ESPNU to televise more Legion World Series games
(Photo by Clay Lomneth)

ESPNU to televise more Legion World Series games

As 2016 marks the 90th American Legion Baseball World Series, The American Legion and the Shelby (N.C.) Baseball World Series Committee are pleased to announce that ESPN is once again expanding its televised coverage of the tournament. The final six games of the tournament will be telecast live on ESPNU, doubling the number of games on the network.

The World Series gets underway Thursday, Aug. 11, at Keeter Stadium in Shelby – home of the ALWS since 2011. The first nine games will be streamed live on ESPN's webcasting service, ESPN3. Games starting Sunday, Aug. 14, will be televised on ESPNU, which includes both semifinal games on Monday, Aug. 15, and the championship game on Tuesday, Aug. 16.

"Having the expanded live television coverage in this milestone year is especially exciting," said Eddie Holbrook, chairman of the Shelby ALWS Committee, in a press release. "This is a great way to extend awareness of this superb youth baseball program."

Sunday of the Series will once again be Military Appreciation Day, which has become one of the most popular days of the tournament due to the special events conducted that honor servicemembers and veterans. On Military Appreciation Day, sponsored by USAA, servicemembers and veterans get a free entry into the stadium to watch Sunday's games, and they are recognized on field for their service and sacrifice. Medal of Honor recipient James A. Taylor, along with USAA CEO Stuart Parker, will be in attendance.

"Having Sunday, Military Appreciation Day, televised on ESPNU has been one of our goals to achieve this year," Holbrook said. "It is a wonderful opportunity to show fans that this is more than just a baseball tournament."

ESPNU first televised the ALWS championship game in 2014, marking the first time in 35 years the championship game was live on TV. The following year, ESPNU coverage expanded to include the semifinal games. And during the 2015 World Series, fans set the attendance record for the fifth consecutive year with 117,072 paid attendees.

"The support from Shelby and Cleveland County governments and the populace overall has been stimulus for the growth of the ALWS since 2011," Holbrook said. "Ticket sales have increased every year, and television coverage accelerates our efforts to make Shelby-Cleveland County the place to be in August."

World Series tickets are available for purchase here. For more information, call (704) 466-3103.