19.1 Million Votes Cast As Campaigning And Alliances Kick Off All-star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored By Firestone

NEW YORK, July 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Baseball fans have begun the 2012 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Firestone (#FinalVote) where they left off after breaking records across the board during balloting for the elected starters – a record-setting start – by casting 19.1 million online votes for the 10 candidates. That mark was 13.7% higher than last year through 42 hours.

With more than two days of online voting remaining until balloting closes at 4 p.m. (EDT) on Thursday, July 5, both races for the final spot on the American League and National League All-Star rosters are wide open as nine of the 10 candidates already have surpassed one million votes. As the annual creative campaigns and Club alliances take shape, here are the current standings:

American League

1. Yu Darvish (TEX) - #VoteYu (A2)
2. Jake Peavy (CWS) - #TakeJake (A5)
3. Jason Hammel (BAL) - #VoteHammel (A4)
4. Ernesto Frieri (LAA) - #VoteFrieri (A3)
5. Jonathan Broxton (KC) - #VoteBroxton (A1)

National League

1. Chipper Jones (ATL) - #VoteChipper (N5)
2. David Freese (STL) - #FreesePlease (N2)
3. Bryce Harper (WSH) - #BryceIn12 (N3)
4. Aaron Hill (ARI) - #FinHillVote (N4)
5. Michael Bourn (ATL) - #VoteBourn (N1)

Fans also can use their mobile phones to vote at MLB.com/vote or via text message. To receive the All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Firestone mobile ballot, text the word "VOTE" to 89269. To vote for a specific player, fans can text the choice to 89269. EXAMPLE: Text "A3" to vote for AL Player 3 or "N3" to vote for NL Player 3. Msg&Data Rates May Apply. Mobile voting in Canada also is available and fans should text their choices to 101010. Std rates may apply.

FREE MLB.TV TRIAL

Baseball fans have cast over 300 million online votes since the All-Star Game Final Vote program's inception in 2002. In recognition of this milepost, MLB.com is giving eligible voters a 14-day free trial of MLB.TV from July 6-20, 2012. Fans will receive an e-mail notifying them of the instructions for redeeming this All-Star Final Vote offer.

The 83rd All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed.  Pregame ceremonies will begin at 7:30 p.m. (EDT)/6:30 p.m. (CDT).  ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game.  MLB Network, MLB.com and Sirius XM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage.  For more information, please visit allstargame.com or royals.com/asg.

SOURCE MLB.com