Let's Play Ball! A Night Out at the Ball Park with Outdoor Channel & Comcast

/PRNewswire/ -- Outdoor Channel, America's leader in outdoor TV, today announced plans for the pregame "Fields & Reels Outdoor Night" expo with the Atlanta Braves on Friday, September 10th. Willie Robertson of Outdoor Channel's "Buck Commander Protected by Under Armour" and "Benelli Presents Duck Commander" will headline the event with Braves alum Ryan Klesko to celebrate the night with area hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. In partnership with Comcast, the network will offer activities and prizes at a co-branded booth prior to the Braves vs. St. Louis Cardinals game at Turner Field.

"We are excited to partner with the Atlanta Braves and Xfinity TV from Comcast, as the event gives outdoor enthusiasts and sports fans an opportunity to come together with their favorite stars who share the same passions," said Tom Hornish, COO at Outdoor Channel.

"We are thrilled to join forces with Outdoor Channel for the 'Fields & Reels Outdoor Night' expo. This event enables us to celebrate the outdoor lifestyle and reach avid outdoor enthusiasts and sports fans in the region," said Taylor Nipper, Director of Marketing, Comcast Atlanta Region.

The expo will be filmed for an upcoming episode of "Buck Commander," capturing Robertson singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh inning stretch and hosting an outdoor-themed Q&A session with good friend Ryan Klesko. "Buck Commander" is a reality-based TV show that follows Willie, aka "Boss Hogg," and current and former Major League Baseball superstars Matt Duff, Chipper Jones, Ryan Langerhans, Adam LaRoche and Tom "Tombo" Martin from batting practice to bow practice and from in-the-field to the outfield. Every episode highlights the camaraderie, comedy and antics of the six co-owners of the Buck Commander company, where the end of baseball season is only the beginning.

"Having been on 'Buck Commander' with Major League Baseball players, I am honored to be a part of such a marquee event for outdoor enthusiasts and baseball fans," commented Willie Robertson. "One of the major benefits of working with Outdoor Channel is getting to know other hunters. From baseball players to folks I meet on the road - we're all just a bunch of good ol' boys who share a love for the outdoors."

Visit the Outdoor Channel/Comcast booth at the expo for raffles and promotional giveaways, including hot-ticket posters which will only be available to the first 5,000 fans entering the stadium. Tickets for the Atlanta Braves vs. St. Louis Cardinals game are available at a discounted price with the promo code: OUTDOOR at www.braves.com/outdoor.

Outdoor Channel appears on Channel 210 on Xfinity TV from Comcast in the Atlanta market.

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Atlanta Braves to honor Tom Glavine with Braves Hall of Fame induction and number retirement on Aug. 6

The Atlanta Braves will pay tribute to their former pitcher Tom Glavine on Friday, August 6 by inducting him into the Braves Hall of Fame and retiring his uniform number. The induction will take place at a special luncheon and the uniform number retirement will occur in a pre-game ceremony that night before the Braves take on the San Francisco Giants.

"Tom has been, and continues to be, a very special part of the Atlanta Braves organization," said Atlanta Braves President John Schuerholz. "There's no greater honor than inducting him into our Hall of Fame and making sure his Braves uniform number 47 is retired and finds its rightful place alongside other great Braves Hall of Famers."

Glavine's number 47 will be the seventh Braves uniform number to be retired, joining Hank Aaron (44), Eddie Mathews (41), Dale Murphy (3), Phil Niekro (35), Warren Spahn (21) and Greg Maddux (31). The Braves also retired the number 42 along with all Major League Baseball teams to honor Jackie Robinson.

Glavine, who is currently a special assistant to team president John Schuerholz and is also a broadcaster on some Braves radio and TV broadcasts, spent 19 years in the Braves organization. He was drafted by the Braves in 1984 and was with the team through the 2002 season before he was signed as a free agent with the New York Mets. After five seasons with the Mets, Glavine returned to the Braves in 2008.

He ranks 21st on the Major League Baseball's career victory list, with 305, and he ranks fourth for most wins by a left-handed pitcher behind Warren Spahn, Steve Carlton and Eddie Plank. In 518 starts for the Braves, Glavine compiled a 244-147 record with a 3.41 ERA.

Glavine won the National League Cy Young Award in 1991 and again in 1998. In 1995 he was named the World Series MVP after going 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in the Braves' championship win over the Cleveland Indians.

He will join Hank Aaron, Bill Bartholomay, Lew Burdette, Skip Caray, Del Crandall, Ralph Garr, Tommy Holmes, Ernie Johnson, David Justice, Herman Long, Bill Lucas, Greg Maddux, Eddie Mathews, Dale Murphy, Kid Nichols, Phil Niekro, John Sain, Paul Snyder, Warren Spahn, Ted Turner, and Pete Van Wieren in the Braves Hall of Fame.

Tickets are available for the August 6 game at www.braves.com/tickets, the Braves ticket office at Turner Field, by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, or at any Ticketmaster outlet.

The location for the Hall of Fame luncheon is still to be determined, but for information regarding tickets fans can call 404-614-2310.

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Braves pitcher John Smoltz Undergoes Surgery on Right Shoulder

Atlanta Braves right-handed pitcher John Smoltz underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder today (June 10, 2008). The procedure was performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama. The most significant of the repairs was to the labrum in Smoltz's shoulder and it is unclear at this time when Smoltz might be able to return to major league competition. Smoltz is resting comfortably and will start a rehabilitation regimen within the next few days.

"The prognosis on John's shoulder is unclear based on the findings of today's surgery," Braves Executive Vice President and General Manager Frank Wren said. "We will know more as John starts to progress through his rehab."

Smoltz opened the 2008 season on the disabled list, then was disabled again from April 28 to June 2 with right biceps tendinitis. He went 3-2 with a 2.57 ERA in six games (five starts).

One of the best pitchers in Braves' history, Smoltz owns a career record of 210-147 (.588) with 154 saves and a 3.26 ERA. He has played each of his 20 Major League seasons with the Braves.

The 1996 National League Cy Young Award winner, Smoltz registered 157 wins as a starting pitcher before missing the entire 2000 season due to "Tommy John" surgery on his right elbow. He moved primarily to the bullpen in 2001 and became the Braves' all-time saves leader by recording 154 rescues in just three and a half seasons (2001-04).

Smoltz returned to the starting rotation in 2005 and went 47-26 with a 3.18 ERA in 105 starts before being placed on the disabled list on April 28. Last season he passed Phil Niekro as the franchise's all-time strikeout leader, and on April 22 he became the 16th member of the 3,000-strikeout club, fanning Washington's Felipe Lopez in the third inning.

Smoltz the only pitcher in baseball history to post at least 200 wins and 150 saves in his career. His 15 victories and 194 strikeouts in postseason play are both Major League records.