Baseball and youth sports, two issues near and dear to the heart of all-time great Yogi Berra, will be the topics next week when Emmy-winning MLB Network anchor Brian Kenny and Billy Bean, MLB’s VP for Social Responsibility and Inclusion visit on Tuesday, Dec. 13 and Yankees great Mark Teixeira and Giants star Howard Cross stop by on Wednesday, Dec. 14 at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center in Little Falls, N.J.
Kenny and Bean will talk baseball, followed by a signing of Kenny’s new book, Ahead of the Curve, beginning Tuesday at 7 p.m. Kenny and Bean, who came out as gay after he left the San Diego Padres in 1995, will also discuss how the sport is changing from a cultural and social perspective.
One of the game’s most intelligent and passionate observers, Kenny has been trying to reshape the way fans think about baseball. For baseball lovers of any age, Ahead of the Curve is an entertaining read and ideal holiday gift.
Kenny frequently uses baseball history to explain how the game has evolved, and why it’s time to ditch outmoded thinking. Ahead of the Curve – “one of the most significant baseball books of the year,” according to Bob Costas – is a cutting-edge look at where baseball is, and where it is going.
Kenny has been at MLB Network since 2011 and currently hosts MLB Now, and MLB Tonight, which covers breaking news and the most recent trends in the game. He previously worked at ESPN, where he was an anchor for 14 years on SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight and Friday Night Fights.
Then on Wednesday, In collaboration with the NYU School of Professional Studies Sports and Society Program, it’s “Enriching the Youth Sports Experience” with Teixeira and Cross, also beginning at 7 p.m.
Teixeira,Cross and Montclair, NJ soccer and softball mom Shannon Masur will share their personal insights during the program, which will also feature compelling videos on topical issues related to youth and high school sports.
Three experts from the NYU School of Professional Studies Sports and Society Program will serve as content guides in the videos and public discourse. Former athletic director Garland Allen, sports psychologist Dr. Marianne Engel and Tisch Sports Institute academic chair Wayne McDonnell will enhance the discussion around these key issues:
- Improving collaboration and communication between parents and coaches
- Combating bullying and hazing
- Developing a success mindset for young athletes
For details on both, visit www.yogiberramuseum.org.