Here’s what you’ll be seeing on Fox, MLB Network, TBS and ESPN this weekend.
First, Fox and its Game of the Week.
FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
Cards/Royals Relive 1985 World Series, Rays/Mets and Brewers/Tigers Clash on FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK
Rosenthal: Lying Is As Much A Part Of This Era As PED’s Are
AL CHAMPS TRAVEL TO NY HIGHLIGHTING MLB ON FOX WEEKEND – It’ll be another exciting round of interleague play featured on FOX this Saturday, June 20 (4:00 PM ET). Usually, the Tampa Bay Rays find themselves heading to Yankee Stadium when they arrive in New York, but this week, Evan Longoria and the AL Champs head to Citi Field to take on David Wright and the Mets. In Kansas City, it’s a rematch of the famous 1985 World Series as Albert Pujols leads the Cardinals against the improving Royals. Also, Curtis Granderson and the AL Central-leading Tigers host Prince Fielder and the Brewers. Pregame originates live from Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City with host Chris Rose. Once game action begins, Rose joins the game crew of Dick Stockton and Eric Karros as a field reporter. For instant updates during the week and games from the entire MLB on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MLBONFOX.
Tampa Bay Rays at New York Mets, Thom Brennaman, Tim McCarver & Ken Rosenthal, going to 72% of USA
Citi Field – Queens, NY
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Houston, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, Washington, West Palm Beach
Milwaukee Brewers at Detroit Tigers, Kenny Albert & Mark Grace, going to 16% of USA
Comerica Park – Detroit, MI
MARKETS INCLUDE: Indianapolis, Kansas City, Louisville, Memphis, Nashville, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Tulsa
St. Louis Cardinals at Kansas City Royals, Dick Stockton & Eric Karros, going to 11% of USA
Kauffman Stadium – Kansas City, MO
MARKETS INCLUDE: Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Detroit, Milwaukee, Minneapolis
ROSENTHAL: “LYING IS AS MUCH A PART OF THIS ERA AS PED’S ARE” – On Tuesday, June 16th, a report out of the New York Times alleged that Sammy Sosa was one of the 104 players to test positive for performance enhancing drugs in 2003. The news didn’t surprise anyone but for MLB on FOX’s Ken Rosenthal, it became very clear that not only has PED’s been a part of baseball’s culture but so has lying about them. “Bonds is in trouble because he’s alleged to have lied, the same with Clemens. I can understand players using the drugs, I can understand why they look for an edge, but what’s more difficult to understand is why players continue to lie when it is clearly not in their best interest.” Click FOXSports.com for more.
“ALL-STARS AMONG US” CAMPAIGN IN FULL SWING – Major League Baseball and PEOPLE announced the 90 finalists and the beginning of the voting period for the “All-Stars Among Us” campaign, which recognizes individuals who are serving their communities in extraordinary ways. The 90 finalists (three per MLB club) have been selected from thousands of online submissions by fans across the nation who nominated an “All-Star” within their community. Fans can log on to www.PeopleAllStars.com now through June 24 to read each nominee’s inspiring story and vote for their favorite community “All-Star.” All 30 winners (one per MLB club) will be included in the All-Star Week festivities in St. Louis and honored during a special pregame ceremony at the 2009 MLB All-Star Game Tuesday, July 14 on FOX (8:00 PM ET).
MLB Network will send Victor Rojas and Harold Reynolds to call Saturday’s Civil Rights Game between the White Sox and Cincinnati.
MLB NETWORK TO AIR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE FIRST REGULAR SEASON CIVIL RIGHTS GAME
Harold Reynolds and Victor Rojas to call the game on Saturday, June 20 between the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds
Secaucus, N.J. – MLB Network will telecast the Civil Rights Game, featuring the Chicago White Sox at Cincinnati Reds, on Saturday, June 20 in Cincinnati, Ohio. MLB Network will air live coverage beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET of the pre-game ceremonies at Great American Ball Park. MLB Network’s Victor Rojas and Harold Reynolds will call the game, a special edition of Saturday Night Baseball.
