=== Report: Pirates to host 2006 All-Star Game === Pittsburgh, PA (My Sportsbook) - The Pittsburgh Pirates are reportedly in line to host the 2006 All-Star Game. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Monday that the Pirates will hold a news conference on Tuesday to announce details of the club's plans to host the Mid- Summer Classic in two years. Pittsburgh has hosted the All-Star Game four times previously -- 1944 and 1959 at Forbes Field and 1974 and 1994 at Three Rivers Stadium. The 2006 contest would be held at PNC Park -- the Pirates' home since 2001. Major League Baseball usually chooses new ballparks for its showcase game -- including Houston's Minute Maid Park this year and Detroit's Comerica Park in 2005 -- and alternates between the National and American League cities as host. The San Francisco Giants' new home -- SBC Park -- opened in 2000 and apparently was also considered for the 2006 game. San Francisco hasn't been the site for an All-Star Game since 1984. Other National League cities that haven't hosted an All-Star Game include Miami (Florida Marlins) and Phoenix (Arizona Diamondbacks), while other new NL parks that haven't been chosen include Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park, Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park and San Diego's Petco Park -- all of which just opened in the past two years. |
