How often did you vote?
Rays third baseman Evan Longoria was the fan's choice for the final spot on the American League All-Star team, despite being matched against players from much bigger markets, including Jermaine Dye of the Chicago White Sox and Jason Giambi of the New York Yankees.
Longoria got help from a Red Sox fansite -- bostondirtdogs.com -- that encouraged fans to vote for Longoria to keep votes away from Giambi, and basketball announcer and Rays season ticketholder Dick Vitale, who made a video pitch.
But Longoria wouldn't have made the team without an outpouring of support from fans in the Tampa Bay area. How often did you vote? We want to hear your story.
(Pictured: Evan Longoria fields a ball against Baltimore earlier this season. Times photo -- James Borchuck. Click to enlarge.)
Follow Tampa Bay Rays baseball from spring training to the World Series with Marc Topkin, Joe Smith and the St. Petersburg Times sports staff. From Evan Longoria to B.J. Upton and James Shields, we're your source for Tampa Bay Rays scores and schedules.
I voted about 30-40 votes.
Congratulation Longo!!!
Posted by: John Jung | July 10, 2008 at 10:45 PM
I voted 2 hours straight every night!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO LONGORIA!!!!!!
Posted by: Mark | July 10, 2008 at 10:18 PM
"My wife and I both voted for at least 2 hours everyday."
Holy mackerel Florida must be SO BORING
Posted by: You Have To Be Kidding | July 10, 2008 at 09:30 PM
Cmon you Rays fans
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Posted by: Jeff from Maine | July 10, 2008 at 09:19 PM
I voted about 100 times each day, but really put in a push right up to 5:00 today since I had no idea how close the race would be. Next time I will figure out that 10K text message thing-but I think he should be the starter over A-Rod next year anyway
Posted by: Big T | July 10, 2008 at 09:14 PM
What a joke. Instead of true voting...many votes could be cast. Must be the steroids again.........
Posted by: Dr_Dug | July 10, 2008 at 09:06 PM
I voted for an hour over lunch every day this week. Don't know how many times that is other than to say it was significant. Evan deserved to be in the all star lineup even without the Monster vote. Baseball has an obligation to showcase it's best young talent and Evan is the shining example of this. This will be the first of many for him.
Posted by: Pablo | July 10, 2008 at 08:26 PM
I voted for an hour straight today, between 4 and 5. I probably had about 300 votes in when it was all over and done.
Posted by: Rays Fan | July 10, 2008 at 08:15 PM
I work for R.W. Caldwell R.E. in Gulfport, FL. My boss let me vote online for Evan Longoria while I was working, and said I could vote as often as time would allow me to give Evan a chance to make it to the All-Star game. Go Evan!
Posted by: Betty | July 10, 2008 at 07:58 PM
Just wanted to let you know one of the stories of people trying to get Evan into the All Star Game. This is a copy of a email sent to the Tampa Bay Rays telling them our story of Operation Longoria.
Tampa Bay Rays,
Just wanted to pass word of our support to get Evan Longoria voted into the 2008 MLB All Star Game. On Wednesday, July 9 our summer day camp started Operation Longoria, where camp participants and staff members worked 10 minute shifts from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. voting strictly for Evan. After many mouse clicks and a few ice packs for inflamed index fingers, we voted 2001 times for Evan. We know its just a drop in the bucket but we just wanted to do our part for one of the good guys of baseball.
Thank you,
Mr. Tracy Davis
Asst. Supervisor
Sue McCollum Community Center
at Lafayette Park
501 Ingleside Ave.
Tallahassee, FL 32303
850-891-3946
davist@talgov.com
Posted by: Tracy Davis | July 10, 2008 at 07:48 PM
My wife and I both voted for at least 2 hours everyday. Today I voted with two windows popped up from 9AM until noon while I watched my 1 year old. I would have to estimate that between my wife and I, we probably voted at least 2000 times. We are "kind of" die hard Rays fans. Even my one year old is today wearing his very own Longoria jersey that we got for him last week. What a great day. 3 Rays on the All Star team!!!!!!!
Posted by: Dan in NY | July 10, 2008 at 07:48 PM
I voted enough to give myself a mild case of carpal tunnel. (Ouch!) I'd say that I must have voted at least 200 times, but frankly, I lost count somewhere around 150.
