Event hits home

THE VINDICATOR
PITTSBURGH -- All-Star FanFest, an interactive baseball theme park and the largest baseball fan event in the nation, has returned to Pittsburgh as part of the 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Week. FanFest made its Pittsburgh debut in 1994, the last time the All-Star Game was held here.
The Pittsburgh Pirates will host the 77th All-Star Game on Tuesday at PNC Park.
FanFest will occupy nearly 400,000 square feet at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The event, which opened Friday, runs through Tuesday.
Now in its 16th season, FanFest features interactive activities and historical exhibits such as life-size video batting and pitching cages, free autographs from Pirates players, Hall of Fame players and Major League Baseball legends, and youth skills clinics taught by current and former MLB players.
All FanFest attractions are free with the price of admission. The only additional event costs are for concessions and memorabilia.
Attractions include:
U Collector's Showcase: Fans can buy, sell and trade baseball collectibles and memorabilia.
U Cyber Ballpark: Interactive attraction featuring the latest baseball video and computer games.
U The Diamond: Baseball diamond at the center of FanFest features daily clinics and appearances by Major League players, managers and other experts. Past appearances have included Cal Ripken, Billy Ripken, Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens, Ivan Rodriguez and others.
U FanFest Baseball Cards: Fans can make their own personalized baseball card complete with stats on the back.
U FanFest Bullpen: Fans can step up and test their pitching skills against life-size video images of Major League sluggers.
U Major League Baseball Legends: Free autographs from Pirates players, Hall of Fame players and Major League Baseball legends.
U National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum: Memorabilia exhibit on loan from the Cooperstown, N.Y., hall.
U The Negro Leagues: A visual journey back in time, The Negro Leagues brings to life the history of some of the game's proudest and talented players.
U Video Batting Cages: Batters slug away at baseballs pitched by life-size images of Major League hurlers like Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and Curt Schilling.
U Steal Home Challenge: Fans can test their speed and compete against other fans in this 90-foot race from third base to home plate.U Steeltown Heroes: Stories and images of Pittsburgh's baseball history and legends.
U World's Largest Baseball: 12 feet in diameter and signed by baseball greats like Ted Williams and Hank Aaron.