MLB Home Plate
Encyclopedia
MLB Network Radio is an American sports talk radio station on XM Satellite Radio
and Sirius Satellite Radio
that features Major League Baseball
related talk shows, as well as archives and live reports.
MLB Home Plate launched in February 2005, as an incentive to entertain the new listeners who signed up for XM's Major League Baseball deal when the games were not on. MLB Network Radio is carried on XM channel 89, and was added to the "Best of XM" package on Sirius Satellite Radio
on December 10, 2008, airing on channel 209.
made the claim to his former manager turned Home Plate host Kevin Kennedy that Sammy Sosa
and Mark McGwire
took steroids during the 1998 Home Run Chase. XM Satellite Radio even put out a press release about the broadcast. Around launch time, XM announced that they had signed Cal Ripken, Jr.
to do a Saturday mid-morning show on Home Plate. The channel was aided throughout the season as XM's subscriber growth prediction exceeded what they expected, with retailers claiming that 15-17% of people who signed up for XM did it for baseball.
The end of the 2005 season was especially active as the satellite company carried both feeds of both teams during the post-season games, and four feeds per world series game (which included a promotion where XM gave out free Roady XTs to all who attended the first World Series 2005 game).
decided to add all 14 MLB Play-by-Play channels to their platform. Canada already carried Home Plate, and now they would carry the complete Major League Baseball package barring XM 174 (Spanish broadcasts). In exchange, they would produce channel 179 with some select exclusive content, and make that channel the home for all the Toronto Blue Jays
home games. XM Canada also produced interviews for play on the other play-by-play channels when no games were being aired.
In late April 2006, DirecTV
removed the MLB Home Plate channel from their lineup. DirecTV wanted to go completely music programming. Talk channel High Voltage
was also removed, but put back on the lineup within a week due to fan response. DirecTV also claims that there is a rights issue brewing over the MLB audio broadcasts, but this has been debated. On March 29, 2008, Home Plate was added to XM Radio Online.
programs such as MLB Tonight
and Hot Stove
. Their programming was also changed with the rebranding.
Holden Kushner - Co-host of Baseball Today along with Jim Duquette airs Sunday's from 10am-1pm est. Kushner has been with the channel since its inception in 2005.
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
and Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
that features Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
related talk shows, as well as archives and live reports.
MLB Home Plate launched in February 2005, as an incentive to entertain the new listeners who signed up for XM's Major League Baseball deal when the games were not on. MLB Network Radio is carried on XM channel 89, and was added to the "Best of XM" package on Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
on December 10, 2008, airing on channel 209.
First season on the air
MLB Home Plate launched at the start of the Major League Baseball season in 2005, ready to entertain the new customers who bought XM to hear their favorite teams. It launched with a full lineup, and several guests immediately. On day one of broadcast, José CansecoJosé Canseco
José Canseco Capas, Jr. is a Cuban-American professional baseball manager, outfielder, and designated hitter for the Yuma Scorpions of the North American League and former Major League Baseball player. He is the identical twin brother of former major league player and current teammate Ozzie Canseco...
made the claim to his former manager turned Home Plate host Kevin Kennedy that Sammy Sosa
Sammy Sosa
Samuel Peralta "Sammy" Sosa is a Dominican former professional baseball right fielder. Sosa played with four Major League Baseball teams over his career which spanned from 1989-2007....
and Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire
Mark David McGwire , nicknamed "Big Mac", is an American former professional baseball player who played his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals. He is currently the hitting coach for the St...
took steroids during the 1998 Home Run Chase. XM Satellite Radio even put out a press release about the broadcast. Around launch time, XM announced that they had signed Cal Ripken, Jr.
Cal Ripken, Jr.
Calvin Edwin "Cal" Ripken, Jr. , nicknamed "Iron Man", is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles ....
to do a Saturday mid-morning show on Home Plate. The channel was aided throughout the season as XM's subscriber growth prediction exceeded what they expected, with retailers claiming that 15-17% of people who signed up for XM did it for baseball.
The end of the 2005 season was especially active as the satellite company carried both feeds of both teams during the post-season games, and four feeds per world series game (which included a promotion where XM gave out free Roady XTs to all who attended the first World Series 2005 game).
2006 - 2009
At the beginning of MLB's second season on XM Radio, XM Radio CanadaXM Radio Canada
XM Radio Canada was the operating name of Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. , a Canadian communications and media company, which was incorporated in 2002 to broadcast satellite radio in Canada...
decided to add all 14 MLB Play-by-Play channels to their platform. Canada already carried Home Plate, and now they would carry the complete Major League Baseball package barring XM 174 (Spanish broadcasts). In exchange, they would produce channel 179 with some select exclusive content, and make that channel the home for all the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
home games. XM Canada also produced interviews for play on the other play-by-play channels when no games were being aired.
