Pittsburgh to Host '06 All-Star Game at PNC Park

Ending weeks of rampant speculation, Commissioner Bud Selig has officially awarded the Pittsburgh Pirates the All-Star Game in 2006. That the Pirates won this competition for the second time in just 12 years has been credited to their having what most consider to be the best ballpark in Major League baseball. "This ballpark is spectacular, and it played a critical role," Selig said. "Without PNC Park, there is no All-Star Game here. In the end, it was this venue that really made up my mind."

With the '06 game, Pittsburgh joins the Cleveland Indians as the only teams to have hosted five All-Star games. Pittsburgh previously hosted the All-Star game at Forbes Field in 1944 and 1959 and at Three Rivers Stadium in 1974 and 1994 with the National League winning all four times.