The Braves franchise has hosted four All-Star Games; the first being in 1936 when they were the Boston Bees. They hosted again in 1955 in Milwaukee and then in 1972 at the old Atlanta Stadium. Today, we'll be revisiting the most recent All-Star Game to be played in Atlanta: the 71st All-Star Game, which took place July 11, 2000 at Turner Field.
When NL president Len Coleman (back when the separate leagues had their own presidents) awarded the 2000 All-Star Game to the Braves, he had done so at the expense of the Marlins. He had originally awarded the honor to the Marlins in July of 1995, but in November 1998 Coleman changed course, preferring the game be played in newer ballparks and Turner Field was only in its second year of operation. The Marlins, however, were stationed at Pro Land Sun Joe Life Robbie Shark Player...Stadium(?), built in 1987.
A crowd of 51,323 packed the Ted. Bobby Cox, manager of the host Braves, just so happened to be the NL team manager. Yankees manager Joe Torre managed the AL squad. Hank Aaron delivered the ceremonial first pitch.
Five Braves were elected to the NL team: Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Andruw Jones, and Andres Galarraga. Chipper started at third base and hit second in the lineup; Galarraga was elected as a first base reserve but started when Mark McGwire declined to play. He hit sixth.
Both starters, AL starter David Wells and NL starter Randy Johnson, pitched scoreless innings of work. The game was scoreless in the third inning when Dodgers pitcher Kevin Brown walked in a run with two outs.
The only home run of the game tied the score in the home half of the third, and who should hit it but the hometown favorite Chipper Jones, taking White Sox pitcher James Baldwin the other way.
The AL broke the tie against Mets pitcher Al Leiter in the fourth inning when Derek Jeter singled to center with the bases loaded to score a pair with one out. Tom Glavine got his chance to represent the Braves with a perfect fifth inning, and Andruw Jones contributed that same inning with an RBI single against A's pitcher Jason Isringhausen to close the AL lead to one.
That's as close as they'd get, however. Padres closer Trevor Hoffman gave up three straight singles to start the ninth inning; a sacrifice fly and an error later, the AL boosted their lead to 6-2.
That big inning proved to be crucial as Yankees closer Mariano Rivera surrendered a run-scoring single to Steve Finley which would've tied the game. Final score: AL 6, NL 3. No home-field advantage in the World Series was on the line here; just a straight-up exhibition.
Chipper Jones had three hits including the home run; Derek Jeter also had three hits plus two RBI and was named MVP. Andres Galarraga had a single in two at-bats. Andruw's RBI single was his only hit.
Other former and future Braves who made an appearance: Jermaine Dye, Derek Lowe, Fred McGriff, Troy Glaus, and Tim Hudson on the AL team; Edgar Renteria, Bob Wickman, and Gary Sheffield on the NL team. Greg Maddux did not pitch in the game.
Here is the full game. Chipper's home run at-bat is at the 1:14:00 mark.