COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. - The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will hold an Opening Day Celebration to kick off the 2009 season on April 6 beginning at 1 p.m.

Fans will have the opportunity to watch live coverage of Opening Day baseball, starting with the New York Mets vs. Cincinnati Reds game at 1:10 p.m. in the Bullpen Theater, as well as test their knowledge of opening day history with trivia contests.

Admission to the celebration is included in the cost of Museum admission. Fans are encouraged to wear their favorite team’s uniform or colors while visiting the home of their baseball heroes.

This year marks the 134th season of Major League Baseball and the 70th anniversary of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Among the many Opening Day items in the Museum’s collection are: A ball thrown for the first pitch in Washington Nationals’ history on April 4, 2005; Opening Day baseballs signed by Presidents Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson; And the ball from the ceremonial first pitch of the 2000 season, a game between the Cubs and Mets in Japan that marked the first regular-season Major League Baseball game played outside of North America.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is open seven days a week year round, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

The Museum observes off-season hours of 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. from the day after Labor Day until Memorial Day Weekend.

From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Museum is open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. seven days a week. Ticket prices are $16.50 for adults (13 and over), $11 for seniors (65 and over) and for those holding current memberships in the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and AMVets organizations, and $6 for juniors (ages 7-12). Members are always admitted free of charge and there is no charge for children 6 years of age or younger.

For more information, visit the Baseball Hall of Fame web site at baseballhall.org or call 888-HALL-OF-FAME (888-425-5633) or 607-547-7200