With the All-Star Game taking place July 11, it might surprise some Orioles fans that one longtime former Oriole who never made an All-Star team is right fielder Nick Markakis.
Markakis, who is in his third season with the Atlanta Braves, batted. 290 during nine seasons with the Orioles and won two Gold Gloves, yet he never represented the Orioles in the midsummer classic -- although a strong case can be made that he should have.
In 2010, for example, when Ty Wigginton was picked to represent the Orioles as a first baseman, Markakis had a .308 average with a .395 OBP. Wigginton had a .252 average and superior power numbers (14 home runs, 45 RBIs to Markakis' six homers, 31 RBIs at the break), but as an all-around player, Markakis was a far better choice.
