or


[01/20/16 - 09:58 AM]
Smithsonian Channel(TM) and Major League Baseball Team Up to Profile Four of the National Pastime's Most Iconic Players
Each of the specials is narrated by Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) winner Martin Sheen.

[via press release from Smithsonian Channel]

SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL(TM) AND MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM UP TO PROFILE FOUR OF THE NATIONAL PASTIME'S MOST ICONIC PLAYERS

"MAJOR LEAGUE LEGENDS"

PREMIERES MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29 AT 8PM ET/PT

EMMY(R) WINNER MARTIN SHEEN NARRATES SERIES OF ONE-HOUR PROGRAMS THAT OPENS WITH BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPECIAL ON HANK AARON

NEW YORK, January 20, 2016 - Smithsonian Channel and Major League Baseball have teamed up to tell the stories of four players who transcended the National Pastime and left legacies as true American icons: Hank Aaron, who surmounted racism in the Deep South and became baseball's home run king; Babe Ruth, who emerged from a troubled youth to become America's first superstar celebrity; Lou Gehrig, the embodiment of integrity who achieved immortality for his bravery in facing a terrible disease that now bears his name; and Ted Williams, who aspired to be the greatest hitter ever and inspired generations with his quest for perfection. MAJOR LEAGUE LEGENDS will premiere over four consecutive Monday nights beginning February 29 at 8 p.m. ET/PT with a special Black History Month presentation of MAJOR LEAGUE LEGENDS: HANK AARON.

Each of the specials is narrated by Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) winner Martin Sheen. The stories take an in-depth look at the history, psychology and mythology of each of the Baseball Hall of Famers. Providing context throughout each of the programs are a host of journalists, academics, sports figures, and even a mythologist. They include Deadspin founder Will Leitch, ESPN's Howard Bryant, best-selling author Jane Leavy, National Museum of African American History and Culture curator Damion Thomas, author Phil Cousineau and basketball coaching legend Bobby Knight, among others.

MAJOR LEAGUE LEGENDS: HANK AARON Premieres Monday, February 29 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. This special Black History Month presentation features extensive newly-captured interviews with Aaron himself, as he discusses his upbringing in Mobile, Alabama and the challenges that he faced growing up in the heart of Jim Crow. "The Hammer" would continue to battle bigotry and racism throughout his life and baseball career. As he sought to unseat Babe Ruth as the all-time home run king, Aaron received numerous death threats and hate mail, making his feat all the more impressive. It seemed justly symbolic that he hit number 715 on April 8, 1974, in Atlanta, the epicenter of the Civil Rights movement.

MAJOR LEAGUE LEGENDS: BABE RUTH Premieres Monday, March 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Before "The Babe," the all-time home run record stood at 138. Babe Ruth retired with 714. With his immensely powerful swing and unmatched zest for life, the incorrigible boy from Baltimore became the template for the modern superstar. One of American history's most fascinating and enduring individuals, George Herman Ruth remains a mythical titan who reminds us that truth is often greater than fiction. While his baseball achievements rewrote the record book and his popularity set attendance records, MAJOR LEAGUE LEGENDS: BABE RUTH details the complex origin story behind the game's dominant figure.

MAJOR LEAGUE LEGENDS: LOU GEHRIG Premieres Monday, March 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Integrity, honesty, and dedication to family guided his every move. His body, which as a small child was considered chubby, would, as an adult, inspire comparisons to a god. Lou Gehrig's record of playing in 2,130 consecutive games would stand for more than 60 years, but, it would be the revelation of his humanity and grace in the face of impending death that would place him among the immortals. In a ceremony after he retired, upon learning that he had Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, he delivered the famous "Luckiest Man" speech, which is still recognized as one of the greatest moments in American sports history.

MAJOR LEAGUE LEGENDS: TED WILLIAMS Premieres Monday, March 21 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The quest for perfection is mankind's boldest pursuit. It demands supreme skill, flawless precision, and obsessive determination. For most, the mission is too much. This special reveals that Ted Williams was the rare figure capable of summoning the impossible. His goal was to be considered the greatest hitter who ever lived, and his success captured the heart of the exacting, but loyal, Boston fan base. At the peak of his career, coming off a season in which he batted .406 and then one in which he captured baseball's elusive Triple Crown, Williams interrupted his Hall of Fame career to serve three years in the Navy and Marine Corps during World War II. In his time in the military, he became a master fighter pilot. Away from the baseball field and battlefield, Williams turned to fly fishing, another forum for his extreme focus.

MAJOR LEAGUE LEGENDS (www.smithsonianchannel.com/mlb) is produced by Major League Baseball for Smithsonian Channel. Executive producers on MAJOR LEAGUE LEGENDS: HANK AARON are Josh Oshinsky and Jonathan Laureano; Executive Producers on MAJOR LEAGUE LEGENDS: BABE RUTH are Oshinsky and Jeff Spaulding; Executive Producer on MAJOR LEAGUE LEGENDS: LOU GEHRIG is James Potocki; Executive producer on MAJOR LEAGUE LEGENDS: TED WILLIAMS is Gary Waksman. David Royle and Charles Poe served as executive producers for Smithsonian Channel.

