This article contains information from the Associated Press
KUTZTOWN, Pa. (July 3, 2011) – Ryan Vogelsong added another chapter to his improbable story when he was named to the 2011 National League All-Star team. The former Kutztown University pitching standout is one of four San Francisco Giant pitchers named to the 82nd annual All-Star Game at Chase Field in Phoenix.
The game will be played on Tuesday, July 12 and televised by FOX Sports beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
In addition, Vogelsong is believed to be the first pitcher in the history of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) to participate in the annual mid-summer classic. Vogelsong's journey has been remarkable because he had been out of Major League Baseball for seven years. Vogelsong made his 2011 season debut on April 28 against Pittsburgh.
“Ryan is the reason why we tell kids to never give up on their dreams,” Kutztown University baseball coach Chris Blum said. “I thought it was a great story when he threw his first pitch in the majors after seven years and now he gets to throw a pitch on the grandest stage in baseball.”
A member of the Kutztown University Athletics Hall of Fame, Vogelsong, 33, has been spectacular during this season for the Giants since being called up from Triple-A Fresno to replace an injured Barry Zito. Vogelsong has posted a 6-1 record and a 2.13 earned run average in 12 starts. He had a streak of nine straight games in which he allowed two earned runs or fewer between May 8 and June 22.
Vogelsong was drafted by the Giants in 1998 after completing a stellar career for the Golden Bears. Since being traded from the Giants in 2001, Vogelsong has endured a long and winding road filled with twists. He worked his way back from Tommy John surgery in 2002, played in the Pirates, Phillies and Angels' organizations, and found employment with the Hanshin Tigers and Orix Buffaloes of the Japanese League. Now, he's a major league all-star and pitching at a championship level.
“When I told Ryan it was an emotional time,” Giant manager Bruce Bochy told the San Francisco Chronicle Sunday afternoon. “There are special moments in this game. This is one of the best. He's deserving. I know he's only had 12 starts, but he's seven innings away from qualifying for the ERA lead. He gave us a shot in the arm. He helped save us. He's a big reason we're in first place. No. 2, he's a great story, the perseverance he's shown in this game, being in Japan for five years, the minor-leagues, and the rollercoaster he's been on.”
Vogelsong was pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies' Triple-A Lehigh Valley affiliate but was released July 16 after posting a 2-5 record with a 4.91 ERA in 25 appearances. He was invited to Giants' Spring Training this year and was impressive.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 33-year-old Vogelsong is only the second player to be out of the Major Leagues for four full seasons and be selected to the All-Star team in his first season back. The other was Boston Red Sox left-hander Mickey Harris, who returned from World War II to make the 1946 AL All-Star squad.
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It's obviously a dream for everyone who plays this game to make an All-Star team,” Vogelsong said Sunday after allowing three runs (two earned) and four hits in 6 2/3 innings and receiving no decision as the Giants lost to Detroit, 6-3. “Before, in my career, that's never, ever been an opportunity or even a thought. To have it happen is dreamlike, just like everything that's happened to me this season so far. I was sitting at home wondering if I would ever get a chance to play again. To be an All-Star now is really special.”
AS A KUTZTOWN GOLDEN BEAR: Vogelsongwas a stellar pitcher and third baseman for the Kutztown University baseball team from 1996-98. Vogelsong finished his career with nine school records, including earned-run average in a season (1.41 in 1998) and career (2.87); wins in a season (nine in 1997 and 1998) and career (24); strikeouts in a season (109 in 1998) and career (242); innings pitched in a season (89.2 in 1998) and career (210.1) and complete games in a season (9 in 1998). Vogelsong emerged onto the scene as one of the top pitchers in Division II as a sophomore in 1997. That year, he tied KU's single-season record for wins with nine, while helping the team to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division title. Vogelsong earned first-team All-PSAC East honors. The following year, Vogelsong dominated PSAC hitters en route to a KU record and NCAA Division II leading 1.41 earned run average. He won nine games and struck out a school record 109 batters. That year, Vogelsong was a second-team All-American, North Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Year, PSAC East Player of the Year, first-team All-Region and all-PSAC East and the KU Male Athlete of the Year. In addition, Vogelsong was a career .304 hitter as a third baseman, finishing in KU's top five all time with 73 runs batted in.
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