In the wake of Orel Hershiser leaving the Alleged Worldwide Leader for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ new regional sports network that launches in 2014, ESPN has adjusted and hired from within. It’s chosen former pitcher Curt Schilling to replace Hershiser to join Dan Shulman and John Kru in the booth.
There’s no doubting of Schilling’s credentials, but there isn’t a microphone or camera he hasn’t liked. And his act at ESPN has worn extremely thin. Never the less, he joins Sunday Night Baseball after stints over the past couple of years in the studio, Schilling gets a promotion into the booth.
Here’s the press release.
Curt Schilling Joins ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball
Schilling Teams with Shulman, Kruk & Olney for 25th Season of Sunday Night Baseball
ESPN announced today that three-time World Series Champion Curt Schilling will join Sunday Night Baseball as part of a multi-year extension. Schilling will serve as a Sunday Night Baseball analyst alongside play-by-play commentator Dan Shulman and fellow analyst and former Philadelphia Phillies teammate John Kruk. The trio will also be joined by reporter and ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney. ESPN will celebrate its 25th season of Sunday Night Baseball – the exclusive national Major League Baseball game of the week – in 2014. Schilling will also continue to contribute to Baseball Tonight.
“I’m excited to join an already outstanding team,” said Schilling. “I would like to bring a perspective that will help fans get inside the head of the guy on the mound, and behind the plate, while also helping fans to better understand the work and preparation that goes into pitching in the big leagues.”
Schilling has served as a Baseball Tonight studio analyst since 2010, and has also provided analysis for select MLB game telecasts on ESPN.
Jed Drake, ESPN executive producer and senior vice-president, production, added, “Curt is one of the most unique announcers we have ever had on baseball, or any other sport, for that matter. He speaks his mind, and when he does, it is almost always fascinating, insightful and quite often, provocative. People will watch Sunday Night Baseball because of what Curt might say – that’s a rare gift. And, did I mention that he was a ferocious competitor, who has three World Series rings? Enough said.”
Considered one of the best postseason pitchers of his era, Schilling is a former World Series MVP, six-time MLB All-Star and a Roberto Clemente Award winner. He amassed more than 3,000 strikeouts in his 20-year Major League Baseball career.
The 25th season of Sunday Night Baseball will air at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Deportes Radio and WatchESPN on Sundays during the regular season.
There you have it.
