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It's Official: Mets To Host 2013 MLB All-Star Game At Citi Field

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — The last time Flushing hosted an All-Star game, the Mets were the new kids in town -- and Shea Stadium was in its infancy.

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Two World Series titles and nearly 50 years later, the Midsummer Classic is coming back to Queens.

On Wednesday, Major League Baseball finally announced the Mets will host the 2013 All-Star game at Citi Field.

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig made it official at City Hall -- under the watchful eye of Mr. Met -- with team owner Fred Wilpon and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg also behind the podium.

"The whole New York area, I think, will be very pleased," said Selig. "This is really a five-day celebration of our great sport."

Mark your calendars: the game will be played on July 16, 2013.

Wilpon called it a "great event for New York," though the embattled owner slipped up a bit a few moments later.

"If I knew how easy this was, I would have asked the mayor and commissioner if (they) could have arranged for us to have the World Series this year," he said. "But I don't think that would be possible."

Enter Bloomberg, who swiftly came to the rescue.

"Well, I'm counting on a Subway Series this year, just so ya know," proclaimed the mayor.

The announcement was a long time coming. MLB decided the Mets would host the game at Citi Field at least four years ago, the Associated Press reported, but the official word was held until agreements could be in place with the city and agencies for the needed services and events that come with hosting an All-Star weekend.

The Mets hosted the All-Stars once before, way back in 1964 -- the inaugural year of Shea Stadium, now a parking lot for Citi Field patrons. The old Yankee Stadium, in its final season, was home to New York's last All-Star game in 2008.

"I'm very happy for the people here at Citi Field, it's a beautiful ballpark," Mets manager Terry Collins said upon hearing the initial reports on Tuesday. "It'll be held in one of the nicest ballparks in the country."

NYC, are you pumped to have another All-Star weekend? Sound off below!

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