Posted by: Steve S. | July 10, 2008 at 07:24 PM
Jason... the first comment.. I checked the New York Times sports section and oh what whiners...... I did post your comment there. Of course, I do not know if it has posted yet..... I think that has got to be the best line ever. I do use that a lot myself especially with this election "Crap" going on... They think it was fixed 25 votes only...TB&MIL.. media did a better job... poor Giambi and the moustache!!!!!
Posted by: Kim | July 10, 2008 at 06:47 PM
Creekdog I noticed that as well. I was worried someone would use a macro to get one of the other contenders through.
Posted by: Jessica | July 10, 2008 at 06:35 PM
Voted 15-20 minutes every morning and all throughout the day today. Spent way to much time typing in numbers since I was working out of the house today. In all i voted several hundred times today. Did anyone notice that from around 1615-1645 it did not matter what code number you typed in? The screen accepted anything.
Posted by: Creekdog | July 10, 2008 at 06:29 PM
61 votes (57 in the last half hour) Go Longoria!!!!1
Posted by: Josh | July 10, 2008 at 06:27 PM
61 votes (57 in the last half hour)Go Longoria!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Josh | July 10, 2008 at 06:25 PM
61 times total. (57 in the last half hour)Go Longoria!
Posted by: Josh | July 10, 2008 at 06:22 PM
You guys should have texted, and then added recipiant up to 10 times, then set the phone on automatic resend every 15 seconds. This morning when I work up I had 10k replies. God I love sticking it to the Yankee fans. All of you guys know MLB comish wanted Giambi in the game. Boy it feels good being a Rays fan.
Posted by: Travis | July 10, 2008 at 06:21 PM
I voted about 180 times over the past week and my niece voted about 40 times over the last week...We're thrilled for Evan Almighty to be making the All-Star team. Go Rays
Posted by: Mark | July 10, 2008 at 06:21 PM
I voted like a Republican in Palm Beach County and Katherine Harris and Jeb Bush were counting the votes.
Posted by: Mike | July 10, 2008 at 06:20 PM
Voted 15-20 minutes every morning and all throughout the day today. Spent way to much time typing in numbers since I was working out of the house today. In all i voted several hundred times today. Did anyone notice that from around 1615-1645 it did not matter what code number you typed in? The screen accepted anything.
Posted by: Creekdog | July 10, 2008 at 06:16 PM
300 times at least. I just found out and yeeeaaaaaahhhhhhhhh. All the work paid off for us. Rays Nation !!!!!!!
Posted by: BG | July 10, 2008 at 06:15 PM
No B.S, I set up a program on my Blackberry and probably sent out 15,000. unfortionatly I did not get anyone elses e-mails or texts. I think this was needed to stop the coruption of the evil empire of the N.Y Yankees.
Posted by: Travis | July 10, 2008 at 06:11 PM
I voted for close to 20 hours I am retired so while I was watching TV I voted until I got sick of the validating codes and stopped and came back to it. I could not say how many I did per hour but I voted my little heart out. I am very happy for Evan and our Rays.
Posted by: Kim | July 10, 2008 at 06:11 PM
300 TIMES
Posted by: Mario | July 10, 2008 at 06:06 PM
I voted at least 25 times a day
Posted by: Rob In Tampa | July 10, 2008 at 06:06 PM
At least a couple hundred times.
I had the screen up on my computer so that I could quickly pop in a dozen or two whenever I had a spare moment. Very happy for him and the team.
Posted by: Hunter | July 10, 2008 at 06:04 PM
I voted over 100 times for Longoria. I'm a Sox fan that didn't want the spot to go to Giambi. Besides, Longoria earned the spot and deserved it. Go Sox!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: TC | July 10, 2008 at 06:00 PM
I am now an unidentifiable person as I don't think I have any fingerprints left I have voted so many times since Sunday. :O) It was worth it! Go Rays!!! My parents did the same as well as my daughters who opted to vote for Longo instead of playing on Webkinz the last few days. How many teams can inspire kids to do that? :)
Posted by: Kristi | July 10, 2008 at 05:50 PM
I voted probably 150-200 times. Way to go Evan!!! So much for all those White Sox geeks that said they would beat us in the voting. Go Rays!!!
