MLB Network announces 25th anniversary 9/11 documentary ‘When America Took the Field’

For the 25th anniversary of September 11, the MLB Network is releasing a two-hour documentary titled "When America Took the Field." This film explores baseball's role in the nation's healing process following the 2001 terrorist attacks. Premiering on September 10 at 10 p.m. ET, it will air over the following three nights and become available on MLB.TV on demand the week after.

The documentary features interviews with notable former players such as Joe Torre, Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones, John Smoltz, Craig Biggio, and Mike Piazza. Notable figures like Roger Clemens, Bernie Williams, Luis Gonzalez, Curt Schilling, and Paul Konerko, along with former manager Bobby Valentine and former executive Ken Williams, also contribute to the documentary.

Broadcasters Joe Buck, Bob Costas, Tom Verducci, and the radio duo Mike Francesa and Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo are part of the project. The documentary keeps the Mets-Braves game at Shea Stadium from 2001 as an anchor, alongside George W. Bush's ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium, and Jack Buck's address to the crowd in St. Louis.

MLB Network's 20th anniversary special in 2021, "Remembering the Game for New York," focused on a single conversation among six New York-area players who played that night. "When America Took the Field" builds on that foundation, delving into the experiences of players and communities across the country. Zeile, currently an SNY pre- and postgame analyst, serves as an executive producer alongside the MLB Network's in-house production staff.