[audio:http://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/kempleallstar.mp3|titles= Delaware Public Media's Tom Byrne interviews Blue Rocks GM Chris Kemple about All-Star game festvities.]
The stars will be out at Wilmington’s Frawley Stadium this coming week when the Blue Rocks host the 2014 Carolina/California League All-Star game.
The game, featuring top single-A prospects from both leagues, is Tuesday, but the festivities begin Monday. For the first time in the event’s 17 year-history, the all-star hitting challenge and home run derby will held the day before the game.
Rocks’ General Manger Chris Kemple says the club is trying to give fan their monies’ worth by flipping the field at Frawley Stadium for one night to make a more home run friendly.
“In 2002 when we hosted this same event, we had a home run derby and the winner I think hit two home runs. So, it was really uneventful," said Kemple. "In our attempt to make things exciting we thought let’s just put them in centerfield that way we can vary where we want to put home plate. We can move in if we have to, but we’re going to find a spot out there where it’s still challenging but you’re going to have a fair amount of home runs hit."
And Kemple adds those home runs will go into the stands for fans to catch, rather than over the wall and into the stadium parking lot.
Tickets for Monday’s All-Star hitting challenge are still available with half of the $8 price tag being donated to local Boys and Girls Clubs.
Tickets are also available for Tuesday night’s All-Star game, which will feature the retirement of former major league star and former Blue Rock Johnny Damon’s number 18 beforehand.
Kemple admits there’s no specific criteria for retiring a former player’s number, but it felt right to make Damon only the second modern Blue Rock to be so honored.
“We don’t have a system set in place," said Kemple. "We had retired Mike Sweeney’s number a number of years ago and we had thought probably the most logical person next in line to have his number retired would be Johnny Damon just based on his popularity, what he did at the major league level and what he did here as a Blue Rock.”
Damon hit .316 with 25 doubles, 13 triples and 75 RBI as a Blue Rocks in 1994, helping the team to its first Carolina League title. He went on to play 18 years in the major leagues, winning World Series title with Boston in 2004 and the Yankees in 2009.
Mike Sweeney, the only other modern Blue Rock to have his number retired, and Royals' Hall of Famer George Brett are scheduled to take part in the ceremony retiring Damon's number.
Tuesday night's Carolina/California League All-Star game is a 7:05 start. Monday night's All-Star hitting challenge gets underway at 5:05pm.
