Although he was voted into the starting lineup for the 12th and final time, Tony Gwynn was injured and didn't play in the 1999 All-Star Game at Fenway Park in Boston.
But he later remembered the trip as one of his greatest experiences.
Gwynn, who first befriended Boston legend and San Diego native Ted Williams during the 1992 All-Star Game in San Diego, was reunited with Williams during ceremonies before the 70th All-Star Game.
During the pregame ceremonies, Gwynn escorted the wheelchair-bound Williams onto the field. Gwynn and other players stood alongside Williams and other greats during a series of introductions that drew ovations from the 34,187 in attendance.
Williams threw the ceremonial first pitch.
"I got goosebumps," Gwynn said later. "What you heard was love and respect for Ted Williams, one of the all-time greats. It showed what he meant to Boston and baseball. It was an incredible moment. It meant a lot to everyone who was there. Not much got to Ted, but that did, and I was honored to be there to be a part of it."
The game itself resulted in a 4-1 American League victory -- the third straight in a series that was again tipping toward the Junior Circuit.
And the Most Valuable Player turned out to be another Boston star, right-hander Pedro Martinez, who struck out the side in the first, finished with five strikeouts in two innings and became the first American League pitcher to win the game in his home ballpark.
Arizona third baseman Matt Williams was the only National League hitter to reach base against Martinez on a one-out error by Cleveland second baseman Roberto Alomar. Williams was eliminated on a strikeout/throw-out double play.
Meanwhile, the American League scored twice in the bottom of the first against Philadelphia's Curt Schilling.
Indians left fielder Kenny Lofton opened the game with a single and stole second with two out ahead of a walk to right fielder and Cleveland teammate Manny Ramirez. First baseman Jim Thome, the third Cleveland player in the American League starting lineup, drove in Lofton with a single. Baltimore third baseman Cal Ripken Jr. then singled home Ramirez.
The National League halved the deficit in the top of the third. Milwaukee left fielder Jeromy Burnitz doubled off the Yankees' David Cone and scored on a two-out single by Cincinnati shortstop Barry Larkin.
The American League's other two runs came in the bottom of the fourth against Cardinals pitcher Kent Bottenfield, who walked Thome then hit Ripken to open the inning. Designated hitter Rafael Palmiero singled home Thome, and Ripken scored on a one-out error by Williams on a grounder hit by Alomar.
The National League was managed by Bruce Bochy, whose Padres won the 1998 National League pennant. Padres pitchers Andy Ashby and Trevor Hoffman joined Gwynn on the National League team. Each retired the only hitter they faced, Hoffman getting a strikeout.
After Cone worked two innings, five American League pitchers each worked a scoreless inning. The American League had seven of the game's 13 hits -- with no player in the game having more than one hit.