This year’s three MLB Beacon Award winners, Hank Aaron, Muhammad Ali and Bill Cosby, will be on-field together for the pre-game ceremonies. Hank Aaron is being honored with the Beacon of Life, Muhammad Ali is being awarded the Beacon of Change and Bill Cosby is being given the Beacon of Hope. All three MLB Beacon Award winners have been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor available in the United States.
“We’re proud to showcase Major League Baseball’s role in America’s Civil Rights Movement by televising this year’s Gillette Civil Rights Game as part of Saturday Night Baseball,” said Tony Petitti, President and CEO of MLB Network. “By hosting the game during the regular season, more fans can now appreciate the significance of the game and the Beacon Award winners.”
The Gillette Civil Rights Game and related events will take place on June 19 and 20 and were developed to pay tribute to all of those who fought on and off the field for equal rights for all Americans. The game on June 20 will be the first regular season Civil Rights Game after two previous pre-season exhibitions and will also be streamed live on MLB.com.
At Saturday’s game, Grammy Award-winning gospel artist BeBe Winans will be performing the National Anthem. Country music star Rissi Palmer will perform “America The Beautiful” and 17-year-old sensation Bernard “BK” Jackson will play “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” on his saxophone, during the 7th inning stretch.
MLB Network’s telecast of the Gillette Civil Rights Game will be blacked out in the Chicago White Sox home television territory. Viewers in areas subject to blackouts will be provided with a simulcast from a local telecast of the New York Yankees at Florida Marlins game beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
MLB Network’s on-air spot for the Gillette Civil Rights Game is available to view here: http://mlbnetwork.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200906145060323.
Here’s what you will see on TBS except in Atlanta and Boston.
“Sunday MLB on TBS” Continues on Father’s Day with an Interleague Battle Between the Braves and Red SoxBraves @ Red Sox face off starting at 1:30 p.m. ET
“Sunday MLB on TBS” continues on Sunday, June 21st at 1:30 p.m. ET with an interleague showdown featuring Brian McCann and the Atlanta Braves of the National League heading to Beantown to battle Dustin Pedroia and the Boston Red Sox of the American League at Fenway Park. The Braves probable pitcher Jair Jurrjens is scheduled to take the mound against Tim Wakefield of the Red Sox. Chip Caray (play-by-play) and Ron Darling (analyst) will call the action from the broadcast booth.
“Sunday MLB on TBS” includes match-ups on TBS every Sunday afternoon throughout the regular season. The network will also exclusively televise the MLB All-Star Selection Show on Sunday, July 5. Additionally, beginning in October TBS will once again provide exclusive coverage of the Division Series and the National League Championship Series (NLCS).
TBS has broadcast MLB coverage for more than 30 years serving as the exclusive home of the MLB Division Series (DS) and one League Championship Series (LCS) since 2007 and home of Atlanta Braves coverage from 1977 to 2007.
SUNDAY MLB ON TBS SCHEDULE:
Sun., June 21
1:30 p.m. Atlanta Braves @ Boston Red Sox
Announcers: Chip Caray (play-by-play) and Ron Darling (analyst)
SUNDAY MLB ON TBS UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Sun., June 28
1:30 p.m. Boston Red Sox @ Atlanta Braves
Announcers: Chip Caray (play-by-play) and Buck Maritinez (analyst)
Sun., July 5
1 p.m. MLB All-Star Selection Show
Ernie Johnson (host), Dennis Eckersley (analyst), Cal Ripken (analyst) and David Wells (analyst)
2 p.m. Milwaukee Brewers @ Chicago Cubs
Announcers: Chip Caray (play-by-play) and Buck Martinez (analyst)
Then on Sunday Night Baseball, ESPN heads out west.
MLB: California Showdown on Sunday Night Baseball
ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball will feature the Los Angeles Angels hosting the L.A. Dodgers, who lead the NL West – June 21 at 8 p.m. ET. Jon Miller will call the game with analysts Joe Morgan and Steve Phillips. The game will also be available via ESPN HD, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV.
Enjoy your baseball weekend.
