Baseball: The Tenth Inning

Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles makes a diving throw to first base.

THE TENTH INNING, a two-part, four-hour documentary by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick that picks up where Burns’s landmark 1994 series BASEBALL left off. The program is directed by Burns and Novick and written and produced by David McMahon, Novick and Burns.

THE TENTH INNING tells the tumultuous story of America’s national pastime from the early 1990s to the present day, introducing an unforgettable array of players, teams and fans, celebrating the game’s resilience and enduring appeal, and showcasing both extraordinary accomplishments – and devastating losses and disappointments.

The film highlights dramatic developments that transformed the game: the crippling 1994 strike that left many fans disillusioned with their heroes; the increasing dominance of Latino and Asian players who turned baseball into a truly international game; baseball’s skyrocketing profits, thanks to new stadiums, interleague play, and the wild card; the rise of a new Yankee Dynasty; the Red Sox’ historic World Series victory; the astonishing feats of Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds; and the revelations about performance-enhancing drugs that cast a shadow on many of the era’s greatest stars and their accomplishments.

Combining extraordinary highlights, stunning still photographs, popular music of the period, and insightful commentary by players, managers, experts and fans, Burns and Novick’s THE TENTH INNING interweaves the story of the national pastime with the story of America. In an age of globalization, deregulation and speculation, the film demonstrates that baseball has continued to be a mirror of the country – at its best and at its worst. The film also movingly shows that when America felt most threatened, following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, baseball offered common ground, providing Americans with solace, distraction, and the hope that things could one day return to normal.

The original Emmy Award-winning, nine-part documentary series BASEBALL debuted in 1994 during the players’ strike. The original series was seen by more than 43 million viewers, making it the most-watched program in PBS history.