Pirates All-Star to Become Only Fourth Curve Alum to Play in Midsummer Classic
Published on July 15, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
ALTOONA- Former Altoona Curve outfielder and current Pittsburgh Pirate Nate McLouth will become only the fourth former Curve player to play in a Major League Baseball All-Star Game when he takes the field tonight during the 79th Midsummer Classic at Yankee Stadium in New York.
More notably, of the previous three Curve alums to be selected to participate in the MLB All-Star Game -- pitchers Bronson Arroyo and Brendan Donnelly and shortstop Jack Wilson -- McLouth is the first to have been drafted by Pittsburgh, play for the Curve, and be selected to play in the Mid-Summer Classic as a member of the Pirates.
Wilson played in Altoona in 2000 and was a Pirates' All-Star selection in 2004, but was originally drafted by St. Louis and traded to Pittsburgh in 2000. Arroyo, who was a member of the Curve's inaugural 1999 club, represented the Cincinnati Reds in the 2006 All-Star Game. Donnelly, who briefly appeared for Altoona in 1999, became the first-ever former Curve player to participate in an All-Star Game, when he was selected as a member of the Anaheim Angels in 2003.
McLouth, in his year as the Pirates' everyday center fielder, has enjoyed a breakthrough 2008 season, hitting .281 with 33 doubles, three triples, 19 home runs, 65 RBI's and 11 stolen bases in 90 games for the Bucs.
Originally drafted by Pittsburgh in the 25th round of the 2000 June Draft out of Whitehall High School in Michigan, McLouth arrived in Altoona in 2004 and starred on the only club in franchise history to reach the Eastern League Championship Series. The left-handed hitter primarily played right field for the 2004 Curve and hit .322 with 40 doubles, four triples, eight home runs, 73 RBI's and 31 stolen bases in a team-high 133 games. McLouth's 40 doubles and 166 hits established club records, which he continues to hold, while his .322 average and 93 runs scored rank second in the Curve's single-season record book.
Interestingly, despite his terrific 2004 season with Altoona, McLouth was not selected to either the Eastern League's mid-season or post-season All-Star Team. Recently, he was one of 15 players honored with a spot on the Curve's ceremonial Tenth Anniversary Team.
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