All-Star veterans highlight Cards on 2014 ballot

ST. LOUIS -- Six-time All-Star Matt Holliday and five-time All-Star Yadier Molina highlight the eight Cardinals listed on the 2014 All-Star ballot, which was released on Friday. The Midsummer Classic will be played at Target Field on Tuesday, July 15.

Five of the eight Cardinals on the ballot have been named to an All-Star team before. Matt Carpenter and Allen Craig were first-time participants last summer, though both have moved positions this year. Carpenter is now listed among third basemen, while Craig is included among the outfielders.

"It means a lot to be on the ballot," Craig said. "It's something that as a kid, I remember going to games and really looking forward to the All-Star ballot and seeing who's on there and putting in the guys I thought should be in the All-Star Game. To be a player and to see your name on it, to have the opportunity to go to the All-Star Game is really special. I got to go to my first All-Star Game last year and it was one of the greatest experiences I've had -- just being in the locker room with the guys."

Shortstop Jhonny Peralta, who is in the first year of a four-year contract with the Cardinals, is looking to add to his two previous All-Star nominations, both of which came for the American League team while with the Tigers. First baseman Matt Adams and second baseman Kolten Wong are on the ballot for the first time, and Peter Bourjos joins Craig and Holliday as the Cardinals' listed outfielders.

Bourjos, the team's Opening Day center fielder, is on the ballot over Jon Jay, who has been getting the bulk of starts in center recently. As of April 23, Bourjos had made 12 outfield starts to Jay's 11.

The Cardinals were represented by six players in last July's All-Star Game at Citi Field. They had two players -- Carlos Beltran and Molina -- in the starting lineup, and Molina led all National League players with his more than 6.8 million votes. He has been elected to each of the last five All-Star Games.

Any Cardinals named to the NL squad will have the added nuance of playing the game under their manager, Mike Matheny. For the first time in his career, Matheny gets the opportunity to manage in the All-Star Game because he led the Cardinals to the NL pennant in 2013. He never participated in an All-Star Game during his 13-year playing career.

"It's an honor, obviously. It's exciting to think about," Matheny said on Friday, of managing the All-Star Game. "The staff and I will be keeping a closer eye [on the league], realizing that's a great opportunity to influence hopefully the World Series home-field advantage. I know that's something we don't take lightly or for granted."

Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- online or on a mobile device -- using the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by Experian until Thursday, July 3, at 10:59 p.m. CT.

Fans may submit up to 25 online ballots, but they can also earn a one-time bonus of 10 additional online ballots. To access these additional online ballots, you must be logged into your MLB.com account when you submit any online ballot. If you do not have an MLB.com account, register on the site in accordance with the enrollment instructions for a free MLB.com account.
There is also the opportunity to punch ballots inside each MLB ballpark. In-stadium voting at Busch Stadium begins on May 12 and continues through June 16.

Fans this year once again can participate in the Home Run Derby Fan Poll. Fans will have the opportunity to select three players in each league who they would most like to see participate in the Home Run Derby. The 2014 Home Run Derby will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio in the United States beginning at 7 p.m. CT on Monday, July 14.

The 2014 American League and National League All-Star teams will be unveiled on the 2014 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show during the weekend of July 5-6, with further details to follow on MLB.com. Immediately following the announcement of the AL and NL All-Star rosters, fans can begin voting to select the final player for each league's 34-man roster via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Experian. Fans will cast their votes from a list of five players from each league over the balloting period.

And the voting doesn't end there. The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the voting for the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the Midsummer Classic, fans will vote exclusively online at MLB.com via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote Sponsored by Pepsi, and their voice will represent 20 percent of the overall vote that determines the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.

MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.

The 85th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.