FOX Sports’ New Original Podcast WESLEY from Emmy-Winning Storyteller Tom Rinaldi Premieres Monday, July 18
FOX Sports’ First-Ever Episodic Podcast Details the Compelling Life and Tragic Death of Former Major League Baseball Player Lyman Wesley Bostock Jr.
LOS ANGELES – Adding to its already robust lineup of award-winning original podcasts, FOX Sports announced today the debut of WESLEY, its first serialized audio documentary series executive-produced, written and hosted by 17-time Emmy-winning storyteller Tom Rinaldi. The compelling eight-part series tells the gripping and heartbreaking story of Lyman Wesley Bostock Jr.,the activist-turned-athlete who became one of the best hitters in Major League Baseball, and tragically, was murdered in-season during the height of his career.
WESLEY premieres Monday, July 18, with the first two episodes immediately available across all major podcast platforms, including Apple and Spotify, as well as FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports app. The remaining six episodes release in pairs on the following Mondays.
WESLEY details Bostock’s senseless 1978 murder in Gary, Ind., and the shocking verdict that followed. The series explores Bostock’s life in-depth, including the unrest and tumult of the late 1960s, when Bostock was a college student and activist. We learn about his unlikely path to competing at baseball’s highest level and the many hurdles he overcame to get there. The series includes a chorus of voices ranging from Hall of Famer Rod Carew to Youvene Whistler, Bostock’s widow, Ronald Reagan to a young Skip Bayless.
Described by legends like Carew and George Brett as a potential Hall of Famer, Bostock’s impact reached far beyond the field. He was an activist for social justice and equality and was a giving athlete who donated his salary to charity while in the worst slump of his career. His memory still brings teammates to tears.
For Rinaldi, WESLEY represents the first podcast project of an illustrious career that includes 17 national Sports Emmy Awards, seven national Edward R. Murrow Awards and a New York Times best-selling book.
WESLEY is the latest addition to the FOX Sports Podcast Network, joining an established lineup of award-winning original digital podcasts that have amassed millions of listeners and fans. Additional FOX Sports digital originals include CLUB SHAY SHAY, hosted by FS1 host and Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe, THE SKIP BAYLESS SHOW hosted by outspoken sports media personality Bayless, WHAT’S WRIGHT? WITH NICK WRIGHT and FLIPPIN’ BATS WITH BEN VERLANDER.
WESLEY, produced for FOX Sports in conjunction with Blue Duck Media, is executive-produced by FOX Sports’ Eric Shanks, Charlie Dixon and Rinaldi, alongside Gabe Goodwin and Scott Turken from Blue Duck Media.
For more information on FOX Sports programming, visit FOX Sports Press Pass and follow @FOXSportsPR on Twitter.
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About FOX Sports
FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing FOX Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, the business has ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing relationships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Network; FS1, FS2, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Deportes. FOX Sports’ digital properties include FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App, which provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content, instant scores, stats and alerts to iOS and Android devices. Additionally, FOX Sports and social broadcasting platform Caffeine jointly own Caffeine Studios which creates exclusive eSports, sports and live entertainment content. Also included in FOX Sports’ portfolio are FOX’s interests in joint-venture business Big Ten Network, a licensing and commercial relationship with The Stars Group that created the FOX Bet sports betting platform and the FOX Bet Super 6 free-to-play game, as well as a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network.
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Jase Bandelow
