| | A new era of ESPN/ESPN2 Major League Baseball coverage will begin with five games on Opening Day, Monday, April 3, including the debut of Ken Griffey Jr. as a Red, a Sammy Sosa-Mark McGwire matchup and the season opener for both of last year's World Series teams, the Atlanta Braves and the World Champion New York Yankees.
Before the day's games, ESPN2 will premier Baseball 2Day at noon ET. The 60-minute show hosted by Rich Eisen, will be aired Sundays at noon beginning April 9.
ESPN's exclusive, national Sunday Night Baseball will begin its 11th season the next day with a special telecast Tuesday, April 4 -- Boston at Seattle at 8 p.m. ET. The game, the first of the season for both teams, will likely feature American League Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez of the Red Sox.
For the first time, ESPN2 will present an extensive, season-long schedule of Major League Baseball games with approximately 42 games starting on Opening Day, April 3:
San Diego at New York Mets at 1 p.m.
Colorado at defending National League champion Atlanta at 4 p.m.
World champion New York Yankees at Anaheim at 10:30 p.m.
"We are thrilled to lead off an exciting new era of baseball coverage with such a terrific Opening Day lineup," said John Wildhack, ESPN senior vice president, programming. "With more games, more Baseball Tonight exposures and the launch of ESPN2's Baseball 2Day on Sunday afternoons, the 2000 season promises to be the best yet for baseball fans."
This season, ESPN and ESPN2 will combine for more than 105 games. Overall, the two networks will present more than 1,000 hours of baseball coverage in 2000, more than double the 500 hours in 1999.
Tidbits
The 2000 season is the first of a six-year agreement between ESPN and Major League Baseball and ESPN's 11th season of game coverage and Baseball Tonight.
Under the new agreement, total hours of Major League Baseball game and studio coverage on ESPN/ESPN2 will more than double, from approximately 500 to more than 1,000.
ESPN
More than 500 hours of coverage, including approximately 65 games, on Sunday and Wednesday nights, and Tuesday/Friday nights in September, plus Opening Day and holidays.
Baseball Tonight, featuring more nights with two 60-minute shows, generally at 10 p.m. and 12 midnight.
The annual Home Run Derby during the All-Star Break, one of ESPN's most popular programs.
ESPN2
500 hours of coverage, up from 30.
Approximately 42 games, on many Wednesday nights (forming an ESPN/ESPN2 doubleheader until September when both networks present doubleheaders), four Sunday nights in July and August (simultaneous to ESPN's telecast), Opening Day and holidays.
The debut of Baseball 2Day Sundays at 12 noon.
Overnight and morning re-airs of Baseball Tonight.
Overnight re-airs of ESPN games.
ESPN Radio
Sunday night games, six additional September games, plus all playoff and World Series contests.
Baseball news and discussion throughout the 24-hour programming lineup.
ESPN Classic
Great MLB games of the past on Monday nights.
ESPNEWS
The latest news, extensive analysis and live coverage of breaking news and press conferences.
ESPN.com
Exclusive columns by Peter Gammons.
Four minutes of video highlights per day.
The latest news and most in-depth coverage of each team.
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ALSO SEE
ESPN/ESPN2 2000 MLB schedule
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Chris Berman, Joe Morgan and Jon Miller discuss ESPN's baseball coverage during a media conference call.
RealAudio: | 28.8
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