There are more heralded Orioles on this year's All-Star ballot. There are two players with Hall of Fame credentials, a former MVP and a player who hit the most homers in a season for his position in Major League history.

Yet, Brian Roberts' name shines brightly on the All-Star ballot. The Orioles' second baseman is a first-timer on the ballot, and at the rate he is going, he could be voted in by a landslide.

Roberts is off to an amazing start with five home runs in his first 11 games. He is leading the Orioles in several statistical categories, including home runs, batting average, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. And this is the first year Roberts has been able to play second base without looking over his shoulder.

He spent four years competing with Jerry Hairston Jr. for the position and Roberts was in the minor leagues as recently as 2003. But Hairston was traded to the Chicago Cubs in February, leaving Roberts as the bona fide starter for the first time in his career.

Roberts has flourished in that role and could push ahead of standouts such as Alfonso Soriano and Bret Boone for consideration.

Roberts joins Miguel Tejada, Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Javy Lopez, Melvin Mora, Luis Matos, Jay Gibbons and Larry Bigbie on the ballot.

Sosa is on his first ballot as an Oriole and would be making his first appearance in an All-Star Game as an the American Leaguer. Sosa has made a smooth transition to the AL and belted two home runs in the span of four games, including his first at Camden Yards on April 15.

Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times with the Ameriquest 2005 All-Star Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 club sites. Online balloting ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on June 30. Balloting at Camden Yards runs from May 1-June 19.

The 2005 American League and National League All-Star Teams will be unveiled on the Major League Baseball All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Chevrolet, which will air live on ESPN at 7 p.m. (EDT) on Sunday, July 3. This special program will feature the announcement of the 17 elected starters, as determined by the fan balloting program, and 45 pitchers and reserves, as determined by the player ballot, the two All-Star Team managers -- Terry Francona of the Boston Red Sox and Tony La Russa of the St. Louis Cardinals -- and Major League Baseball.

Immediately following the Major League Baseball All-Star Game Selection Show, fans will have the opportunity to select the final position player for each league's 32-man roster at MLB.com. The Ameriquest 2005 All-Star Final Vote will provide fans the opportunity to cast their votes from a list of five players from each League over a three-day period. Both winners of the Ameriquest All-Star Final Vote will be announced after the voting has concluded on Wednesday, July 6.

Concluding the All-Star balloting process, fans once again will have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player presented by Chevrolet at the 76th All-Star Game via the Ameriquest 2005 All-Star Game MVP Vote on MLB.com. The All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive, national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage and MLB Radio will provide exclusive play-by-play coverage of the game on the Internet.