NEW YORK -- Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto and the New York Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher have been chosen by fans for the final roster spots for Tuesday's All-Star Game in Anaheim.
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Votto
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Swisher
<!--END INLINE MUG--><!-- end inline 2 -->Votto earned the 34th and final spot on the National League roster by beating out Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and Atlanta Braves closer Billy Wagner in a four-day Internet vote. San Diego Padres reliever Heath Bell was a candidate before being named as an injury replacement on the NL squad.
Swisher, who received support from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg among others, edged out Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis for the final AL spot in the closest race in the nine-year history of the vote. He won the voting with 9.8 million Internet votes.
"I felt like a politician the last four days," Swisher said. "You are up in the polls and you are down in the polls."
When Swisher found out he was on the team, he immediately called his father, one-time All-Star, Steve. Nick said his father told him he was proud of him.
"It is just an honor because you are just taking a select few from the best in the world," Nick said.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi will now have eight of his players on the AL All-Star team.
"I'm going to have a lot of guys I know very well," Girardi said.
Swisher was also competing against Chicago White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, Texas Rangers third baseman Michael Young and Minnesota Twins outfielder Delmon Young.
<!-- begin inline 1 -->
Votto
<!-- end inline 1 --> <!-- begin inline 2 --><!--INLINE MUG-->
Swisher
<!--END INLINE MUG--><!-- end inline 2 -->Votto earned the 34th and final spot on the National League roster by beating out Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and Atlanta Braves closer Billy Wagner in a four-day Internet vote. San Diego Padres reliever Heath Bell was a candidate before being named as an injury replacement on the NL squad.
Swisher, who received support from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg among others, edged out Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis for the final AL spot in the closest race in the nine-year history of the vote. He won the voting with 9.8 million Internet votes.
"I felt like a politician the last four days," Swisher said. "You are up in the polls and you are down in the polls."
When Swisher found out he was on the team, he immediately called his father, one-time All-Star, Steve. Nick said his father told him he was proud of him.
"It is just an honor because you are just taking a select few from the best in the world," Nick said.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi will now have eight of his players on the AL All-Star team.
"I'm going to have a lot of guys I know very well," Girardi said.
Swisher was also competing against Chicago White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, Texas Rangers third baseman Michael Young and Minnesota Twins outfielder Delmon Young.
