MLB Bringing Silver Slugger Awards to TV

By Alex Weprin 

Major League Baseball is taking its annual Silver Slugger Awards to the television set. MLB Network will air the 2010 Silver Slugger Award announcement show live Thursday, November 11, starting at 6 PM ET.

The event is part of the network’s off-season original programming push, which is seeking to give baseball fans a stockpile of original content to enjoy in the gap between the end of the World Series, and when pitchers and catchers report next Spring.

The league has been leveraging MLB Network, presenting awards and events like the MLB draft in a way that haven’t been presented in years prior. Adding the Silver Sluggers to that list makes sense. Hardcore baseball fans will find it must-see TV, while the event aspect broadens the appeal.

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Also on tap for the coming months are new episodes of MLB Network series’ “Prime 9” and “MLB Network Countdown,” as well as original documentaries.

More information, after the jump.

NEW EPISODES OF HOT STOVE, PRIME 9, MLB NETWORK COUNTDOWN & BASEBALL’S SEASONS HIGHLIGHT OFFSEASON PROGRAMMING IN NOVEMBER

2010 Silver Slugger Award Show Airs on Thursday, November 11 at 6:00 p.m. ET

Yard War: Baseball to be Featured Tomorrow, November 9 at 10:00 p.m. ET

Secaucus, NJ, November 8, 2010 – As the offseason begins, MLB Network is rolling out a slate of new programming beginning with its live studio show Hot Stove every weekday at 6:00 p.m. ET, featuring updates and analysis of the moves all 30 Major League Clubs are making in preparation for the 2011 season. Throughout November, MLB Network will also air new episodes of MLB Network Countdown and MLB Productions’ Prime 9 and Baseball’s Seasons, plus the 2010 Silver Slugger Award announcement show on Thursday, November 11 at 6:00 p.m. ET.

MLB Network will announce the 2010 Silver Slugger Award winners during a special telecast where all 18 Silver Slugger Awards, honoring the top offensive players at each position in the American and National Leagues, will be in-studio at MLB Network on display throughout the show. This marks the first time Louisville Slugger, the Official Bat of MLB, has collectively displayed the Silver Slugger Awards outside its Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. Throughout November Hot Stove will provide the latest updates and reaction to all other year-end awards, including the Cy Young Award, Manager of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Rawlings Gold Glove Award and Rookie of the Year.

The greatest first basemen and pitcher nicknames in Major League Baseball history are the focus of new episodes of Prime 9 beginning this week. Harmon Killebrew, Willie McCovey and Lou Gehrig are among those who had legendary careers as first basemen and Prime 9 will rank the top nine and decide who is baseball’s best at the position tomorrow, November 9 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Immediately following, Prime 9 will rank pitchers’ nicknames, including Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd, Walter “Big Train” Johnson and Ron “Louisiana Lightning” Guidry and determine which pitcher holds greatest nickname in baseball history. The all-time best infielders, rotations, double play combinations, sliders and third basemen will also be debated in new episodes of Prime 9 every Tuesday in November back-to-back at 8:00 p.m. ET.

The most exciting game endings of the 2010 season and the top 75 catches of all-time will be the focus of new episodes of MLB Network Countdown on Wednesday, November 10 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Additional new episodes of MLB Network Countdown, featuring the 2010 plays of the year, the all-time most controversial calls and the top walk-offs of 2010, will air every Wednesday in November beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET.

MLB Network’s new offseason programming continues as the 1990 Major League Baseball season is featured in an episode of MLB Productions’ Baseball’s Seasons, on Monday, November 15 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The episode will focus on Lou Piniella’s Cincinnati Reds defeating Tony LaRussa’s Oakland Athletics in the World Series; the nine no-hitters thrown throughout the season; Willie McGee winning the National League batting title, despite finishing the season in Oakland; and the breakout year for the Pittsburgh Pirates led by Barry Bonds. The 1971 Major League Baseball season will also be featured in a new episode of Baseball’s Seasons, on Monday, November 29 at 9:00 p.m. ET. The episode will highlight the Baltimore Orioles’ historic pitching rotation, Vida Blue winning the American League Cy Young and MVP awards for the Oakland Athletics, and Roberto Clemente leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a World Series title.

MLB Network analysts Dan Plesac and Mitch Williams will be featured in the MLB Network premiere of Yard War: Baseball tomorrow, November 9 at 10:00 p.m. ET. In partnership with DIY Network, the episode features Plesac and Williams helping turn the backyards of a Cubs’ and Cardinals’ fan into baseball-themed showplaces. Yard War: Baseball first aired on DIY Network on October 26.

About MLB Network
MLB Network launched on January 1, 2009 as the largest debut in cable television history and is currently available in more than 55 million cable, telco, TV and satellite homes throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. In its inaugural year, MLB Network was honored with four Sports Emmy Awards and 12 nominations by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. With live games, original programming, highlights, classic games, and coverage of baseball events, MLB Network is the ultimate television destination for baseball fans. For more information and to find MLB Network in your area, go to www.mlbnetwork.com www.facebook.com/mlbnetwork www.twitter.com/mlbnetwork
About MLB Productions

Major League Baseball Productions is the Emmy® award-winning television and video production division of Major League Baseball and the official video archivists of the game. With unparalleled access to the Clubs and their players, Major League Baseball Productions produces original programming for growing audiences worldwide through its network specials, exclusive home videos, commercials and other specialty programming. For more information on Major League Baseball Productions, log on to www.MLBProductions.com.

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