Smithsonian Channel(TM), owned by Smithsonian Networks(TM), a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where curiosity lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing entertainment across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME(R) with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create award-winning programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, history, science, nature, and pop culture. Among the network's offerings are series including Aerial America, Million Dollar American Princesses, Boomtowners, Mighty Ships, Mighty Planes and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include Civil War 360, 9/11: The Heartland Tapes; MLK: The Assassination Tapes and The Day Kennedy Died. Find out more at www.smithsonianchannel.com. Smithsonian Networks also operates Smithsonian Earth(TM), through SN Digital LLC., a new subscription video streaming service delivering spectacular original nature and wildlife content.





  [january 2016]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· MAJOR LEAGUE LEGENDS (SMITH)





[09/18/25 - 10:03 AM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Reveals Season 34 Theme Nights
Each week, the celebrity and pro duos will dance routines set to iconic music celebrating legendary eras and artists, unforgettable pop-culture moments and more.

[09/18/25 - 10:02 AM]
ABC News Studios and "20/20" Announce "Robert Redford: The Life & Legacy of an American Icon - Special Edition of 20/20"
The one-hour special - airing Thursday, September 18 on ABC - celebrates the life and legacy of the actor and Oscar-winning filmmaker who passed away on September 16.

[09/18/25 - 10:00 AM]
"Saturday Night Live" to Premiere 51st Season Oct. 4 on NBC and Peacock with Three Back-to-Back Shows
Bad Bunny, Amy Poehler, and Sabrina Carpenter are among the first wave of hosts.

[09/18/25 - 10:00 AM]
CBS Studios Returns to New York Comic Con with "Star Trek" Universe Panel and New Series "NCIS: Tony & Ziva"
CBS Studios is back at New York Comic Con, offering exclusive first looks, panel discussions, screenings and unique fan experiences.

[09/18/25 - 09:30 AM]
French HBO Original Series "The Seduction" Debuts November 14
To be the hero of your own story, you sometimes have to be the villain in others'.

[09/18/25 - 09:30 AM]
Video: Starz Releases Heart-Pounding Teaser Trailer for the Final Season of "Outlander"
As the groundbreaking series prepares for its last chapter, the teaser shares a glimpse into the heart-wrenching journey that lies ahead for Claire and Jamie's enduring love story.

[09/18/25 - 09:10 AM]
CBS and Dick Clark Productions Announce New "Golden Eve" Primetime Special, Honoring Golden Globes Cecil B. DeMille and Carol Burnett Award-Recipients, Airing Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026
The special will air as a marquee event during Golden Week, a new dynamic week-long experience across Paramount platforms as well as celebratory kick-off events ahead of the 83rd Annual Golden Globes, the first major awards show of the season, airing live Sunday, January 11, 2026.

[09/18/25 - 09:02 AM]
Video: "Chad Powers" - Eli Manning + Glen Powell Sneak Peek - Hulu
A sneak peek brought to you by the "Chad Powers" multiverse...

[09/18/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "The Chair Company" - Official Trailer - HBO Max
Ron witnessed a problem. It was a big problem.

[09/18/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "The Lost Bus" - Official Trailer 2 - Apple TV+
Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera star in a gripping fight for survival.

[09/18/25 - 09:00 AM]
Prime Video Unmasks the Star-Studded Voice Cast for DC's Animated Action-Comedy Series "BAT-FAM"
Reprising their roles from the hit "Merry Little Batman" film are Luke Wilson as the voice of Bruce Wayne, Yonas Kibreab as the voice of Damian Wayne, and James Cromwell, who returns to voice Alfred Pennyworth.

[09/18/25 - 08:15 AM]
Critically-Acclaimed, Award-Winning Feature Film on Love and Self-Discovery "Little Did I Know" Film Starring Popular Swedish Actress Alexandra Rapaport Makes Exclusive US Debut Thursday, October 16, 2025 on Viaplay
Martina Haag's critically-acclaimed, award-winning feature film follows one woman's intertwined journeys of self-discovery at ages 50 and 15, offering a painful, yet hopeful and illuminating view on love.

[09/18/25 - 08:07 AM]
TLC Unveils Two Powerful New Medical Series Premiering This October: "Dangerously Obese" and "About Face"
From morbidly obese patients fighting to reclaim their health to those seeking transformative facial reconstruction after years of enduring extreme facial deformities, both series offer intimate, emotional journeys of resilience and renewal.

[09/18/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "True Haunting" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Acclaimed master of horror James Wan brings his chilling cinematic vision to real supernatural stories.

[09/18/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "The Diplomat" Season 3 - Official Trailer - Netflix
Caught in a whirlwind of crisis diplomacy, Kate must navigate a fragile new administration and a deadly threat with world-shaping consequences.