Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Derek Jeter made history in the 71st All-Star Game on July 11, 2000, at Turner Field in Atlanta.
Jeter, who was filling in for the injured Alex Rodriguez as the American League's starting shortstop, went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored to become the first New York Yankee ever named the Most Valuable Player of an All-Star Game.
The American League's 6-3 win was its fourth straight in the series. The biggest news of the 2000 All-Star Game had more to do with where it was played and who didn't play.
The game was originally scheduled to be played in at Pro Player Park in Miami, Fla., but Major League Baseball changed the venue in November of 1998 because of the way ownership dismantled the Marlins franchise in 1997 after their World Series victory.
As for the rosters, seven players who had been voted into the starting lineups for the two teams didn't play due to injuries.
New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza, St. Louis first baseman Mark McGwire and outfielders Ken Griffey Jr. of Cincinnati and Barry Bonds of San Francisco were missing from the National League lineup. Seattle shortstop Rodriguez, Baltimore third baseman Cal Ripken Jr. and Cleveland outfielder Manny Ramirez were sidelined American League starters.
After scoreless innings by starting pitcher Randy Johnson of Arizona and Danny Graves of Cincinnati, the American League took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third against Kevin Brown of the Dodgers, who issued three walks in the inning including a bases-loaded pass to Boston left fielder Carl Everett.
The National League tied the game in the bottom of the third on a two-out home run by Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones off James Baldwin of the Chicago White Sox. Jones became the 13th player in All-Star Game history to homer in his home ballpark.
Although Baldwin gave up a run -- after American League starter David Wells of Toronto worked two scoreless innings - he became the winning pitcher when the American League scored twice in the top of the fourth onJeter's two-run single off losing pitcher Al Leiter of the New York Mets.
A walk drawn by Kansas City right fielder Jermaine Dye, a single by Cleveland third baseman Travis Fryman and a fielding error by National League shortstop Barry Larkin of Cincinnati loaded the bases with one out for Jeter, who lined a single to center.
The National League cut the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth. Dodgers left fielder Gary Sheffield drew a lead-off walk from Oakland's Jason Isringhausen, moved to second on a one-out single by Chipper Jones and scored on a single by center fielder Andruw Jones of Altanta.
The game remained 3-2 until the top of the ninth when the American League scored three runs off Trevor Hoffman, the Padres' lone representative in the game.
White Sox second baseman Ray Durham, Boston shortstop Normar Garciaparra and Minnesota center fielder Matt Lawton opened with consecutive singles to make it 4-2. Lawton, whose hit scored Durham, stole second to put runners at second and third with no one out.
Garciaparra scored on a sacrifice fly by White Sox right fielder Magglio Ordonez with Lawton moving to third. Lawton scored on a fielding error by Montreal second baseman Jose Vidro.
A RBI single by Arizona's Steve Finley gave the National League an unearned run off Yankees' closer Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the ninth.
Jeter and Chipper Jones each had three hits as the only players with more than one hit in the game.
Sammy Sosa won the Home Run Derby on the eve of the All-Star Game.