Bob Costas takes a look at the evolution of statistical analysis in baseball. It started in 1857 when Henry Chadwick created the first boxscore, so that quantifying the game would give baseball a sense of legitimacy. That was followed by institutions like the Elias Sports Bureau and the Baseball Encyclopedia, leading to today's sabermetric revolution of Bill James and Billy Beane.
It's the rarest feat any pitcher can achieve. First accomplished in 1880, only 23 pitchers have ever faced 27 batters and gotten all 27 batters out, without allowing any to reach base. Hosted by Matt Yallof, this special looks at the ninth innings of 17 perfect games: Larsen, Bunning, Koufax, Barker, Witt, Browning, Martinez, Rogers, Wells, Cone, Johnson, Buehrle, Braden, Halladay, Humber, Cain, and Hernandez. Not to be forgotten are some of those who came ever so close to a perfect game, only to have it spoiled by the 27th batter, including two who lost theirs on controversial calls by umpires. Then there were the two who did retire 27 batters in a row, only to lose their bids for perfection in extra innings. Includes archived interviews with some of those involved.
Celebrating colorful broadcaster Bob Uecker and his 50-plus years in baseball. His famously undistinguished playing career led to film and TV roles, a legendary series of beer commercials, and over 100 appearances on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson." Ultimately his spot in the Milwaukee Brewers broadcast booth would take him to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Narrated by Tom Berenger.
The 1994 Montreal Expos were arguably the best team in baseball, and the only Expos team in their history about which that could be said. Then came the players strike that led to the cancellation of the postseason and the Expos' first chance to bring home their first championship. What followed was a painful decline that saw financial troubles, ownership by the other 29 teams, and finally the move to Washington.
We all know that the World Series represents the final showdown between two teams, the AL and NL champions, but the Fall Classic includes a third team. This documentary takes an inside look at the six umpires who took the field for the 2014 World Series.
A profile of Lenny Randle, baseball's Forrest Gump who found himself in the middle of some of the game's most infamous moments of the 1970s. He was at-bat at Shea Stadium when the 1977 blackout hit, took the late Thurman Munson's roster spot, got into a fistfight with his manager, and played in two forfeited games: the Washington Senators' last home game and Ten Cent Beer Night in Cleveland. Today he lives in Nettuno, Italy. Narrated by Jim Breuer.
The one hour documentary looks back at the iconic night 20 years ago when Cal Ripken Jr. broke the record once thought to be unbreakable: Lou Gehrig's streak of 2,130 consecutive games played.
Reggie Jackson, a first-ballot Hall of Famer who won a remarkable five World Series titles and was twice named the World Series Most Valuable Player. Follow the journey of Reggie becoming "Mr. October" in this one hour documentary narrated by Ice Cube and featuring interviews with Jackson, Pete Rose, Derek Jeter, Julius Erving and Rickey Henderson among others.
A look at baseball's first major league team outside of the United States from their inception in 1969 and their early years playing in a converted city park, to their 1994 championship race they never got to finish from which they never recovered. Narrated by Montreal native William Shatner.
Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Caray's rise to becoming one of baseball's most iconic voices and how his legacy still resonates throughout the game today.
A look at Mike Piazza's unconventional journey from the 62nd round of the amateur draft to the Hall of Fame. Highlights: young Mike getting batting advice in his backyard from Ted Williams, his breakup with the Dodgers, his feud with Roger Clemens, and his legendary post-9/11 home run.
