T-Bones to host Northern League All-Star Game
Baseball fans who missed watching the Major League Baseball All-Star Game on television Tuesday in Pittsburgh will have an opportunity to see another all-star game — in person.
This year’s Northern League All-Star Game will be Tuesday at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.
The Kansas City T-Bones will host the independent minor league’s all-star game this summer.
The game will start at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at the ball park, which is north of State Avenue across from Kansas Speedway.
Kansas City players named to the East Division all-star team include: first baseman Charles Peterson, outfielder Greg Jacobs, designated hitter Eddie Pearson and starting pitcher Jonathan Krysa.
Because of a conflicting personal commitment, Pearson will not play in the all-star game. Replacing him will be Chris Weekly from the Schaumburg (Ill.) Flyers.
League managers, radio announcers and media representatives picked the starters for the all-star game.
Managers for the two divisions — Greg Tagert from Gary, Ind., for the Eest and Doug Simunic for Fargo-Moorhead, N.D., for the West — picked reserves for their respective teams.
¢ Festivities Monday include: all-star skills competition and home run derby, legends game and a concert.
Of 11 reserves, Tagert selected three T-Bones players: catcher Craig Hurba, and pitchers Greg Bicknell and Byron Embry.
The Northern League consists of eight teams: Fargo-Moorhead (N.D.) and Canadian teams Winnipeg, Edmonton and Calgary in the West Division and Schaumberg (Ill.), Gary (Ind.), Joliet (Ill.) and Kansas City in the East Division.
All-star festivities actually begin Monday with the All-Star Fan Fest starting at 3 p.m. with the T-Bones interactive experience. From 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., former major league players will sign autographs at the stadium.
Former major-leaguers Amos Otis, Willie Wilson, Bob Dernier, John Mayberry, Jay Johnstone, Lee Smith, Fergie Jenkins and George Brett are a few of the players slated to sign autographs. The players also will participate in the Legends Game later in the day.
At 6 p.m., current players will compete in the all-star skills competition and Home Run Derby.
The legends game will follow at 7:30 p.m. After that game, music groups 39 and Dixie Road will play at the ballpark.