In late April 2006, DirecTV
DirecTV
DirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
removed the MLB Home Plate channel from their lineup. DirecTV wanted to go completely music programming. Talk channel High Voltage
High Voltage (XM)
The Opie & Anthony Channel is a hot talk channel on XM Satellite Radio...
was also removed, but put back on the lineup within a week due to fan response. DirecTV also claims that there is a rights issue brewing over the MLB audio broadcasts, but this has been debated. On March 29, 2008, Home Plate was added to XM Radio Online.
2010
On March 26, 2010, it was announced that MLB Home Plate will be rebranded to MLB Network Radio which will simulcast some MLB NetworkMLB Network
MLB Network is an American television specialty channel dedicated to professional baseball. It is primarily owned by Major League Baseball. Comcast, DirecTV, Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications have minority ownership of the new network, with MLB retaining a controlling two-thirds share...
programs such as MLB Tonight
MLB Tonight
MLB Tonight is the signature program that airs on MLB Network and is simulcast on MLB Network Radio. The show offers complete coverage of all Major League Baseball games from 6pm ET till 1am ET during the regular season. It is taped live in Studio 3 of the MLB Network facility in Secaucus, New...
and Hot Stove
Hot Stove
Hot Stove is the signature offseason program that airs on MLB Network and is simulcast on MLB Network Radio. The show offers the coverage of offseason activities including trades, free agent signings, and rumors. It is taped live in Studio 3 of the MLB Network facility in Secaucus, New Jersey, but...
. Their programming was also changed with the rebranding.
2011
Effective May 4, 2011 SiriusXM revamped their entire channel line up. For the first time MLB Network Radio was moved away from the play by play to channel 89, after 6 years on channel 175. The Sirius channel was also changed from channel 210 to 209.On-air staff
See also MLB Network#On-air staff- Rob DibbleRob DibbleRobert Keith Dibble is a former Major League Baseball pitcher and television analyst.-Personal life:Dibble is a graduate of Southington High School in Southington, Connecticut...
- Former MLB pitcher for the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, Chicago White SoxChicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
and Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. After 7 seasons, he turned to broadcasting, and added his commentary to such shows as The Best Damn Sports Show PeriodThe Best Damn Sports Show PeriodThe Best Damn Sports Show Period is an American sports television show on Fox Sports Net and Comcast SportsNet. The show regularly featured irreverent and opinionated interviews with top athletes, coaches, celebrities, and entertainers. It also aired Top 50 countdown shows and other sports...
and GamedayESPN Radio College GameDayESPN Radio College Gameday is a day-long talk radio show on ESPN Radio covering the day's college football games. It is heard every Saturday during the season from noon until 7 p.m. ET. Some programs originate from the ESPN studios in Bristol, Connecticut; others are on location from game sites,...
on ESPNRadio. He co-hosted The Show with Jody MacDonald, weekdays from 4-6 pm ET, and now hosts First Pitch with Jim Memolo, weekdays 7am - 10am ET. - Jim Memolo - Host of First Pitch with Rob Dibble, weekdays 7am - 10am ET.
- Jim DuquetteJim DuquetteJames "Jim" Duquette was the general manager of the New York Mets for the 2004 season, before the team replaced him with Omar Minaya. Duquette subsequently stayed with the Mets in a front office job for a full season before moving on to the Baltimore Orioles...
- Former New York MetsNew York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
general manager and Baltimore OriolesBaltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
executive co-hosts Power Alley, weekdays from 10 am-2 pm ET. His co-host is Kevin Kennedy. - Kevin KennedyKevin Kennedy (baseball)Kevin Curtis Kennedy is a former manager in American Major League Baseball and a former television host for Fox Sports' baseball coverage. He was given the nickname "The Skipper" by Fox Sports due to his prior managerial career...
- Former manager of the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
and the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, and regular contributor to MLB's Game of the Week coverage. He co-hosted Inside Pitch with Casey SternCasey SternCasey Stern was a former contestant on ESPN's reality series Dream Job. At the time he was an executive recruiter. Casey currently is a host on Sirius XM radio's MLB Home Plate on XM channel 175 and Sirius 210. He recently departed MLB.com's BaseballChannel.tv, formerly MLB Radio where he was...
, weekdays from 1-4 pm ET and now hosts Power Alley, weekdays from 10 am-2 pm ET with Duquette. - Casey SternCasey SternCasey Stern was a former contestant on ESPN's reality series Dream Job. At the time he was an executive recruiter. Casey currently is a host on Sirius XM radio's MLB Home Plate on XM channel 175 and Sirius 210. He recently departed MLB.com's BaseballChannel.tv, formerly MLB Radio where he was...
- Co-hosts Inside Pitch weekdays from 2pm - 6pm with Jim Bowden. - Jim BowdenJim Bowden-Early life and career:Bowden was born in Boston, MA and raised in Weston, Massachusetts and Boothbay Harbor, ME. He graduated from Rollins College in 1983 with a B.A. degree in Communications and Business Administration. He was the Sports Director at the College radio station as well doing the...
