Cubs entire infield to start in 2016 All-Star game |
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today had seven players named to the National League All-Star team, the second-most in franchise history trailing only the eight Cubs named in 2008.
First baseman Anthony Rizzo, second baseman Ben Zobrist, shortstop Addison Russell, third baseman Kris Bryant and outfielder Dexter Fowler were all voted by fans to start the 87th Major League All-Star Game Tuesday, July 12 at San Diego’s Petco Park. Right-handed pitcher Jake Arrieta was named to the All-Star team through the player vote while left-handed pitcher Jon Lester was named to the club by manager Terry Collins. The Cubs are just the second team in major league history to field the starting infield, joining the 1963 St. Louis Cardinals (1B Bill White, 2B Julian Javier, SS Dick Groat, 3B Ken Boyer). The Cubs have never had five players named to start the All-Star Game and are the first team to do so since the 1985 San Diego Padres. Chicago’s five position players are its most since also having five in 1988 (Andre Dawson, Shawon Dunston, Vance Law, Rafael Palmeiro and Ryne Sandberg). Rizzo became the first Cub to lead the National League in fan voting since Derrek Lee in 2005. A three-time All-Star (2014, 2015 and 2016), Rizzo is the only first baseman in franchise history to be named to three-straight All-Star teams. He is only the fourth Cubs first baseman with three or more appearances, joining Ernie Banks (five All-Star Games as a first baseman), Mark Grace (three times) and Phil Cavarretta (three times). Rizzo is the first Cubs player to start at first base since Derrek Lee in 2005, as Rizzo was the starting designated hitter a year ago. Zobrist has been named to his third-career All-Star team, joining his selections to the A.L. squad in 2009 and 2013. He is the first Cubs second baseman to be named to the squad since Ryne Sandberg started the game in 1993 and the fourth Cubs second baseman to be named to the club in the last 50 years, joining Sandberg, Manny Trillo and Glenn Beckert. Russell has been named to his first All-Star team and is the first Cubs shortstop to start the game since Don Kessinger in 1972. At 22-years-old, he is the youngest player in franchise history elected to start the game and second youngest All-Star overall, trailing only shortstop Starlin Castro who was named as a 21-year-old reserve in 2011. Russell is only the fourth Cubs shortstop named to the All-Star team in the last 50 seasons and the seventh overall. Bryant earns his second All-Star honor in his second season, becoming the first Cubs third baseman to start the game since Aramis Ramirez in 2005. He is the first Cubs third baseman to earn All-Star honors in consecutive seasons since Ron Santo (1971-73) and the fifth Cubs third baseman to earn multiple All-Star honors, joining Aramis Ramirez (twice), Ron Santo (nine times), Randy Jackson (twice) and Stan Hack (four times). Fowler has earned his first-career All-Star honor and is the first Cubs outfielder elected to start the game since Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome in 2008. Fowler is the first Cubs center fielder named to start the game since Frank Demaree in 1937. He is the first Cubs outfielder overall named to the game since Marlon Byrd in 2010. On the pitching side, Arrieta has earned his first-career All-Star honor and is the first Cubs right-handed starter to make the game since Jeff Samardzija in 2014. Lester has been named an All-Star for the fourth time in his career, first time as a Cub, as he previously earned American League honors in 2010, 2011 and 2014. He is the first Cubs left-handed starter to make the club since Travis Wood in 2013. The last Cubs lefty to pitch in the game was Randy Myers in 1995. The Cubs have not had multiple pitchers make the game in the same season since four pitchers in 2008, when Carlos Zambrano, Carlos Marmol and Ryan Dempster all pitched in the game (Kerry Wood did not appear). .@ARizzo44 led all NL players in voting en route to starting at 1B for his third career @AllStarGame! #LetsGo pic.twitter.com/ir3kd164rg
.@benzobrist18 starts at 2B for his third career @AllStarGame! #LetsGo pic.twitter.com/KSychFg2bW
#ASG first-timer @Addison_Russell is headed to San Diego as the starter at SS! #LetsGo pic.twitter.com/FrHyjc9JU2
.@KrisBryant_23 starts at 3B for his second career @AllStarGame! #LetsGo pic.twitter.com/FR4KEu8w5M
Wow! Can't thank you all enough for helping me become a 3x All-Star and the highest voted NL player. What a dream come true! Thank you!
Only thing that makes this better is sharing it with @benzobrist18, @DexterFowler, @JArrieta34, @KrisBryant_23, @Addison_Russell, @JLester34
Now let's get that Home Field advantage. #AllStarGame
