PITTSBURGH — Baseball paid an emotional tribute to Roberto Clemente in front of his hometown fans.

The All-Star game came to a halt before the fifth inning as Clemente's widow, Vera, accepted the historic achievement award from commissioner Bud Selig in an on-field ceremony that had cameras flashing and made AL manager Ozzie Guillen wipe away tears.

"He's one of my heroes," Guillen said. "One of my kids is named Roberto and that's why this means a lot to me."

Clemente's stamp was all over this All-Star game. Players wore gold wristbands with his initials. Fans packed the Roberto Clemente Bridge beyond the center-field fence. The wall in right was 21 feet high — for the number he wore.

"I want you to know that Roberto still loves you from heaven," Vera Clemente said.

Bill Mazeroski, Clemente's Hall of Fame teammate with the Pirates, escorted her to the podium as the crowd at PNC Park cheered.

"The commissioner's historic achievement award is presented to a player or former player who has made an enormous historical impact on the game of baseball," Selig said. "Roberto Clemente has done that."

Clemente was killed in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1972 while on a humanitarian mission, delivering relief supplies after an earthquake in Nicaragua.

Mr. Cub stopped in his tracks when he saw the new Home Run Derby champ."Who taught you how to play?" Hall of Famer Ernie Banks asked Phillies slugger Ryan Howard during warmups for the All-Star game.Banks marveled at Howard's power show at the derby Monday, in which he topped another young star, Mets third baseman David Wright."David Wright — good hands. Miguel Cabrera — good hands," Banks later said from a PNC Park suite as he watched National League batting practice. "But the left-handed hitters seem to be much better balanced, a little bit quicker in the hands."Quite a compliment from Banks, a pretty good right-handed hitter himself. An 11-time All-Star, Banks hit 512 home runs and won two Most Valuable Player awards in his 19-year career with the Cubs."For me to meet a legend like that in this stage of my career is a blessing," said Howard, bat dragging along the ground after he took his pregame swings. "I can only be flashes of what he used to be like."

Off the plane at 3:20 p.m., and on the field for warmups less than three hours later.Twins phenom Francisco Liriano had quite a day before a pitch was even thrown at the All-Star game."I want to thank (AL manager) Ozzie Guillen for giving me the opportunity and thinking about me," said Liriano, a first-time selection who replaced White Sox starter Jose Contreras on the roster. Contreras had pitched Sunday, so the AL decided it needed a fresh hurler for the All-Star game.Not a bad choice. Liriano is 10-1 with a 1.83 ERA, and 102 strikeouts in only 88 1-3 innings.As it turned out, Liriano didn't get to pitch in the game.