- The former Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
and Washington NationalsWashington NationalsThe Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
GM Co-hosts Inside Pitch weekdays from 2pm - 6pm with Casey Stern. - Cal Ripken Jr. - Hall of Fame shortstop, Ripken played his entire 21-year career with the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. The baseball legend now hosts a weekly program Fridays 12pm - 2pm, where all baseball topics are discussed. Joining Cal on the show will be his brother, fellow MLB veteran Billy RipkenBilly RipkenWilliam Oliver Ripken is an American radio personality for XM Satellite Radio, a studio analyst for MLB Network's "MLB Tonight," and is a former infielder in Major League Baseball from –...
. - Ed Randall - Randall's call-in show, Taking Baseball, airs Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am-12 pm ET.
Holden Kushner - Co-host of Baseball Today along with Jim Duquette airs Sunday's from 10am-1pm est. Kushner has been with the channel since its inception in 2005.
Former on-air staff
- Jeff Erickson - The senior editor of RotoWire.comRotoWireRotoWire.com is a company based in Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. that specializes in fantasy sports news and fantasy-style games.RotoWire provides fantasy news and information to ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, FoxSports.com, NASCAR.com, NFL.com, NBA.com, and Baseball Prospectus.RotoWire is the successor to...
and winner of the 2007 AL Tout WarsTout WarsTout Wars is the most high-profile fantasy baseball experts league and was the focus of the 2006 best selling book Fantasyland. It was created in 1997 by Ron Shandler who was fed up with the lack of promotion USA Today gave its annual LABR fantasy baseball experts league...
fantasy baseball title hosted Fantasy FocusFantasy Focus - XMFantasy Focus is a one-hour show from RotoWire.com focused on fantasy baseball on Blogtalkradio. It runs Monday through Friday at 1 PM ET. It can be heard live on with podcasts available later at . Fantasy Focus is hosted by Jeff Erickson. From 2005 to 2008 the show ran on XM Radio's Home Plate...
on XM from 2005 to 2008. John SickelsJohn SickelsJohn Sickels is an American baseball writer, formerly of ESPN.com, who specializes in minor league baseball and amateur baseball.-Biography:...
hosted the show on Fridays, when it is was often called Down on the Farm. Fantasy Focus moved to Blogtalkradio/RotoWire. Sirius/XM has brought back Jeff and Chris Liss to host RotoWire Fantasy Sports Today on Sirius 125/XM 241, running Monday-Friday from 11-2 ET. The new show started on Mar. 29, 2010. - Mark PatrickMark PatrickMark Patrick is an American radio personality based in Indianapolis. Starting out on satellite radio, he was part of MLB Network Radio as the co-host of Baseball This Morning along with Buck Martinez. Patrick also hosted the Hoosier Lottery game show Hoosier Millionaire for 14 years...
- Former host of Mark Patrick on Sports on Fox Sports RadioFox Sports RadioFox Sports Radio, abbreviated FSR, is an international radio network consisting of sports talk programming. The network is a service of Premiere Networks...
. Mark has had a long radio career, including a stint at The Bob and Tom Show. With Buck Martinez, Patrick co-hosted Baseball This Morning exclusively on XM each morning from 6-9 a.m. ET until November 12, 2008. Patrick is no longer with Sirius XM. - Charley SteinerCharley SteinerCharles Harris "Charley" Steiner is an American sportscaster and broadcast journalist. He is currently the main play-by-play voice for the Los Angeles Dodgers Radio Network, paired with Rick Monday.-Early career:...
- Sportscaster for the Dodgers, and best known for his 15-year service on ESPN's SportsCenterSportsCenterSportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
. As the host of Baseball Beat, Steiner had six writers, authors, columnists, broadcasters, or celebrities as guests daily. Sirius XM ended the show in January 2009. - Buck Martinez - 17-year MLB catcher with the Kansas City RoyalsKansas City RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
and Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue JaysThe Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. He won an Emmy Award for Best Sports Special in 1995 for his work as an analyst on ESPN's telecast of the game in which Cal Ripken, Jr. broke Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played. On MLB Home Plate he co-hosted Baseball This Morning with Scott GrahamScott GrahamScott Graham is an American sportscaster best known for his broadcasts of the Philadelphia Phillies. He has lived and worked near Philadelphia for most of his life. He was born June 10, 1965 in Belleville, New Jersey, and now lives in Voorhees Township, New Jersey. His sportscasting résumé covers...
, weekdays from 7-10 am ET. Martinez left Sirius XM to dedicate time to the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue JaysThe Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
where he is the full-time play-by-play broadcaster beginning in 2010. - Joe Castellano - Veteran broadcaster and former commentator for Westwood OneWestwood OneWestwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
and CBS SportsCBS SportsCBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
. He hosted MLB Live - Late Edition weeknights from 9 pm-12 am ET.
External links
- MLB Home Plate on XM
- MLB Home Plate Lineup - Printable PDF grid featuring the complete MLB Home Plate lineup.