Atlanta Braves Celebrate Opening Night at Turner Field on Monday, March 31

03/25/2008 -- The Atlanta Braves will host the Pittsburgh Pirates for Opening Night 2008 on Monday, March 31 with a 7:10 first pitch. Pre-game ceremonies beginning at 6:30 p.m. will feature a video tribute to the Braves storied franchise, the longest continuously operating franchise in Major League Baseball. After full squad introductions, recording star Diana DeGarmo will sing the National Anthem and pilots from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans will perform a fly over in F-18 Hornets.

Nationally touring country band Whiskey Falls will perform their song "Load up the Bases", written for the Braves 2008 season, pre-game in Fan Plaza, and will sing God Bless America during the 7th inning stretch. Country music star Eric Church will lead fans in Take Me Out to the Ballgame following God Bless America, as the Braves celebrate the start of the 2008 season.

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Fans will have their first chance to see the Braves take on their division rivals, the New York Mets, April 4-6. The first 45,000 fans on Friday and Saturday nights will receive a Braves 2008 magnetic schedule courtesy of Georgia Power, and Friday night fans can stay after the game to see the first Publix Friday Night Fireworks show of the year.

The Atlanta Braves is Major League Baseball's winningest franchise since 1991. During that time, Braves teams have earned 14 division championships, five National League pennants and a World Series title. Based in Atlanta since 1966, the Braves franchise is the longest continuously operating franchise in Major League Baseball. Atlanta Braves games are telecast on FSN South, SportSouth, and Peachtree TV with radio broadcasts heard in Atlanta on 640 WGST, 94.9 The Bull and VIVA 105.7 and regionally on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network.

Source: MLB