matthews Jr., during the first inning of their interleague game in San Francisco, Thursday June 29, 2006. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
	Despite only winning six games during the season, National League All-Star manager Phil Garner made a decision to take Jason Schmidt to the All-Star Game to be held at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on July 11. Schmidt, who pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates before being traded to the San Francisco Giants on July 30, 2001, will be making his third All-Star appearance in the last four years. In his only previous All-Star game, Schmidt started the 2003 game held at U.S. Cellular Field, the home of the Chicago White Sox. Schmidt also made the All-Star team in 2004, when the game was held at Minute Maid Field, the home of the Houston Astros; however he was unable to pitch in the game, due to the fact that he had thrown 127 pitches in the Giants’ final game before the All-Star break. There were few choices for the Giants who had a chance to head to Pittsburgh, including shortstop Omar Vizquel and Barry Bonds. This would have been a homecoming for Bonds, who played for the Pirates from 1986-1992, which included the Pirates winning three consecutive National League Eastern Division and coming within one out of winning the pennant in 1992. This is only the second time since 1991, that Bonds was not named to the team without being sidelined with an injury. During the 1999 season, Bonds missed significant time due to an elbow injury that sidelined him from April 18 to June 8. Last season, Bonds missed nearly the entire season due to right knee surgery. Bonds was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in 1998, but the National League fell to the American League, by the final score of 13-6 at Coors Field in Denver. Next season, the All-Star Game will venture back to the Bay Area for the first time in 20 years, as AT&T Park will host their first All-Star Game. In the last All-Star Game held in the Bay Area, the National League outlasted the American League in an extra-inning thriller, 2-0 in 13 innings at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.