masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgTwo Orioles – one past, one present – need your help in All-Star Game-related matters.

We’ll tackle the present first. Center fielder Adam Jones is one of the five players up for The Final Vote to determine the last player on the American League squad for the Midsummer Classic in Phoenix on July 12.

In the first tabulations released Monday afternoon, Jones ranked fourth out of the five candidates, and White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko was in the lead. Unlike the fan vote to choose…Two Orioles – one past, one present – need your help in All-Star Game-related matters.

We’ll tackle the present first. Center fielder Adam Jones is one of the five players up for The Final Vote to determine the last player on the American League squad for the Midsummer Classic in Phoenix on July 12.

In the first tabulations released Monday afternoon, Jones ranked fourth out of the five candidates, and White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko was in the lead. Unlike the fan vote to choose starters for the All-Star Game, there’s no limit to the number of times you can vote for Jones, so go here to cast your ballot. Voting ends Thursday at 4 p.m. Eastern time.

Here at Orioles Buzz, we’re stumping for the Beltway Ballot, so you should also cast a vote for Nationals first baseman Michael Morse in the National League’s version of The Final Vote. You can vote for Morse here.

If you prefer texting, you can text VOTE to 89269 to receive a mobile phone-ready ballot.

Now, onto the past – specifically Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr.’s home run in his final All-Star Game appearance in Seattle in 2001. Last week, I wrote about how this memorable blast was one of the options as Major League Baseball attempts to crown the best moment in the history of the Midsummer Classic.

Well, we’re down to the final two choices, and Ripken’s homer is squaring off against a walkoff homer by St. Louis Cardinals great Stan Musial for the top All-Star moment. Two Hall of Famers, just as it should be.

If Ripken wins the popular vote, he’ll have gone through the bracket by topping home runs by luminaries like Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, Ted Williams and Musial – all Hall of Famers. As has been his custom, Ripken spoke with reverence when talking about those players.

“By no means do I put myself in front of any of those guys,” Ripken said during a Tuesday afternoon conference call. “I’m more current and end up playing in the age of ESPN. … Maybe I benefit from being a more current player.”

Voting runs through July 9, and you can vote a maximum of 25 times per email address here.

O’s fans who are registered to receive the free Warehouse Wire weekly newsletter through Orioles.com and vote the maximum 25 times will receive a special ticket offer once voting concludes.