Mets icons Mookie Wilson, Edgardo Alfonzo to manage SiriusXM All-Star Futures teams
Former New York Mets outfielder Mookie Wilson, a member of the 1986 World Championship team, will lead the U.S. Team and former All-Star Edgardo Alfonzo, a member of the 2000 National League Championship squad, will manage the World Team in the 2013 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on Sunday, July 14th at Citi Field in New York.
The SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, which is now in its 15th year, features the top Minor League prospects competing in a nine-inning contest as part of Taco Bell All-Star Sunday. The U.S. Team leads the all-time series, 8-6. The game will begin at 2:00 p.m. (EDT) and can be viewed live on ESPN2, ESPN2 HD and MLB.com.
SiriusXM, the Official Satellite Radio Partner of Major League Baseball, will provide live play-by-play coverage of the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on MLB Network Radio (XM channel 89; Sirius channel 209) in addition to SiriusXM’s other comprehensive live coverage from New York. The game will also be available to SiriusXM subscribers on the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for smart phones and mobile devices and online at SiriusXM.com. Taco Bell All-Star Sunday is the first of three days of All-Star events at Citi Field, culminating with the 84th All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 16th.
Wilson, who was a Mets outfielder from 1980-89, ranks among the Club’s all-time leaders in stolen bases (2nd, 281), triples (2nd, 62), runs (6th, 592), hits (6th, 1,112), at-bats (6th, 4,027), games (7th, 1,116), total bases (9th, 1,586) and extra-base hits (10th, 292). The South Carolina native is best remembered for his memorable at-bat in the 10th inning of Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, when his ground ball trickled past Boston Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner, allowing Ray Knight to score the winning run and force a Game 7, which the Mets would win. Mookie, who was drafted by the Mets in the second round of the 1977 Draft, ended his 12-year playing career following three seasons (1989-91) with the Toronto Blue Jays. In 1,403 career games, Mookie hit .274 with 1,397 hits, 227 doubles, 71 triples, 67 home runs, 438 RBI, 731 runs scored and 327 stolen bases. The Spartanburg Junior College product returned to the Mets organization in 1993 as a member of the Community Outreach Department and roving Minor League instructor before becoming the Club’s first base coach from 1997-2002. Wilson, who also served as the first base coach in 2011, managed in the Mets Minor League system from 2003-05. Mookie was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame in 1996 and he is currently in his second season as a Club Ambassador.
Alfonzo played 12 seasons as an infielder in the Majors for the Mets (1995-2002), San Francisco Giants (2003-05), Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2006) and Blue Jays (2006). In 1,506 career games, “Fonzie” recorded 1,532 hits, 282 doubles, 146 home runs, 744 RBI and 777 runs scored with a .284 lifetime batting average. Alfonzo, who was originally signed by the Mets as an undrafted free agent in 1991, won the N.L. Silver Slugger Award at second base in 1999 and finished eighth in league MVP voting. He followed in 2000 with a career-best .324 batting average along with 25 home runs, 40 doubles and 94 RBI as he made his lone All-Star appearance. The Venezuela native ranks among franchise leaders in hits (5th, 1,136), runs (5th, 614), doubles (5th, 212), RBI (7th, 538) and home runs (9th, 120). He is currently in his first year as a Club Ambassador for the Mets.
Rosters for the 2013 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game will be announced tomorrow afternoon. Coaches for the U.S. and World Team are as follows:
U.S. Team Coaches
Brad Holman Pitching Coach, Round Rock Express Texas Rangers Texas League / AA
Howard Johnson Hitting Coach, Tacoma Rainiers Seattle Mariners Pacific Coast League / AAA
Keith Bodie Manager, Corpus Christi Hooks Houston Astros Texas League / AA
Chris Cron Manager, Erie SeaWolves Detroit Tigers Eastern League / AA
Andy Green Manager, Mobile BayBears Arizona Diamondbacks Southern League / AA
Dean Treanor Manager, Indianapolis Indians Pittsburgh Pirates International League / AAA
Carl Randolph Minor League Athletic Training Coordinator Pittsburgh Pirates
World Team Coaches
Neil Allen Pitching Coach, Durham Bulls Tampa Bay Rays International League / AAA
Jacque Jones Hitting Coach, San Antonio Missions San Diego Padres Texas League / AA
Pedro Lopez Manager, Binghamton Mets New York Mets Eastern League / AA
Charlie Montoyo Manager, Durham Bulls Tampa Bay Rays International League / AAA
Steve Scarsone Manager, Sacramento River Cats Oakland Athletics Pacific Coast League / AAA
Julio Vinas Manager, Birmingham Barons Chicago White Sox Southern League / AA
Mike Herbst Minor League Medical Coordinator New York Mets
The Minor League Baseball Umpires who will work the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game are Pat Hoberg (home plate) of the Pacific Coast League, Gabe Morales (first base) of the International League, Ryan Goodman (second base) of the Southern League and Nic Lentz (third base) of the Eastern League.
Tickets are still available for purchase for the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game and Taco Bell All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game by visiting www.allstargame.com, calling 1-888-326-3378 or visiting the Mets box office at Citi Field.
The 2013 All-Star Game will be played at Citi Field on Tuesday, July 16th. The 84th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International’s independent feed. Pregame ceremonies will begin at 7:30 p.m. (EDT). ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com or mets.com/asg.