Posted by: David | July 10, 2008 at 05:48 PM
50-75 times minimum. Ballot site had some trouble here and there.
Saw Longo play in Pittsburgh the other weekend in interleague and going out to Cleveland to pay homage on Saturday. Go Rays!
Posted by: PrimeTime | July 10, 2008 at 05:46 PM
I didn't really keep track, but today at least, I voted from 3:30 until it wouldn't let me vote anymore.
Posted by: Mark | July 10, 2008 at 05:46 PM
I'm a die hard NYY fan, who loves baseball. This young man deserves to be at this AS game. I voted for him 25 times everyday the ballot was open.
Posted by: Little-Goose-54 | July 10, 2008 at 05:41 PM
APPROXIMATELY 300 TIMES...BECAUSE I TRULY BELIEVE HE DESERVES TO BE AN ALL-STAR...NOT BECAUSE I AM BEING A HOMER.
Posted by: ROB | July 10, 2008 at 05:40 PM
I voted about 25 times a day since the polls opened as well as continually voting during all the commercial breaks during the games.
Posted by: Daryl | July 10, 2008 at 05:38 PM
I voted about 25 times a day since the polls opened as well as continually voting during all the commercial breaks during the games.
Posted by: Daryl | July 10, 2008 at 05:37 PM
I sent in arround 300 votes or more. Honestly... I sent A TON of text messages and like 75 or more computer votes...
Posted by: Michael Pozzi | July 10, 2008 at 05:37 PM
I probably voted for Evan about 50 times over the course of a few days. Corey Hart got my NL vote so for once, my vote may have counted for something!
Posted by: Rebecca | July 10, 2008 at 05:35 PM
not me! I voted for GiambRoid
Posted by: The Guy with a Porn-Stache | July 10, 2008 at 05:35 PM
An even 1000 times the last 4 days.
Posted by: Steve | July 10, 2008 at 05:34 PM
I voted 25 times, but man how did you find the time to vote 700+ times? WOW, I am in awe of your dedication! Go Rays.
Posted by: Mark | July 10, 2008 at 05:32 PM
An even 1000 times the last 4 days.
Posted by: Steve | July 10, 2008 at 05:31 PM
i forgot to vote, but by NOT voting for giambi, i did my part :)
Posted by: shane | July 10, 2008 at 05:30 PM
Hundreds. Every time I checked the time on my cell phone or had a spare moment I fired off two or three text votes. Heck, I voted more for Longoria than I did for George W. Bush in 2000!
Posted by: Jeff | July 10, 2008 at 05:30 PM
I thought there was a limit of 25, like the regular online All-Star balloting. I started voting, thinking it would cut me off at 25. I didn't keep count, but I'm going to guess 30 -35 times the first day, another 20 or so on Wed.
Longo deserves this, IMO, he is the Rays MVP for the first half of the season - defensive gems to save runs (and games), key hits and RBIs and a very good baseball IQ. Much of the Rays improvement in 2008 should be credited to the high baseball IQ of three newcomers: Longo, Bartlett and Hinske - they RARELY make mental mistakes. Go Rays, bring the AL East title to St. Pete in 2008!
Posted by: RFN | July 10, 2008 at 05:30 PM
Hundreds. Every time I checked the time on my cell phone or had a spare moment I fired off two or three text votes. Heck, I voted more for Longoria than I did for George W. Bush in 2000!
Posted by: Jeff | July 10, 2008 at 05:29 PM
I voted at least 100 times over the past week! I'm so gladl he made it :)
Posted by: Jessica | July 10, 2008 at 05:29 PM
I voted about 200 times over several days. I even programed a quick text response of A4. God bless technology.
Posted by: Joe | July 10, 2008 at 05:28 PM
I was up at an Orioles game this weekend and they annouced who was on the team and that there was a chance Longoria could still make it--so I spent the rest of the weekend pecking away voting. (well about 25 times) I also put a link on my facebook. By the way, Camden Yards is nice, but how boring is it to watch a game there. I hope Ray fans appreciate what you have!!
Posted by: Michael Waugh | July 10, 2008 at 05:28 PM