Spring training's underway and MSG Network wants to help New York area baseball fans get in shape for the back and forth of the 2010 season with an original series debating who are the Big Apple's greatest ballplayers.
Starting with catchers, MSG will step to the dish with The Lineup: New York's All-Time Best Baseball Players on March 23 at 10: 30 p.m.
Each 30-minute episode of The Lineup will assess a number of nominees for consideration at each position from the New York Yankees and Mets, as well as those California-transplants, the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers, with one episode dedicated to the best New York manager of all-time.
MSG's Fran Healy will host a panel, comprising Hall of Fame Mets catcher Gary Carter, former Yankee bullpen ace Sparky Lyle, New York Magazine contributing editor and baseball aficionado Will Leitch, and Steve Hirdt, the executive vice president of the Elias Sports Bureau.
The panel will whittle down a larger list of players from each position and determine the top five from each spot on the diamond. In each episode, they will crown the top player at that position and name him to the official "lineup" card.
The show will feature fresh interviews with some of New York's most famous former baseball stars, managers, coaches, celebrities and media: Yogi Berra, David Cone, Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, Willie Randolph, Andre Dawson, Bucky Dent, Wade Boggs, Davey Johnson, Tony Kubek, Rusty Staub, Don Zimmer, Bert Sugar, Charles Grodin, Rudy Giuliani, Steve Schirripa and Michael Rapaport.
Starting March 16, MSG.com/lineup will feature an interactive fantasy game in conjunction with the on-air program. Fans will try to predict the five players who will be nominated each week and the one ultimately selected as the best. Participants will receive points for each correct pick and will be eligible for weekly prizes throughout the series, with the top performer earning a grand prize. The site will also feature chats for fans to interact and debate each position, quizzes about the nominated players, photo and video galleries, and player statistics for fans to comb through before making their picks.
"We have compiled an unbelievable roster of baseball legends and luminaries to help identify New York's all-time baseball team," said Dan Ronayne, executive vice president and general manager of MSG Networks, in announcing the series. "Filling out an all-time lineup card will certainly spark a healthy debate amongst New York's extremely passionate baseball fans."
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