Must-see TV

Cable television history sees its largest debut 17 years ago today as the MLB Network, the brainchild of Major League Baseball, arrives in nearly 50 million homes serviced by cable or satellite.

The network today remains a significant part of baseball’s culture with often must-watch programming out of its home office in Seacaucus, N.J.

The network’s first show – Hot Stove, hosted by Victor Rojas – is aired at 6 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2009, and that show remains a staple today in its programming.

Following the inaugural edition of Hot Stove, the MLB Network airs – in glorious black and white, of course – the original broadcast of Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series.

The game – spoiler alert: the Yankees win again – is followed by a previously recorded interview with Larsen and his catcher from that day, Hall of Famer Yogi Berra.

Really, quite the perfect way to start something big.

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