Monster All-Star Online Balloting closes unparalleled year

NEW YORK -- Fan voting for the 17 elected starters in the 79th All-Star Game, tobe played July 15 at Yankee Stadium, ended last night with the record-setting conclusion of theMonster 2008 All-Star Online Balloting Program on MLB.com, the official website of MajorLeague Baseball.

With the majority of the individual races going down to the wire undetermined, fans cast their finalvotes online at unprecedented rates, including more than 41 million votes in the final 24 hours ofonline balloting on Wednesday. That mark is 57% higher than the previous single-day record of 26million set on the final day of online balloting in 2005.

Overall during the online balloting program, 214.7 million votes from 16.5 million ballots were castat MLB.com and the 30 individual club sites, despite having seven fewer days in the voting cyclethan in 2007. These record figures each represent increases of nearly 40% over the previous marksfor total votes and ballots cast.

The 2008 American and National League All-Star Teams will be unveiled on Sunday, July 6 on the2008 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Chevy, which will be televised nationallyon TBS at 2 p.m. (EDT). MLB.com will provide the most comprehensive coverage of the All-StarTeams, including video and details of every player, immediately following the announcements.

Also after the conclusion of the show, fans will once again select the final player for each League's32-man roster via the Monster All-Star Final Vote exclusively online at MLB.com. Fans will alsobe able to cast votes via their mobile devices.

The Monster 2008 All-Star Final Vote will provide fans the opportunity to cast their votes from twolists of five players, one from each League, over a four-day period. National League All-Starmanager Clint Hurdle of the Colorado Rockies and American League All-Star manager TerryFrancona of the Boston Red Sox each will designate five players who will be the candidates for theMonster 2008 All-Star Final Vote. Balloting will continue until 5 p.m. (EDT) on Thursday, July 10.The winners will be announced exclusively on MLB.com shortly after the balloting closes.

"We're excited to be once again sponsoring All-Star fan balloting programs on MLB.com - it's agreat opportunity to reach a wide range of people who are highly engaged and inspired," said JoanBlackwood, Chief Marketing Officer, Monster. "Monster's mission is to help people to alignthemselves with their true passions, and the All-Star Game is a natural fit for our brand as it's acelebration of those whose passion and dedication have taken them to the top."