Citi Field to Host the Major League All-Star Game In 2013

BY JOE RINI

Major league baseball officially announced on Wednesday that Citi Field will host the 2013 All-Star game. This announcement formalizes what had been long expected since Citi Field opened its doors in 2009.

Besides the actual game, there will be a number of other related events to entertain the fans, such as the Home Run Derby and a “Fan Fest.” Currently, the Mets have gone the longest between All-Star games by any franchise in baseball. The last time the Mets hosted an All-Star game was 1964 during Shea Stadium’s debut season. Forty eight years ago, the game was played in the daylight hours and Johnny Callison of the Phillies capped a four-run ninth inning rally by hitting a walk-off three run home run off Dick Radatz of the Red Sox for a 7 to 4 National League victory.

The Mets second baseman Ron Hunt became the first Met to start in an All-Star game that day. Future Mets Joe Torre, Jim Fregosi, and Dean Chance were also in the starting line-ups that day and then Washington Senators manager Gil Hodges returned to New York as a coach for the American League.

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