Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig announced on Wednesday that the 2014 All-Star Game will be hosted by the Minnesota Twins and played at Target Field, and the history of the franchise definitely had something to do with the decision. The Twins had been the subject of contraction talks just one decade ago, but now they will get to show off beautiful Target Field in a national showcase.

Here is what Selig had to say about his decision to bring the events to Minneapolis, via the Star Tribune:

"Given the history, given what's happened here with the ballpark, everything else, it was really pretty easy," Selig said. "I just don't like to do this [formal announcement] too soon, but I knew a long time ago where the 2014 All-Star Game was [heading]. It's coming here because it's the right thing to do, and this is the right place to be."

"This is special to me because of my close professional relationship with [late Twins owner] Carl Pohlad, who is really -- as history will someday understand -- one of the great owners in American sports, in my generation and in baseball," Selig said.

What a difference a decade makes.

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