THIRTEEN Premieres Baseball: A New York Love Story September 26 at 10:30 P.M. on THIRTEEN and September 27 at Midnight on WLIW21, hosted by Sportscaster Bob Costas.
Multi-Part Series Provides a Local New York Perspective To Coincide With Ken Burns’ The Tenth Inning.
WNET.ORG will broadcast a multi-part series, Baseball: A New York Love Story beginning Sunday, September 26 at 10:30 p.m. on THIRTEEN, and on WLIW21 on Monday, September 27 at midnight. The series will be hosted by sportscaster Bob Costas.
Baseball: A New York Love Storyis a production of Creative News Group (CNG) for WNET.ORG, one of America’s most prolific and respected public media providers.
This summer, WNET.ORG asked viewers to share their favorite baseball memories. The series producers then interviewed dozens of fans of the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants and of the Yankees and Mets who had written or called in. The broadcast, commissioned to run alongside Ken Burns’s The Tenth Inning, will cover more than 60 years dating from Jackie Robinson’s debut in 1947 through the Yankees 27th world championship in 2009. The film includes stories, sometimes humorous, sometimes bittersweet, about the game’s impact on New Yorkers throughout the years.
Unlike other broadcasts, which tell the story team-by-team or era-by-era, Baseball: A New York Love Story takes a thematic approach to the games and the fans’ recollections. For instance, the series will begin with an episode called, “Brushes with History,” and will include stories from fans who wandered into or somehow became part of New York baseball history. Another episode titled “Learning to Love, Loving to Hate,” explores the joy fans, fathers and sons and brothers and sisters all take rooting against one another. Notables interviewed include: Joan Hodges (widow of Gil Hodges) and Gil Hodges, Jr., radio personality Mike Francesa, writer Roger Kahn, former Dodger Joe Pignatano, and award-winning actor Peter Riegert.
The show’s producers were assisted by students attending the Macaulay Honors College program at the City University of New York (CUNY).
Producers are Marc Rosenwasser and Ivette Feliciano. Director of Photography is Daniel Cowen. Editor is Elyse Kaftan. Associate Producers are Daniel Allen and Dorothy Pacella. Researchers are Ian Bloomfield and Lori Rothenbucher. Production Assistants are Christine Berrios, Sam Hasty, Irene O’Hare and Brian Taylor. Graphic Designer is David Chomowicz. Production Managers are Jerry Godfrey and Jennifer Rowe.
John Scalici says:
August 16, 2010 at 2:48 pm
If you are looking for a NY Baseball story here is one:
Time: 1950’s,
Place: Parade Grounds, Brooklyn, NY
League: Kiwanis League and then The PGL (Parade Ground League)
My story centers around my manager, a gentlemen, Mr. Thomas McGowan, an African American who managed a young group of us boys of many different nationalities. Mr McGowan (as he was addressed), was a caring man, and I might add, the only African-American at the Parade Grounds along with his son Jimmy. Mr. McGowan was highly regarded by the other managers over the years. I also think back with great affection and fondness of him. He had passed away many years ago.
I have tried in vain to find someone else from that era who I might have played against or hopefully, a former team mate. I traveled to the Parade Grounds a few times (I live in Milford, Ct) over the years calling various baseball people and league people who might have played or known about Mr. McGowan or the leagues from those days. Sadly, no success.The closest I have come was one player, Howie Cotler who was one of our catchers. I was able to find him by learning he had his own company, “Cotler Pants”. I called him up and we had lunch several times a few years ago. When I went into his office (he was President of the firm), and there on his desk, was a baseball.!! How appropriate. His recollection of those days was exactly the same as mine; a Golden Time of our youth.
I also keep in touch with a boyhood friend (Leon Manfredi, who had come over from Italy in 1950, introduced to me by our home room teacher, Mrs. Morrison to “make him feel at home”). From those days when we first met at the age of 15, we shared many game – and life memories.
Fortunately, I have a large team picture hanging in my special room at home taken on Sunday, April 28, 1950 just before we (The Indians), played the Brooklyn Royals. It was taken from the 2nd base side of the infield of Diamond13. Today, Diamond 13 no longer exists. The Parade Grounds has undergone major renovation a few years ago so Diamond 13 (along with everything else) is gone’ making way for new memories.
I often look at my picture not as an old timer (which I am), but to reflect on how much has changed over the years. By the way, I have just retired from coaching baseball at the age of 75. (My legs can’t handle it anymore!!!…the spirit is willing but the flesh is mezzo-mezzo….)… I still live with the hope of maybe, just maybe I will somehow miraculosly run into someone from “the old days”…..”Hey, you never know”!!!!
John Scalici
[...] the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in New York City hosted a screening of Baseball: A New York Love Story for their patients. Among those in attendance were THIRTEEN’s CEO Neal Shapiro, producers [...]
[...] the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in New York City hosted a screening of Baseball: A New York Love Story for their patients. Among those in attendance were THIRTEEN’s CEO Neal Shapiro, producers Marc [...]
is watching this now, and they are talking about when Jackie Robinson pulled up to a kid and asked him, ‘Hey, kid, dya know where Ebbet’s Field is?’ They show a newspaper clipping with the following headline above a uniformed Robinson shaking hands with the Owner or GM of the Dodgers. “Dodgers Purchase Robinson, First Negro in Modern Major League Baseball’. Purchased? Really? Did we also use the verb purchase when discussing the transactions made to acquire white players? I just really find it curious is all!
[...] For Baseball: A New York Love Story, five Macaulay Honors College students had the opportunity to participate as interns on the film’s production team. From shooting to booking guests, the students played a vital role in the documentary and gained hands-on experience in television production. The partnership was arranged by Friends of Thirteen, Inc. [...]
Dear Marc and Cast,
You have made me a star in my family. The program just turned out beautifully. Whoever did the photography for my segment was brilliant. You brought the past into the present. It came alive for everyone.
Love,
Debbie
The song from the documentary SWEET SWEE BASEBALL by John Rose
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TydEqdJ8Jw
The song from the documentary SWEET SWEET BASEBALL by John Rose, I LOVE THIS SONG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TydEqdJ8Jw
Thanks to the producers and the crew of this brilliant documentary! I loved being a part of it (my friends and family got a kick out of seeing me on tv) and every episode was so moving! And I gotta say, everyone told me I looked great!
Oh please sell this on DVD! My father moved away from NYC but was a big Mets fan (needless to say, I am a Yankees fan). He would LOVE this but they don’t show it on PBS where he lives.
[...] For Baseball: A New York Love Story, five Macaulay Honors College students had the opportunity to participate as interns on the film’s production team. From shooting to booking guests, the students played a vital role in the documentary and gained hands-on experience in television production. The partnership was arranged by Friends of Thirteen, Inc. [...]
[...] missed this one when it first aired on PBS back in September. But, I caught some of it tonight. Great video clips [...]
I appeared in 4 of the 5 episodes of Baseball:A New York Love Story and received many compliments about the show and my participation. I really enjoyed being part of the program and would love to purchase DVDs, if possible, for myself and my family. Is it available for purchase?
[...] For Baseball: A New York Love Story, five Macaulay Honors College students had the opportunity to participate as interns on the film’s production team. From shooting to booking guests, the students played a vital role in the documentary and gained hands-on experience in television production. The partnership was arranged by Friends of Thirteen, Inc. The student interns are: Irene O’Hare, Brian Taylor, Daniel Cowen, Christine Berrios, and Sam Hasty. Here, they share their experiences with us and explain what they learned from this unique partnership between THIRTEEN and the Macaulay Honors College. [...]