By Bob Raissman, New York Daily News
March 22, 2024

The executive who sets the course for YES’ booth, win or lose, is John J. Filippelli, the regional sports network’s president of programming and production.

Last week, Filippelli celebrated his 50th anniversary in sports television. Since the sports TV business is pitted with giant potholes surrounded by massive egos, this is an incredible achievement.

Filippelli survived in the unpredictable environment. He thrived too, working for three network sports departments (NBC, Fox, ABC) before joining YES when it started in 2001. His broadcast roots are in producing baseball games, where his accomplishments could fill an entire column.

Yet when we think about a producer/baseball lifer like Filippelli, or guys who ran the show from the director’s chair, like the late legends Harry Coyle and Bill Webb, there is some sadness.

Absent from their accomplishments, is a place in Baseball’s Hall of Fame. Cooperstown’s powers that be, for reasons known only to them, won’t make baseball producers and directors eligible for the Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually to a broadcaster for major contributions to baseball.

During the longest of seasons, directors and producers make these contributions on a nightly basis. They construct the stories on live TV.

It’s time for the Hall to recognize them.