With double-dip of the XM All-Star Futures Game, which has 50 of the game's top up-and-coming prospects, and Taco Bell All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game, pitting a list filled with some of the game's greatest players from a loaded with luminaries from the entertainment world, it is a day to remember.
11. annual XM All-Star Futures Game, pitting the best Minor League prospects from the United States against the best from the rest of the world, will be held at Busch Stadium at 2 pm ET / 1 CT. MLB.com offers full coverage before, during and after the game, which can be seen live on MLB.TV, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD, and followed live on Gameday.
The game has often been the first time in the national focus on the players who have gone on stardom. These actors include Alfonso Soriano, the MVP of the inaugural games in 1999, Josh Hamilton (2000), Adam Dunn (2001), José Reyes (2002), Zack Greinke (2003), Prince Field (2004), Hanley Ramirez (2005) , Ryan Braun (2006) and Evan Longoria (2007).
And not let the word "futures" trick you into thinking that the game participants have a long ways away.
Last year's game at Yankee Stadium Featured such names as the current giants swallow Pablo Sandoval and Colorado Rockies center field Dexter Fowler, both of them were in the big leagues to stay only a few weeks later.
Among the other 2008 players to make their name in the shop now: Texas short stop Elvis Andrus, Arizona outfield Gerardo Parra, Pittsburgh outfield Andrew McCutchen and Oakland starters Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill.
This year's Futures team includes a dozen past the first round of elections, including six from the 2008 Draft. Three of them are Pirates third base prospect Pedro Alvarez (No. 2 overall), left hand Orioles Brian Matusz (No. 4) and Houston Catcher Jason Castro (No. 10).
It is also well-known name thanks to some good blood lines, for example, a trio from the USA Team in second baseman Eric Young Jr. of Colorado, son of a retired 18-year veteran Eric Young; Phil Lies right Kyle Drábek as father Doug taken a CY Young Award for his own and Oakland infielder Jemil weeks, the club's first-round pick last summer out of Miami as a younger brother of Milwaukee infielder Rickie Weeks.
And of course, no name in this competition is more famous than the game's leaders, U.S. Team skipper Ozzie Smith and his World Team counterpart sector Jose Oquendo.
Smith, who was inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002, is no stranger to the All-Star festivities, has been appointed to the NL team 15 times. But to come to take the helm of the team in front of his home fans in St. Louis will be extra special for Smith.
A 13-time Gold Glove recipient, Smith posted a, 262 career average and stole 580 bases over 19 Major League seasons before his name went to the end of 1996. He helped lead Cards four post season leather, including the 1982 World Series title.
Oquendo, the host computer cardinals third base coach, is in his 10 season with the St. Louis organization after a 17-year playing career. He was also head of the Puerto Rico World Baseball Classic team in 2006 and 2009.
This year's Futures Game game will be a nine-Inning incident only the third time in its 11 years that it will go beyond a pre-planned seven. If you are required to score after 10, the game would be a draw.
There is no clock in baseball, but Sunday afternoon, the plan has a lot more on the slate.
After the Futures Game concludes fans at Busch Stadium will be treated to fun-filled softball game scheduled to begin at 4:30 CT.
Smith will only have to act in a uniform on top of another, which he experienced five other Hall of Famers and other former stars of the All-Star Legends team.
Earlier cardinals closer Bruce Sutter will join Smith as a hometown hero and Hall of famer for the Legends team, and will also be a result of Hall of Fame stars Dave Winfield, Ernie Banks, Rollie Fingers and Goose Gossage.
St. Louis fans will also be able to cheer for former favorites that closer Lee Smith, Vince Coleman and the outfield manager Whitey Herzog, along with legendary veterans Tommy John and Fred Lynn.
The Celebrity group that will be turned against them will have a decidedly St. Louis feel among several stars who grew up in and around the city.
Among this group are rapper Nelly, hip-hop artist Chingy, and NASCAR driver Carl Edwards, who graduated from the University of Missouri.
A trio of prime-time TV stars will also make their All-Star debut in their own home towns: Jenna Fischer who plays Pam Beesly on "Office", Jon Hamm, who has received multiple award nominations as advertising executive Don Draper on " Mad Men "and Annie Wersching who plays FBI agent Renee Walker on" 24 ", all from St. Louis.
Olympic gold-medal-winning gymnast Shawn Johnson, who is also defending champion of ABC's "Dancing with the stars" to compete, then such luminaries as recording stars Ashanti and Ginuwine "Desperate housewives" star James Denton; film starred Billy Bob Thornton, Backstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell, Hall of Fame basketball coach and ESPN college basketball analyst Bob Knight and Andy Richter of NBC's "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. Emceeing the negotiations will be duo Mike Golic and Mike Green Berg, the famous" Mike and Mike "duo ESPN Radio.
The Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game will be broadcast in HD with ESPN after the State Farm Home Run Derby Monday at about 10:30 ET.
Tickets for Taco Bell All-Star Sunday can be purchased online at www.allstargame.com, all 30 MLB Club sites through Ticket Master at 1-888-FanFest, and Busch Stadium ticket office.
