Fine wine kept Seaver away from All-Star Game

CINCINNATI - Fifty of the 64 living Hall of Famers attended Tuesday's All-Star Game festivities at Yankee Stadium. Mets legend Tom Seaver was not among them.

Seaver said yesterday he wanted to attend but couldn't for a reason most of us can understand: He's just a working stiff and couldn't take the time off.

"I appreciate the historical significance of the All-Star Game and Yankee Stadium," Seaver said. "I got my 300th win there. But I'm not retired. I just put in a new section of my vineyard in California. As much as I wanted to be there, I just couldn't get away."

The Franchise, who still does appearances for the Mets, sells wine under the label GTS Vineyards (for George Thomas Seaver, his full name).

Seaver said he plans to attend next weekend's Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y.

The other living Hall of Famers who weren't at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday: Sparky Anderson, Johnny Bench, Jim Bunning, Bobby Doerr, Carlton Fisk, Monte Irvin, George Kell, Sandy Koufax, Stan Musial, Nolan Ryan, Red Schoendienst, Duke Snider and Carl Yastrzemski.