All-Star Appearance Was Special for Aaron

The last time the All-Star game was played in Milwaukee, in 1975, it was also the 24th and last appearance of Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, whose career began in Milwaukee with the Braves. In his final game, he represented the Milwaukee Brewers and lined out as a pinch-hitter.

“I was just a shell of myself,” he said. “But I still considered it an honor to have played my last game in Milwaukee.”

It was his only appearance as an American League player. In his 23 All-Star games as a Milwaukee/Atlanta Brave, Aaron batted .179 with two home runs in 67 at-bats.

Trivia time: Who is baseball’s only most valuable player who never played in an All-Star game?

Home, sweet home: Jarrod Washburn, the Angels’ 9-2 southpaw, is in Wisconsin but not for the All-Star game. He took the red-eye home to tiny Danbury in the northwestern part of the state but will be back with the team to pitch in Thursday night’s game in Kansas City.

He told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he was disappointed that Garret Anderson was the only Angel selected for tonight’s game.

“I don’t think it was right that we only got one guy picked, with as well as we’ve played and as many guys as we have doing well,” he said.

Mr. Everything: When Cincinnati outfielder Adam Dunn was told that he would be the youngest player in the All-Star game, at 21 years 8 months, and the biggest, at 6 feet 6 and 245 pounds, he grinned and replied, “And, I’m the best looking, and the smartest.”

Arnie’s advice: Senior tour pros are permitted to ride in carts, but Arnold Palmer vehemently opposes the practice.

“When you start complaining about the heat and humidity, the hell with that,” he told USA Today. “Just go home, sit in front of the TV and have a beer.”

Another opinion: Then there is comedian Joe E. Lewis, who when asked how he played golf, said, “I play in the low 80s. If it’s any hotter than that, I won’t play.”

Talking the talk: Rick Nash may be only 18, but the first pick in the NHL draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets is not short on confidence. When asked to describe his strengths, the left wing from the Ontario Hockey League said, “Go in the corners, dig the puck out, forechecking, can score in front of the net, a good talent, and still comes back in our own end and plays a defensive role too. I think I bring an all-around game, a Brendan Shanahan type.”

Seen in Cincinnati: A fan carrying a sign in Cinergy Field that read: “4 Reds Tickets $30, 4 Sodas $10, 4 Hot Dogs $15, Ken Griffey Jr., worthless.”

Fair warning: “Clip and save,” said Blackie Sherrod of the Dallas News. “Your grandson will see the day of the 8-foot center in the NBA.”

Trivia answer: Former Dodger Kirk Gibson, the National League MVP in 1988.

And finally: After Brazil had won the World Cup over Germany, all of CART’s Brazilian drivers cut their hair to match the style of soccer star Ronaldo, but Rubens Barrichello, their countryman in Formula One, decided against it.

“I couldn’t risk it,” the Ferrari driver said. “The way my hair is thinning, I was afraid it wouldn’t grow anymore.”