Yanks sport Gardy's look before All-Star nod
NEW YORK -- Brett Gardner wasn't interested in an over-the-top campaign to secure a spot in next week's All-Star Game presented by T-Mobile, but his Yankees teammates actively pushed fans to send the outfielder to the event in Cincinnati before it was announced on Thursday that the outfielder had made the American League's roster as an injury replacement for Kansas City's Alex Gordon.
The Yankees clubhouse was filled with flesh-colored rubber caps on Wednesday afternoon, a not-so-subtle nod to Gardner's follically challenged appearance, with teammates like Dellin Betances, Ivan Nova, Masahiro Tanaka and Adam Warren all trying them on for size.
"A lot of the guys are putting them on," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Some of the guys, I'm not sure why they're putting them on, because they don't need to. I'll try to get to the bottom of that."
At the time he was named an All-Star, Gardner was in fourth place among American Leaguers in the Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote Final Vote, according to results announced by Major League Baseball. The Royals' Mike Moustakas, the Twins' Brian Dozier and the Tigers' Yoenis Cespedes were ahead of Gardner, who was trailed by the Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts.
Video: OAK@NYY: Gardner chosen to play in All-Star Game
"To be recognized along with some of the best players in the game, it's exciting," Gardner said. "I'm just honored to be mentioned alongside them."
Gardner, 31, entered Wednesday batting .296 with nine homers, 39 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 77 games. Gardner's 61 runs scored ranked fourth in the Majors, and he was tied for fifth in the AL with 21 doubles. His .373 on-base percentage was ninth in the AL.
"He's very deserving," Betances said. "Obviously, the numbers speak for themselves. I thought he would have gotten the call and not been in the Final Vote. With him being there, we've got to get him in somehow. I'm voting myself."
The #VoteGardy hashtag was painted into the dirt behind home plate on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, and Gardner even started to pick up a little help from the communications department at his alma mater, the College of Charleston (S.C.), which urged students to vote for the former Cougars walk-on.
Among the other ideas that Yankees director of media relations Jason Zillo presented to Gardner was a trip to the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, where Gardner could have hammed for the cameras while presenting his case to other "gardeners."
Alas, Gardner said that he had no interest in politicking, so the field trip was scrapped. He would prefer to let his numbers do the talking.
"That's just not me; that's not my personality," Gardner said. "It's not necessarily the approach I take. I know Jason and his staff and everybody with the Yankees is going to work hard to get the message out there and try to get me some votes."
:: All-Star Game on Fox: July 14, 7 ET air time | 8:15 game time ::
Voting is open now at MLB.com to select the final player for each League's 34-man roster via the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote. Fans can cast their votes from a list of five players from each League until 4 p.m. ET on Friday.
During the All-Star Game presented by T-Mobile in Cincinnati on Tuesday, fans can once again visit MLB.com to submit their choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. Voting exclusively at MLB.com, online and via their mobile devices in the 2015 All-Star Game MVP Vote presented by Chevrolet, the fans' collective voice will represent 20 percent of the overall vote that determines the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.
MLB.TV Premium subscribers will be able to live stream the All-Star Game via MLB.TV through FOX's participating video providers. Access will be available across more than 400 supported MLB.TV platforms, including the award-winning MLB.com At Bat app. MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities, including the 2015 Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders, part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day on Monday. The Derby will feature a new format with brackets and timed rounds and will be broadcast live by ESPN and MLB.com beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
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