Roberto Clemente Award, Hank Aaron Award, Ford C. Frick Award and All-MLB Team Presented by CohnReznick to be announced exclusively on MLB Network next week
New Series Epic Innings to debut on MLB Network on Monday, Dec. 14 at 9 p.m. ET
Dec. 1, 2020 – MLB Network today announced details for its exclusive presentations next week of the Roberto Clemente Award, Hank Aaron Award, Ford C. Frick Award and All-MLB Team Presented by CohnReznick. Each award will be presented as part of a special program with distinguished guests, historical features and in-depth analysis.
Monday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. ET – Roberto Clemente Award
For the first time ever, MLB Network will exclusively announce the Roberto Clemente Award recipient when Robert Flores, Al Leiter and Harold Reynolds are joined by Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr. to reveal the winner. Following the announcement, the 2020 recipient will join the program to discuss his philanthropic work, which led to receiving baseball’s most prestigious off-the-field honor. Clemente’s Hall of Fame career and heroic humanitarian efforts will be documented in an essay, vignettes and commentary from the Clemente family and previous Roberto Clemente Award winners, including Leiter, Reynolds and Hall of Famers and MLB Network analysts John Smoltz and Jim Thome. The impact that the late MLB Goodwill Ambassador Vera Clemente made on countless children and how she extended her family’s humanitarian legacy of helping those in need will be highlighted throughout the program.
Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. ET – Hank Aaron Award
For the first time ever, MLB Network will exclusively announce the Hank Aaron Award winners when Fran Charles, Harold Reynolds and Tom Verducci are joined by Hank Aaron and Commissioner Manfred to reveal the winners from the American League and National League. MLB Network’s Bob Costas will join the program to discuss Aaron’s Hall of Fame career and legendary place in baseball. The history of the award, which was established in 1999 to honor the 25th anniversary of Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record, will be documented throughout the program. Each 2020 award winner will join to talk about receiving this recognition for producing the most outstanding offensive performance in his respective league.
Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. ET – Ford C. Frick Award
For the first time ever, MLB Network will exclusively announce the Ford C. Frick Award winner, presented annually for excellence in baseball broadcasting by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. MLB Network’s Robert Flores, Ron Darling and Joel Sherman will co-host the program, plus Bob Costas and Tom Verducci, who co-host The Sounds of Baseball series, will join to discuss this year’s nominees and their impact on generations of baseball fans. Costas, who was named the Ford C. Frick Award winner in 2018, will expand on what it means to be honored in Cooperstown, and famous calls from each of this year’s nominees, including Joe Buck, Al Michaels and Dan Shulman, will be featured throughout the program.
Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. ET – All-MLB Team Presented by CohnReznick
For the second consecutive year, MLB Network will exclusively announce the official All-MLB Team presented by CohnReznick, which recognizes and commemorates the top performances by players in the 2020 regular season. MLB Network’s Fran Charles, Al Leiter, Harold Reynolds and Tom Verducci will reveal the 15-player first and second teams throughout the program. Breakdowns, highlights and analysis will be featured, plus interviews with members from the team will be included throughout. The nominees for the All-MLB Team will be revealed on a special MLB Network program this Sunday, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. ET.
During what would have been the 2020 Winter Meetings, MLB Network will continue to cover the latest offseason news across Major League Baseball throughout its studio programming next week, including Hot Stove (9 a.m. ET), High Heat presented by Liberty Mutual Insurance (1 p.m. ET), MLB Now presented by Fisher Investments (4 p.m. ET), Intentional Talk (5 p.m. ET) and MLB Tonight (6 p.m. ET). Insiders Mark Feinsand, Jon Heyman, Jon Morosi, Ken Rosenthal, Joel Sherman and Jayson Stark will provide reports on free agents, trade rumors and front office personnel hirings across MLB Network’s studio shows.
MLB Network will launch a new series called Epic Innings on Monday, Dec. 14 at 9 p.m. ET. Originating from Studio 42, the series will go in-depth on a specific theme utilizing an MLB Tonight-style format with the showing of entire at-bats and standout moments followed by instant analysis and reaction. MLB Network’s Adnan Virk and Harold Reynolds will host the first edition featuring the best moments from the 2020 season, from the Los Angeles Dodgers' first World Series championship since 1988 to Albert Pujols’ milestone 661st career home run. A tribute to the San Diego Padres’ “Slam Diego” title and historic pitching moments, like Lucas Giolito’s and Alec Mills’ no-hitters, will be featured. Additional Epic Innings episodes will air this month, including one on milestones and memorable moments Monday, Dec. 21 at 9 p.m. ET, followed by the greatest finishes of all-time Monday, Dec. 28 at 9 p.m. ET.