PBS, Ken Burns: Extra Innings For “Baseball”

PBS announced Wednesday that the network will broadcast “The Tenth Inning,” the latest installment in the Ken Burns documentary “Baseball.”  The new episode will air in the spring of 2010.

“So much has transpired in baseball since we last examined the game and all of its many nuances,” said Ken Burns in the press release.  The original nine-part series chronicled baseball history up through 1993.  Initially aired in 1994, the film won Burns an Emmy Award.

“The Tenth Inning” will pick up from the end of the ninth episode and will cover the period which includes the baseball strike of 1994, Cal Ripken, Jr. surpassing Lou Gehrig in consecutive games played, the McGwire-Sosa home run chase, Barry Bonds breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record, the steroid controversy, and the Red Sox finally winning another World Series.

The new MLB Network will be rebroadcasting the original series this year on Tuesdays at 8:00 PM ET.