Unlike last year when the Baseball Writers Association of America chose not to vote anyone into the Baseball Hall of Fame, it’s expected at least one player will make it to Cooperstown, NY later this year. Greg Maddux, Jack Morris, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Craig Biggio are among the candidates hoping they’ll get the phone call on Wednesday.
MLB Network will have live coverage of the announcement as part of a three hour special beginning at noon ET. Greg Amsinger, Brian Kenny and Heidi Watney will lead the show. Expected to appear to provide analysis will be Bob Costas, Harold Reynolds, Ken Rosenthal, John Smoltz, John “Hey, Hey, Hey” Heyman and Peter Gammons.
We have the press release for you.
2014 NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME ELECTION RESULTS TO AIR LIVE ON MLB NETWORK & MLB.COM ON WEDNESDAY
Extensive Coverage Begins at 12:00 p.m. ET and Will Feature First Interviews with Electees
Secaucus, NJ, January 6, 2014 – The results of the 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot will be announced exclusively on MLB Network and simulcast on MLB.com on Wednesday, January 8 live at 2:00 p.m. ET.
The announcement will be part of a three-hour live show beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET anchored by MLB Network’s Greg Amsinger, Brian Kenny and Heidi Watney, and including the first interviews with any electees immediately following the announcement, plus analysis from Bob Costas, Harold Reynolds, John Smoltz, Hall of Fame award-winning baseball writer Peter Gammons and Hall of Fame voters Jon Heyman, Ken Rosenthal, Joel Sherman and Tom Verducci, and segments analyzing the ballot from a sabermetric perspective.
Live coverage and analysis of the Hall of Fame announcement will be featured throughout the day on MLB Network beginning with Hot Stove at 9:00 a.m. ET and continuing on Intentional Talk, Clubhouse Confidential and MLB Tonight starting at 3:00 p.m. ET.
The Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) 2014 Hall of Fame ballot features 36 candidates with 17 holdovers from previous elections, including Craig Biggio, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Jack Morris, Mike Piazza, Tim Raines, Curt Schilling and Alan Trammell, plus 19 newcomers, including Tom Glavine, Jeff Kent, Greg Maddux, Mike Mussina and Frank Thomas.
The 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held on Sunday, July 27 and air exclusively on MLB Network and MLB.com.
In addition, ESPN’s SportsCenter will have coverage of the Hall of Fame announcement.
SportsCenter to Provide Day-long Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2014 Announcement Coverage on January 8
SportsCenter will provide comprehensive, day-long coverage of the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2014 announcement on Wednesday, January 8. Pre-announcement coverage will begin on ESPN during the 9 a.m. ET hour with updates and segments continuing throughout the day. In the 2 p.m. hour, Baseball Tonight’s Karl Ravech will host coverage of the announcement with 2012 Hall of Fame inductee (the most recent Hall of Famer) and Baseball Tonight analyst Barry Larkin and ESPN MLB Insider and Hall of Fame voter Tim Kurkjian. Class of 2014 reaction and analysis will continue through the 6 p.m. SportsCenter.
In addition, ESPN.com will provide extensive Hall of Fame coverage, including:
- ESPN’s 2014 Hall of Fame Ballot – the Class of 2014 according to 17 ESPN MLB Insider voters;
- Live coverage with ESPN MLB commentators from 1:30-3 p.m.;
- Live video chat with ESPN MLB Insider Jayson Stark from 2:15-2:30 p.m. Stark will follow with a column on the Class of 2014 voting results;
- Sweet Spot blogger and ESPN MLB Insider David Schoenfield will provide a quick-reaction blog to the announcement;
- Baseball Tonight analyst Doug Glanville column on hitting against Greg Maddux during his career;
- On Thursday, January 9, Kurkjian will post a piece looking ahead to the Class of 2015;
- On Friday, January 10, ESPN.com will update its Hall of 100 section.
That’s it.
