By now, if you care, you know that the Reds’ Joey Votto and the Yankees’ Nick Swisher were voted to the All-Star teams and the final man. I couldn’t be happier for them both, remember Swisher was born in Ohio and went to Ohio State, and of course Votto is a Red.

But what is interesting this year is how the voting, and the campaigning worked.  Teams often try to promote their players who are high up in voting totals throughout the process, and particularly during this final vote period.  When I was at the stadium last Sunday, they did a fun “Send Swish” campaign, complete with a video add starring Swisher on the video board, and campaign button logos throughout the stadium- and his name on the ballot had only been released to fans less than 24 hours before.

But the Reds did something really interesting.  They teamed up with Red Sox Nation to try to help get Votto elected while also trying to get Cincinnati born Kevin Youkilis also get elected.  On all emails and signage, both players were listed in both parks.  (Vote Votto promos were also announced in Toronto, since they did not have a candidate and Votto is Canadian.)  Youkilis didn’t make it, but the tie in allowed the Reds to tap into a large pool of fans who may not have cared as much about the National League and who have a history of voting for the last spot.

Here is a great John Fay piece on the collaboration, with some nice quotes from both Votto and Youkilis.