Three-man Booth for 20th Season
ESPN’s talented Sunday Night Baseball commentator team of Jon Miller and Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, entering their 20th season together in the booth, will be joined each week by analyst Steve Phillips. Phillips, who joined ESPN in 2005, will make his regular-season debut on Opening Night, April 5, when the defending World Champion Philadelphia Phillies host the Atlanta Braves at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2 HD. The game will also be available on ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV.
Miller and Morgan have called season-long Sunday Night Baseball game of the week telecasts since the series began in 1990. Phillips will continue to provide game analysis on Monday Night Baseball and in the studio on Baseball Tonight, SportsCenter and other programs throughout the week.
“Steve has emerged as a leading and extremely well-connected baseball expert, excelling in both game and studio analysis, and adding his up-to-the-minute, inside information will only enhance the fan experience with our marquee Sunday Night Baseball franchise,” said Norby Williamson, executive vice president, production. “The pace of a baseball telecast affords the opportunity for three outstanding voices to provide commentary, detailed information and anecdotes.”
Phillips said, “It’s a tremendous honor to join Sunday Night Baseball, the preeminent MLB game of the week. Jon and Joe have set the standard for baseball telecasts over the last 19 years, and I look forward to being a member of their team.”
Morgan added, “I’m pleased that Steve is joining our Sunday Night team. I have admired Steve since I met him as a general manager, and now as a valued member of the ESPN ‘family.’ I look forward to interacting with Steve and Jon, with whom I have had 19 fulfilling years on the Sunday Night game of the week. My hope is that our new lineup will provide an even better presentation, and I am anxious to work toward that goal with Jon, Steve and the rest of the ESPN baseball group.”
Miller stated, “Steve, as a former GM, knows better than anybody how teams are put together, trades are made and the inevitable stress between managers and GM’s and between the front office and ownership. Now, combining Joe’s expertise of the game on the field and in the dugout and Steve’s expertise and ongoing knowledge of the inner workings of each franchise, I believe in the 20th season of SNB, we’ll reach our highest level yet as an entertaining and provocatively informative baseball telecast. Welcome, Steve.”
This year will mark ESPN’s 20th consecutive season of Major League Baseball coverage. ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to televise 80 regular-season games, which will be simulcast on ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV throughout the season. For the 12th year, ESPN Radio will provide coverage from Opening Night through the final game of the World Series.
Additionally, ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to televise 23 World Baseball Classic games – the marquee package of games including the semifinals and final – beginning March 5. ESPN will also continue to televise the Home Run Derby and additional All-Star related programming.
ESPN’s vast MLB offerings include: the Sunday Night Baseball franchise, the only national exclusive game of the week; Monday Night Baseball, including up to three co-exists (carry back to local markets) per team; Wednesday Night Baseball; and the acclaimed Baseball Tonight, the most-viewed nightly destination for MLB highlights, news and information.
