FANFEST FANTASTIC FOR ALL-STAR FANS

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The All-Star Game has become much more than nine innings of baseball.

The game is Tuesday night July 15 at Yankee Stadium, in the last year of the famed ballpark. But the celebration begins July 11 at the Jacob K. Javits Center on Manhattan's West Side with All-Star FanFest.

The DHL All-Star Fan Fest features more than 40 interactive exhibits and attractions, Major League Baseball clinics and seminars, free autograph sessions with Yankees New York Yankees legends and Hall of Famers, and memorabilia.

Tickets for the FanFest are available, with sales already 70 percent ahead of last year for the same event in San Francisco.

FanFest runs through July 15 and tickets can be purchased at the door. But MLB has suggested purchasing tickets in advance, as they are timestamped, which allows you to decide the day and time you want to attend.

Ticket prices are $30 for adults and $25 for seniors, military personnel and children ages 3-12. Children 2 and under are admitted free.

All the events are free with the exception of concessions and memorabilia.

Seven-time All-Star Derek Jeter Derek Jeter and Yankees legend Yogi Berra are the spokesman for the event. And, not surprisingly, they had nothing but pleasant things to say about the five-day gathering.

"DHL All-Star FanFest is a unique event that will bring excitement and enjoyment to baseball fans of all backgrounds," Jeter said. "It is the largest baseball fan event in the world, and I can't think of a better stage to hold this type of once-in-a-lifetime experience than New York City."

Here is a list of some of the events going throughout the week:

The Javits Center is devoting 450,000 square feet to the event, 150 percent more than last year in San Francisco.

Cyber Ballpark: Interactive attraction featuring the latest MLB video and computer games.

The Diamond: Located at the center of Fan Fest, this attraction features daily clinics and appearances by MLB players, managers and other experts. Past appearances have included Cal Rikpen Jr., Alex Rodriguez Alex Rodriguez and Pudge Rodriguez.

FanFest Baseball Cards: Fans step up and test their pitching skills against life-size video images of their favorite players.

Video Batting Cages: Bat against images of MLB's best hurlers.

Steal Home Challenge: Compete against other fans in a 90-foot race to home plate.

MLB Legends: Free autographs from Hall of Fame players and Major League legends.

Hall of Fame Exhibit: The largest on loan from Cooperstown.

The Negro Leagues: A visual history of the Negro Leagues.

Hometown Heroes: Stories and images of Yankees history.

World's Largest Baseball: 12 feet in diamater and signed by some of baseball's greats, including Ted Williams and Hank Aaron.