Michael Bourn will take the field for tonight's All-Star Game representing the city where he was born and raised. That's a unique honor for a player, especially one who plays for the Astros. How rare is it?
↵Only twice before has a player who grew up in Houston become an All-Star for the Astros. One of those, Nolan Ryan, could even be disqualified, since he was born in Refugio. Still, he's known as the Alvin Express, so we'll leave him in here.
↵The only other position player besides Bourn to make it was Craig Reynolds, who was also the first Astro to represent his hometown at the ASG. Reynolds was an All-Star in 1978 and '79, but didn't join the Astros until the '79 season. He was also selected more for his defense than his bat. In fact, Reynolds shares that in common with Bourn, as his season total for 1979 was one of the lowest for an Astros All-Star (.265/.292/.333). Reynolds went on to play 11 seasons with the Astros, never hitting much better than that '79 season. In that, Reynolds actually had a longer career with the Astros than another all-defense shortstop in Adam Everett.
↵Another way Reynolds and Bourn are linked is that both ASGs they made were/are West Coast games. In 1979, the game was held in Seattle's Kingdome, while this year's will be in Anaheim. Reynolds entered the game in the bottom of the sixth inning and went 0 for 2 the rest of the way, grounding out to third and popping up in foul territory to third base against Rangers' reliever Jim Kern. Reynolds did record an assist in the field and ironically, Kern took the loss for the American League.
↵You read that correctly. Apparently, in days gone by, the AL actually could lose the ASG. I know, I know, I was shocked too.
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