LOS ANGELES -- Outfielder Mike Cameron was added to the American League All-Star roster, giving the host Seattle Mariners eight players in Tuesday night's game at Safeco Field, the most for one team in 41 years.

	Mike Cameron Center Field Seattle Mariners Profile
	2001 SEASON STATISTICS GM HR RBI R SB AVG 80 15 58 59 18 .277

Greg Vaughn withdrew Sunday because of a strained right hamstring, leaving the Devil Rays, whose 27-61 record is baseball's worst, without an All-Star.

"It's unbelievable to get an opportunity to play before my hometown fans," Cameron said, shaking his head, after the Mariners beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-2. "It's a great feeling to be part of something with the best players in the game."

The Mariners, whose 63-24 record is baseball's best by eight games, have the most All-Stars since the Pittsburgh Pirates had eight in 1960. Seattle has the most for an AL team since the New York Yankees had nine in 1958.

The Mariners' previous high was five in both 1996 and '97.

"It's a tribute to our players," Mariners manager Lou Piniella said. "They've played well, they really have. They've won 63 games at the All-Star break, that's a lot of wins."

Four Mariners were elected to start: first baseman John Olerud, second baseman Bret Boone, outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and designated hitter Edgar Martinez. Pitchers Freddy Garcia and Kazuhiro Sasaki were picked among the original reserves by Yankees manager Joe Torre.

Seattle reliever Jeff Nelson, often at odds with Torre last year in New York, was added Saturday as a replacement for Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, who is skipping the game to rest an inflamed ankle. Rivera was among seven Yankees selected by Torre.

The 28-year-old Cameron, who entered Sunday's action hitting .275 with 15 homers and 58 RBI, will be playing in his first All-Star Game. The Mariners acquired him from the Cincinnati Reds in the Ken Griffey Jr. trade on Feb. 10 last year.

"I'm going to enjoy it to the utmost, it's the ultimate dream for a lot of baseball players," Cameron said. "Just the fact that Joe thought of me is a great feeling."

Acquired by the Mariners from the Cincinnati Reds in the Ken Griffey Jr., trade on Feb. 10, 2000, Cameron hit .267 with 19 homers and 78 RBI for the Mariners last season.

"It's great, I'm so happy for him," Martinez said. "He really deserved it, I know he's going to have a great time.

When an announcement was made concerning Cameron's selection at Safeco Field during a game involving minor league prospects, there was a huge ovation and a handwritten banner with Cameron's name was added next to the printed banners with the names of the other AL All-Stars.

Even the Mariners are surprised they are one-quarter of the AL team.

"That's amazing," Martinez said. "That tells you what kind of a year we're having, one of a kind."

Vaughn was hurt in the first inning of the Devil Rays' 6-1 loss to Florida while running to first base on a fielder's choice. He still intended to travel to Seattle.

"My plan before I got hurt was to go there, so I'm going to go out there," Vaughn said. "I'll be a part of it, everything except playing the game."

Vaughn, hitting .244 with 21 homers and 60 RBI, was selected by Torre ahead of teammate Fred McGriff, batting .330 with 15 homers and 53 RBI.

"You look forward to playing, but I'd be more disappointed if I didn't play Thursday," Vaughn said. "The real disappointment is being in last place. That's disappointment."

Vaughn will undergo treatment for his injury while in Seattle.

"It's one of those things," Vaughn said. "I'll just roll with the punches."

A four-time All-Star, Vaughn did not play in the 1996 game at Philadelphia because of food poisoning.