MILWAUKEE -- Richie Sexson's knee is hurting, he has played in all 86 Brewers games this season and the team is in the midst of 13 straight games without a day off.

Still, there is no way he would miss his sophomore trip to the Midsummer Classic.

"To say you'd rather have time off is ridiculous to me," the Brewers big first baseman said. "It's one of the highest honors there is. It's a chance to go play a game with the top 50 or 60 players in baseball. It's an honor for me and I would never give it up for time off."

As a result of the votes by Major League players, coaches and managers, Sexson was named to his second straight National League All-Star team on Sunday night.

2003 All-Star Game information >

While the rest of his teammates head home for a few days off during the All-Star break, Sexson will head to Chicago for three of the most hectic days of the season. And yes, he will participate in another Century 21 Home Run Derby if asked.

"He wants to play every game, every inning," Brewers manager Ned Yost said.

Sexson said the honor was extra-special because he was voted in by fellow Major Leaguers. Last season, he made the squad because NL manager Bob Brenly selected him.

"With such great players and great talent out there, and the good first baseman in the National League, it's always nice to be voted on by your peers," said Sexson, who received 84 votes on the player ballot. "It makes it a little more special."

The Rockies' Todd Helton received 277 votes on the player ballot, but he was voted to the game's starting lineup in fan balloting. Sexson was next in line, beating out other notables like Houston's Jeff Bagwell and Philadelphia's Jim Thome.

Geoff Jenkins, the Brewers' left fielder and Sexson's best friend on the team, also has a shot. Jenkins is one of five NL finalists in the etopps All-Star Final Vote on MLB.com, which began Sunday night and runs through Wednesday night. For the second straight season, fan voting will determine who gets the last roster spot in each league.

Sexson talked about his All-Star chances last week, and thought Jenkins had the inside track.

"It's tough at first base," Sexson said. "Helton is obviously there, plus Bagwell, Thome. There are a lot of great first baseman."

The 74th All-Star Game is July 15, just a short drive down Interstate-94 on Chicago's south side, so Sexson may again hear some cheers from hometown fans. Miller Park hosted the All-Star Game in 2002, Sexson's first trip to the Midsummer Classic, and received huge ovations during the Home Run Derby and the game itself.

"Everybody should have that honor once in their career, just to see what it's like," he said.

What was the best part?

"Just hanging out with everybody and getting a chance to know everybody," he said. "The home run derby was lot of fun. It's a hectic week, no doubt, but I had a blast."

Sexson has played in all 86 Brewers games this season and is batting .262 with 23 homers and 62 RBIs. His two-run double in the seventh inning on Sunday gave the Brewers a 3-1 win over the Rockies at Miller Park.

"It makes the day a little more enjoyable," Sexson said. "We won the game, and I got a hit and a couple RBIs and then made the All-Star team."

Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com based in Milwaukee. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.