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Ken Rosenthal

Ken Rosenthal
Rosenthal at Yankee Stadium in 2012
Born (1962-09-19) September 19, 1962 (age 62)
New York City, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Pennsylvania
OccupationSportswriter
Years active1984–present
Employers
  • Fox Sports (2005–present)
  • MLB Network (2009–2022)
  • The Athletic (2017–present)

Ken Rosenthal (born September 19, 1962)[1][2] is an American sportswriter and reporter. He serves as a field reporter for Fox Major League Baseball since 2005, and was an in-studio reporter for MLB Network from 2009 to 2022. Since August 2017, he is a senior baseball writer for The Athletic.

Early life

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Rosenthal was born in Queens, New York City,[1] and grew up in the Long Island town of Oyster Bay, where he went to Oyster Bay High School.[3] Rosenthal graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1984.[4]

Career

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Beginnings

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After serving as an intern covering sports for Newsday on Long Island, Rosenthal began his career at the York Daily Record in 1984. He moved on to the Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, New Jersey for two years[5] before landing a full-time job with The Baltimore Sun, where he was named Maryland Sportswriter of the Year five times by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association during his tenure from 1987 to 2000.[6] Rosenthal simultaneously contributed to Sports Illustrated from 1990 to 2000, providing weekly notes during baseball season.[6] He then spent five years at The Sporting News until 2005.

Fox Sports

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Rosenthal joined Fox Sports in 2005. He regularly wears a bow tie when appearing on Fox Sports telecasts in support of various charitable organizations.[7][8] In 2015 and 2016, Rosenthal won the Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Reporter for his work with Fox Sports and MLB Network.[6]

In June 2017, FoxSports.com eliminated its writing staff to focus only on video, leaving Rosenthal without an editorial home.[9] He began posting stories on his Facebook page.[10] He, however, continues to contribute to Fox Sports as a field reporter for their baseball coverage.

The Athletic

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Rosenthal joined The Athletic in August 2017 as a senior baseball writer.[11][12]

On November 12, 2019, Rosenthal and Evan Drellich were the first to break the news on the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal, reporting that during the 2017 MLB season, the Astros used a camera in center field to see what signal the catcher was giving, then banged on a metal trash can to relay it to the batter.[13] MLB quickly launched an investigation following this.

MLB Network

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Rosenthal joined MLB Network in 2009 as a "baseball insider."[14]

With MLB Network, Rosenthal contributed to Trade Deadline and National Baseball Hall of Fame coverage, as well as the offseason weekday morning show Hot Stove.

Rosenthal's stint with MLB Network ended in January 2022 after more than twelve years. He tweeted in X:

Can confirm MLB Network has decided not to bring me back. I'm grateful for the more than 12 years I spent there, and my enduring friendships with on-air personalities, producers and staff. I always strove to maintain my journalistic integrity, and my work reflects that. Nothing else is changing for me professionally. I am proud to remain part of the great teams at The Athletic and Fox Sports.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b Trail, Carson (May 4, 2022). "Sportswriter Ken Rosenthal sets an example with work ethic, ability to connect with players". Peninsula Press. Stanford University. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  2. ^ @Ken_Rosenthal (September 19, 2021). "Many thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes today. You all are too kind!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ "What I'll never forget about baseball's return to New York after 9/11". FOX Sports. November 15, 2016. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  4. ^ "Penn Gazette | Alumni : Profiles".
  5. ^ Seip, Jim (October 25, 2009). "Fox baseball reporter Ken Rosenthal got his start in York". York Daily Record. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c "Ken Rosenthal". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on May 27, 2018. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  7. ^ Brophy, Aaron (October 23, 2015). "The Good Reason Why Ken Rosenthal Wears Those Bow Ties". Samaritanmag.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  8. ^ Rosenthal, Ken (March 29, 2011). "MLB on FOX ready to tie one on". FoxSports.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  9. ^ Bucholtz, Andrew (June 26, 2017). "Fox Sports eliminates digital writing staff in favor of promoting their debate shows". AwfulAnnouncing.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  10. ^ Koster, Kyle (July 3, 2017). "Ken Rosenthal Has Pivoted to Video, Hopes to Resume Writing Soon". The Big Lead. USA Today Sports. Archived from the original on May 27, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  11. ^ Traina, Jimmy (August 23, 2017). "Ken Rosenthal Joins The Athletic After Fox Sports Ditches Written Content". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on May 27, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  12. ^ Rosenthal, Ken (August 23, 2017). "Ken Rosenthal: Why I'm joining The Athletic". The Athletic. Archived from the original on October 22, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  13. ^ Drellich, Ken Rosenthal and Evan. "The Astros stole signs electronically in 2017 — part of a much broader issue for Major League Baseball". The Athletic. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  14. ^ "MLB Network adds Ken Rosenthal to On-Air Talent Roster". sportsmedianews.com. June 29, 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  15. ^ Cohn, Jordan (January 3, 2022). "Ken Rosenthal confirms his time at MLB Network is over after more than 12 years". Retrieved September 13, 2024.
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