Christmas in July for Cameron, Nelson

Published 9:00 pm Monday, July 9, 2001

Two M’s happy to be late additions to AL All-Star team

By Kirby Arnold

Herald Writer

SEATTLE — Mike Cameron returned to Safeco Field late Sunday after a long road trip with the Seattle Mariners, took one look at his locker and realized where he has arrived in the world of baseball.

Hanging there was his American League All-Star uniform.

"It was like Christmas," said Cameron, who learned Sunday afternoon during the Mariners’ game at Los Angeles that he had been added to the team. "When I saw my jersey, it was like a little kid getting a bicycle for Christmas."

Cameron, along with Mariners relief pitcher Jeff Nelson, were late additions to the All-Star team because of injuries to other players. It didn’t make their moment in the spotlight any less thrilling.

"If this is going to be your first All-Star Game, it’s great to have it at Safeco Field," said Nelson, who signed with the Mariners in the offseason after winning four World Series rings in five years with the New York Yankees.

Nelson, considered one of baseball’s best right-handed setup relievers, has a 3-1 record with a 2.19 earned run average in 39 appearances this season. He had the numbers last year — an 8-4 record with a 2.45 ERA — to be an All-Star but wasn’t selected by Yankees manager Joe Torre.

The New York media again was bringing up the "S" word — snub — on Monday and Nelson didn’t back away.

"You have the anticipation and you start talking about it, and then you don’t make it," Nelson said. "But you see there are other guys who got looked over as well. I’m happy where I am at now. If I wasn’t going to be in New York, Seattle is where I wanted to be. This is something I will remember the rest of my life."

Nelson learned of his selection on Saturday while he was sitting in the bullpen at Dodger Stadium during the third inning of the M’s-Dodgers game.

"It was a great surprise," he said. "Usually when somebody calls down (to the bullpen) that early in a game, you think somebody is hurt."

Instead, it was a message that Nelson had been named to replace injured Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. Excited on the inside, Nelson contained his joy on the outside.

"I didn’t say anything," he said. "I was a little nervous (when he entered the game) because I had this feeling I had to do well because now I’m an All-Star."

Cameron soaked up every bit of pleasure he could draw from the workouts on Monday. If Sunday seemed like Christmas morning, then Monday was the whole holiday season.

"Just being there for Cal Ripken’s last All-Star Game and Tony Gwynn’s last All-Star Game. I’m going to be part of something I’ll remember the rest of my life," Cameron said. "Coming out of that tunnel is going to be crazy. It’s such a special feeling to be with 60 of the best players in baseball."

Cameron is considered one of the game’s best defensive center fielders, but needed to prove himself as a hitter to become one of the elite players. So far this season, he has made strides with the bat.

Cameron, a career .240 hitter with a single-season high of 78 RBI last year, is batting .277 with 15 home runs and 58 RBI this season. He finished fourth in the fan voting among AL outfielders and was named to the team Sunday after Greg Vaughn of the Devil Rays injured a hamstring.

He literally was like a kid on Christmas morning when he pulled on the All-Star uniform.

"You’ve got Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken and A-Rod and Randy (Johnson) coming," he said, reciting the names he’ll share the field with. "And Mike Cameron is here."