All-Star Game May Break Record for Most Jews

Papelbon says parties beat prez at game

(NEWSER) - Red Sox hurler Jonathan Papelbon says having the president around at the All-Star Game was “fun”—but not as fun as Playboy's hospitality, Subway Squawkers reports. “I enjoyed the parties more than the president, to be honest with you,” the skin mag's shindig being his favorite, Papelbon told a Florida radio station. Still, Obama helped “to kind of rejuvenate the midsummer game classic.” More»

(NEWSER) - Prince Fielder of Milwaukee captured tonight's All-Star Home Run Derby, scoring a 6-5 victory in the final round over Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, a former Brewers prospect. "I was just happy I was able to put on a show," said the first baseman, who did just that with the night's longest shot, a 503-foot drive that left the Busch Stadium crowd dazzled. More»

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(AP) - Tim Lincecum and Roy Halladay were selected today as the starting pitchers for tomorrow night's All-Star game in St. Louis. Lincecum, last year's National League Cy Young Award winner, is 10-2 with a 2.33 ERA for the San Francisco Giants; he got the nod from NL manager Charlie Manuel. Halladay, 10-3 with a 2.85 ERA for the Toronto Blue Jays, was chosen by American League manager Joe Maddon. More»

(NEWSER) - President Obama will toss the ceremonial first pitch at the All-Star Game on July 14, Major League Baseball announced yesterday. He’ll be the fourth president to do so, following John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, and Gerald Ford, and the seventh to attend the game. He’s also got some first-pitch experience; he did the honors for his beloved Chicago White Sox during the 2005 playoffs. More»

28-homer first round starts off the All-Star break with a blast

(NEWSER) - Justin Morneau won the Home Run Derby last night, but Josh Hamilton got all the attention—and rightly so, writes the New York Times. The Texas slugger hit a record 28 bombs in the first round alone, and smashed 35 homers total, to Morneau's 22. “I rarely watch myself on highlights, but tonight I may have to,” said Hamilton. More»