Texas third baseman Hank Blalock, the hero of the 74th All-Star Game, had McDonald's for lunch Wednesday at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago.
As he stood unobtrusively in line wearing jeans and a white-and-brown striped shirt, all around the terminal people were reading newspapers. None seemed to notice that the guy on the front of their sports section was right there with them waiting to buy a Big Mac.
"I was in the check-in line, and the lady standing next to me was reading the newspaper," Blalock said. "She kind of looked up at me and said, 'Aren't you the one who hit the home run last night?'
"It was pretty cool. Other than that, nobody has recognized me."
A few more All-Star Games might change that. But his first one was memorable, for him at least. Blalock hit a two-run home run off Dodgers reliever Eric Gagne in the bottom of the eighth inning that proved to be the game-winning blow in the American League's 7-6 victory over the National League.
Blalock did get some recognition for his work. On the flight from Chicago to Tampa, as the pilot prepared to descend into heavy weather, he announced over the intercom, "We want to give a special welcome to Hank Blalock, who had the game-winning home run in the All-Star Game."
The announcement was notable for what it did not mention. There was nothing about Blalock being the MVP of the All-Star Game. That honor went to Anaheim's Garret Anderson, who had a two-run homer in the sixth inning and also started the AL's three-run eighth inning with a double.
EAST
Roy Halladay's 14 consecutive wins are one short of the Toronto team record, set by Roger Clemens in 1998. ... Despite being spoken to several times this season by Yankees manager Joe Torre, Alfonso Soriano once again watched from the batter's box after hitting a home run. The most recent example occurred Thursday night against the Indians, when he hit a two-run blast off Jason Davis. Soriano watched. And watched. It was only after the ball cleared the wall that he finally started trotting around the bases. After the game, Torre said, "(Soriano) has already been talked to. We'll continue to talk to him until it makes an impact."
CENTRAL
After going 7-20 in April, the Indians were 34-33 the rest of the first half. Over that stretch, they were tied with Kansas City for first place in the AL Central. ... Royals owner David Glass is intent on bringing the All-Star Game to Kauffman Stadium, where it was last held in 1973. "I will push for the first available year that there isn't a firm commitment and see what we could get done," he said.
WEST
Rangers outfielder Juan Gonzalez said Thursday that he is open-minded to a trade, but it had to be to a contender in the AL that played on natural grass. Boston, Oakland and Kansas City fit those criteria. ... Anaheim reliever Brendan Donnelly, the winning pitcher in the All-Star Game, was a replacement player during the 1994-95 strike. So, it was noteworthy to him that he made the All-Star team on the players' vote. "That was like the final thing for me," he said. "It's not just making the All-Star team, it's how I got here. That kind of says, 'Forget about it, you're one of us now.' "
