Last season, our Producer directed twenty five games and I produced them. He would rather produce and I would rather direct, but is nice to change positions occasionally because changing our roles in the truck helps keep us fresh throughout our 153 baseball telecasts.
Today’s telecast was the first time this season that we reversed our roles.
What a game to pick!
The team we cover was the visiting club and the starting pitcher for the home team had a no-hitter through eight innings. Every baseball Producer and every baseball Director will tell you that there is nothing more exciting than working a perfect game. Working a no-hitter is a very close second.
We started sensing that something special could be happening after the top of the sixth inning. The team we cover had only three base runners up to that point with all the base runners coming via the walk.
Adding to the drama was the fact that our pitcher was also hurling a great game. After six innings, the game was scoreless.
In the top of the seventh, the number 4, 5, and 6 hitters went down in order.
The first batter in the bottom of the seventh walked to lead off the inning. The next batter hit a two-run home run, ending the scoreless game and, in effect, ending the drama for the visiting starter. He, however, quickly disposed of the next three batters and we went to the top of the eighth.
Going to commercial, we shot the home team’s starting pitcher leaving the dugout to start the eighth inning. The first batter of the inning grounded out to the shortstop. The director took some great shots of the excited crowd and excellent tight shots of the pitcher. The next player in the lineup hit a ball to deep left field that was caught by the outfielder for the second out.
Crowd shots captured their frenzy.
Shots of the pitcher’s teammates help build the drama.
Tight shots of the pitcher’s face heightened the drama.
The third batter of the inning hit a soft line drive to the second baseman and the pitcher was three outs away from making history.
There was a fantastic shot of the pitcher walking to the dugout with the standing, cheering crowd in the background.
The television baseball Gods helped build the moment. The pitcher was leading off the bottom of the eighth!
We came back from break with the pitcher in the on-deck circle awaiting his at-bat. The crowd was loud and the energy in the ballpark was incredible.
During the telecast, whenever this pitcher was batting, it was stated by the talent and shown graphically that this guy was not much of a hitter. In fact, his career batting average was .065.
The whole story of the game for the past three innings was about the no-hitter that was happening. Nothing could top that story line.
You want to bet?
What did he do next? He hit his first career home run!
The place went nuts.
The replay of him rounding first base after the home run was one of the better reaction shots one could ever see. The shot of him entering the dugout with his exuberant teammates slapping him on the back was terrific.
The noise in the building was deafening.
What an amazing game!
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, the Director showed tight shots of the three players on the visiting team who would be batting in the top of the ninth.
After a pitch, there was a tight shot of the home pitcher on the bench. After another pitch, a graphic showing what each of the batters had done in their respective careers against that particular pitcher.
As the bottom of the eighth ended, the pitcher was shot leaving the dugout to pitch the ninth. The talent was laying out (quiet), and the crowd was going nuts.
This sequence of shots, the use of the graphic, and the dramatic live audio really set the stage for the top of the ninth.
When we returned from break, our score box showed the line score; 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors for the visitors.
There was a side panel graphic, placed next to the pitcher, that showed the last five no-hitters in the major leagues.
The energy in the stadium was unbelievable.
The first batter in the top of the ninth hit a soft line drive single to centerfield and the no-hitter was history. We replayed the base hit on the first angle and the second angle showed the pitch from centerfield with the camera pushing to the pitcher after the ball was struck. There wasn’t much reaction from the pitcher but it was a telling replay none the less. The deafening roar of the crowd showed their appreciation of the pitcher’s performance.
The next batter hit a line drive right at the first baseman and he doubled up the runner at first.
The next batter hit a long home run that not only ended the shut out, but ended the day for the pitcher. The Director showed some wonderful shots of the pitcher, his teammates, and the crowd that really covered the story.
The game ended with the next batter.
This was one of the greatest telecasts I have ever been involved with. Here I was, sitting in the Producer’s chair for the first time all season and there was our Producer, sitting in the Director’s chair for the first time all season, with the possibility of the rare no-hitter looming going into the top of the ninth.
It was thrilling.
When a game such as this occurs, it is amazing how the television crew all comes together. The camera shots seem more crisp, the replays more exciting, the audio more electrifying, and the graphics more telling,
Each and every one of the members of this telecast contributed and delivered a final product that was both exciting and memorable. We nailed it.
The telecast seemed like it took one second.