Self (archive footage)
The life and times of Yankee Yogi Berra, whose unique personality and unforgettable Yogi-isms sometimes got in the way of his being recognized as one of baseball’s very greatest catchers.
A unique insight into Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver - a reclusive icon and his relationship with New York City.
An in-depth and intimate look at Johnny Bench's Hall of Fame playing career and his life now as a father to two young sons.
Self (archive footage)
Since 1912, baseball has been a game obsessed with statistics and speed. Thrown at upwards of 100 miles per hour, a fastball moves too quickly for human cognition and accelerates into the realm of intuition. Fastball is a look at how the game at its highest levels of achievement transcends logic and even skill, becoming the primal struggle for man to control the uncontrollable.
The 1975 Fall Classic matched the Reds against the Boston Red Sox in a seven-act performance that enthralled the nation. After an extra-innings defeat in Game 6 the night before, the Reds trailed 3-0 in Game 7, but like true champions, they battled back to win the game and take home the series. The taut drama of the previous season's finale was replaced by an awesome display of professionalism and dominance in the 1976 World Series as the Reds swept the star-struck New York Yankees. Fourteen years later, the Reds again swept their opponent, but this time it was a significant upset. The defending champion Oakland Athletics were out-pitched and out-played over four games as the Red Legs completed their wire-to-wire season with their fifth championship in franchise history.
Self
...the electricity of opening day ...a kid's awe at his first big-league game ...the close-up presence of heroes, heroes and more heroes. It's all here in GRAND SLAM!, an exciting new and original tribute to baseball and 37 of its greatest living legends. Join them, guest star Billy Crystal and host Dick Schapp, ABC-TV national sports correspondent, as they share insights, opinions and surprising revelations, interwoven with some of the most amazing baseball action footage you'll ever see! Plus a superb soundtrack of original songs composed by award-winner Bill Conti ("Rocky," "The Karate Kid,") with vocals by Roberta Flack, Isaac Hayes, Little Richard and Ashford & Simpson. It's that rare kind of program that will make you want to see it over and over again!