David Wright has made the All-Star Game six of the last seven years, but none of those appearances would mean as much as it would this season.
“I’ve been very fortunate, very lucky to make six All-Star Games and I’d gladly trade all six of those in to participate in this year’s game,” Wright said yesterday during a press conference at City Hall, where he helped announce some of the events surrounding the July 16 game at Citi Field.
“Just getting a little taste of what an All-Star Game is like in New York, playing in The Bronx a few years ago, it’s revved up,” Wright said of the 2008 game at Yankee Stadium. “No offense to other All-Star Game hosts, but nothing compares to playing in an All-Star Game in New York.”
Ballots were released yesterday and the strong start of Wright — who had a game-tying RBI single in the ninth to help the Mets to a 7-3 come-from-behind victory last night — figures to put him in prime position to get back to the game again.
“This is a once in a career opportunity,” Wright said, adding he has kept All-Star ballots from every year since he has been listed.
The game will be preceded by a four-day FanFest at the Javits Center, as well as the All-Star Futures Game at Citi Field July 14 and the Home Run Derby July 15.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he was confident the events would be safe despite the terrorist attack during the Boston Marathon.
“We have the best police department in the world,” Bloomberg said. “We know what to do. I can’t guarantee with a thousand percent accuracy that everybody is going to be safe. We all know we live in a complex, difficult, dangerous world, but if I were going to go to a major event, I would rather go to a major event in New York City, knowing we have the NYPD providing security.”