The Kansas City Royals have been awarded the 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and will host the game at Kauffman Stadium, announced by Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig announced at a pre-game press conference held on-field Wednesday.

The 2012 Midsummer Classic will be the 83rd All-Star Game. It will be the third played in Kansas City and the first since July 24, 1973, which the National League won 7-1 at what was then known as Royals Stadium. That contest marked the 24th and final All-Star appearance by Hall of Famer Willie Mays. The other All-Star Game in Kansas City was played at Municipal Stadium on July 11, 1960, won 5-3 by the National League in the first of two All-Star Games played that year (also Yankee Stadium on July 13).