Redbirds Hot Stove To Return Next Week On Sports 56

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Redbirds Hot Stove radio show will return to flagship station Sports 56 WHBQ at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 25, hosted by long-time Redbirds play-by-play man Steve Selby and new broadcasting partner John Pappadopoulos.

Leading up to Opening Night, the hour-long show will air at 7:00 p.m. on Monday evenings for six weeks until April 1. Each week's guest list will include Cardinals players and organizational members as well as current and former Redbirds. A sample of last year's guests included 2011 World Series MVP David Freese and Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright.

Selby heads into his 14th season as Redbirds broadcaster. He broke into baseball in 1986 and brings over 27 years of professional baseball experience to the Redbirds booth. Pappadopoulos (Pop-uh-dop-uh-less) will join the club's radio broadcast team in 2013, sharing play-by-play and analyst duties for all Redbirds home games at AutoZone Park.

"With the Super Bowl in the rear view mirror, it's time to focus on baseball, said Selby. "Now that Spring Training is in full swing, I'm ready to talk baseball, especially Redbirds and Cardinals baseball, with the fans."

"The Hot Stove show will be a great opportunity and I'm looking forward to connecting with Redbirds and Cardinals fans in the area as we get ready for baseball season," Pappadopoulos said. "Steve has been one of the best in the business for several years and it will be an honor to share a broadcast booth with him this season."

Pappadopoulos is a Curry College (Mass.) graduate and has spent the previous 10 seasons broadcasting for the La Crosse Loggers Baseball Team of the collegiate summer Northwoods League.

"We're excited to have John in the booth for all 72 home games this season." Selby said. "He's paid his dues and will bring a level of professionalism to the broadcasts that Redbirds fans should enjoy."

Season tickets, mini-packs, and group outing packages are currently on sale, while individual game tickets will be available for purchase at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 4. Contact the Redbirds at (901) 722-0299 to order or for further details.

About Memphis Redbirds Baseball Foundation: The Memphis Redbirds Baseball Foundation is the first and only not-for-profit charitable organization in the United States to own and operate a professional baseball franchise, the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. AutoZone Park - the finest ballpark ever built in the United States below the Major League level - is the home of the Redbirds and has served as the cornerstone of development in downtown Memphis. Incorporating the Memphis Redbirds as not-for-profit entity allows the community to own the team and facility. For the first time in history, Mid-South residents, corporate leaders and baseball fans are able to give back to the community - and at the same time enjoy first class entertainment - by supporting Memphis Redbirds Baseball.

About Global Spectrum: Global Spectrum (global-spectrum.com) manages the Memphis Redbirds, as well as more than 100 other public assembly facilities around the world. Nearly 20-million people attended more than 11,000 events in Global Spectrum venues last year. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Global Spectrum is part of Comcast-Spectacor, one of the world's largest sports and entertainment companies. Comcast-Spectacor also owns the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage services provider, New Era Tickets, a full-service ticketing and marketing product for public assembly facilities, Paciolan, the leading provider of venue establishment ticketing, fundraising and marketing technology solutions, Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company, and Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community ice skating rinks.