All-Star Day at a Glance Out with old, in with new: Futures take place of Legends Click here for more on this story Posted: Sunday July 11, 1999 09:46 PM   The inaugural Futures Game featured a team of United States prospects taking on prospects from around the World. AP By Bryan Boyle, CNN/SI BOSTON --- The All-Star Game is the talk of the town, spoken in accents thick as the chowder named after this region. To turn at any angle from Logan Airport to Fenway Park without seeing an All-Star banner, an All-Star T-shirt, an All-Star cap -- an All-Star, for that matter -- is a challenge. Sunday's events at Fenway Park, which is likely entertaining its last All-Star Game before abdicating to a new Fenway scheduled to open right across the street in 2003, began with Futures taking batting practice. Futures? At previous All-Star Games, fans were treated to Old-Timer Games, which subtly suggested that the game might never be as good as it once was. But the inaugural All-Star Futures Game threw down Sunday, projecting that -- like at graduations -- the future is in the hands of the youngsters. Let's celebrate it. Fans were exposed to not necessarily the minor league prospects having the best years, as they might be in a minor league all-star game. Instead, the seven-inning contest featured the minors' hottest prospects to make for one sneak preview after another. "I saw him pitch when he was just 19," half the fans can't wait to boast. Rick Ankiel is one such prospect. Tabbed "the best pitching prospect in baseball" by Sports Illustrated last month, a multitude of fans witnessed what the fans at Class AAA Memphis and the Cardinals' organization have known for some time. Ankiel, who turns 20 next week, started for the U.S. team, going one inning with a hit, a strikeout, a walk and thousands of people wondering when that nasty curveball of his will be called upon by St. Louis general manager Walt Jocketty. The World team won 7-0 on two homers and five RBIs from Yankees prospect Alfonso Soriano, a 21-year-old shortstop at Class AA Norwich. Prior to the game, fans were treated to an All-Star Celebrity Hitting Challenge. Four teams of three -- one All-Star celebrity, one former All-Star and one Red Sox legend -- took their cuts. The trio of local boy Matt Damon ("Good Will Hunting"), Steve Garvey and Jim Rice, who knocked a homer over the Green Monster, the screen and out of the yard, took the title. Check back Monday afternoon for the inside skinny. Come Monday The fourth day of the All-Star FanFest starts early again, kicking off a full day of All-Star events that culminate in the ballyhooed Home Run Derby at 8 p.m. ET at Fenway Park. Last year, Mark McGwire hit the longest homer of the contest at Coors Field. But it was last-moment entrant Ken Griffey Jr. who stole the show and the crown. Last hacks The All-Star rosters also take their first -- and perhaps their last -- hacks at Fenway Park on Monday in early evening batting practices. If the Save Fenway Park! preservationists don't get their way, a new Fenway Park opens in 2003. Fenway Flavor All-Star Footlong Dog at Fenway Park is $4 ($3.80 plus 20 cents tax). It comes with onions, peppers, diced tomatoes and giardineira. Fenway Fun The monitors in the concourses throughout Fenway Park on Sunday broadcast the Red Sox-Braves game from Turner Field. Fenway Fact Fenway Park opened in 1912. The story was pushed off the front pages of Boston newspapers when news came of the Titanic sinking. All-Star Line Alfonso Soriano, Class AA Norwich, went 2-for-3 with two homers, two runs, five RBIs vs. U.S. Futures. Quotable "Any fan who in any way or manner interferes directly with the enjoyment of the game by another fan will be ejected from the ball park and subject to arrest." --Sign outside men's restroom Luis "El Tiante" Tiant threw out the ceremonial first pitch Sunday at the Futures game. He did not disappoint, spinning wildly on the mound in old form, then throwing wildly true to form. Actor Matt Damon used an aluminum bat during the All-Star Celebrity Hitting Challenge. Doink! A collection of the hottest U.S. minor league prospects could not score a run Sunday against their international opponents. The weather. On the masthead of The Boston Globe, the weather forecast read simply: Afternoon Delight -- sun, 80   Related information Multimedia Click here for the latest audio and video Search our site Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.

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