WSRE Press Room
WSRE PLANS DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HISTORY OF BASEBALL IN PENSACOLA; LOOKING FOR LOCAL MEMORIES
KEN BURNS’ “THE TENTH INNING” TO PREMIERE TUE & WED
WSRE’S “BASEBALL IN PENSACOLA” TO PREMIERE JUNE 2011
Thousands of bats, three home run records and one “curse” have been broken since Ken Burns last explored the history of America’s national pastime with his landmark 1994 PBS series BASEBALL. Now Burns and co-director Lynn Novick bring the series to the present with THE TENTH INNING. The four-hour, two-part documentary series will air Tuesday-Wednesday, September 28 & 29, 2010, 7 p.m. on WSRE. As a companion program to THE TENTH INNING, WSRE is producing a local documentary, BASEBALL IN PENSACOLA, scheduled for release in June 2011, chronicling the rich history of America's favorite sport as it unfolded in America's first city, Pensacola. Catch a first glimpse of BASEBALL IN PENSACOLA immediately following part two of THE TENTH INNING on Wednesday.
WSRE is looking for anyone who has a connection to Pensacola’s baseball history and is willing to share their stories, photographs, or memorabilia. Please send to info@wsre.org, mail to WSRE, 1000 College Blvd., Pensacola, FL 32504 or call (850) 484-1236.
BASEBALL IN PENSACOLA recounts the bay side area’s history with the game as far back as the late 1800s. As Pensacola began to grow in prosperity with tourism and industry, so did the endeavors of the city to be a proving ground for budding players and a challenging training arena for veterans of America’s most beloved game. Pensacola fielded its own professionally organized teams, which offered not only quality entertainment for thousands of fans, but also a stepping stone into the world of the Big Leagues. The documentary is the backdrop for discovering some of Pensacola’s most legendary baseball figures including Billy Sunday, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Branch Rickey, Ted Williams, Cal Ripkin Sr, Don Sutton, Buck Showalter, Jay Bell, Travis Fryman and many more.
THE TENTH INNING tells the tumultuous story of America’s national pastime from the early 1990s to the present day, introducing an unforgettable array of players, teams and fans, celebrating the game’s resilience and enduring appeal, and showcasing both extraordinary accomplishments — and devastating losses and disappointments. The film highlights dramatic developments that transformed the game: the crippling 1994 strike that left many fans disillusioned with their heroes; the increasing dominance of Latino and Asian players who turned baseball into a truly international game; baseball’s skyrocketing profits, thanks to new stadiums, interleague play, and the wild card; the rise of a new Yankee Dynasty; the Red Sox’ historic World Series victory; the astonishing feats of Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds; and the revelations about performance-enhancing drugs that cast a shadow on many of the era’s greatest stars and their accomplishments.