In March of 2015, ESPN Producer Matt Rissmiller contacted the Thunder with an idea for their E-60 series. They wanted to do a feature on the three generations of Thunder Bat Dogs and how it relates to fathers, sons and baseball.
The ESPN film crew came out here in April and started a long process of filming that would continue until June and it included their training at the Greenleaf Pet Resort and interacting with the Thunder players.
The show aired for the first time on Tuesday August 11, 2015. Pixar actor/writer/director Bob Peterson provided the narration as the voice of Derby. He previously had been the voice of DUG in the Pixar film “UP” which he also wrote and directed.
A highlight of the show was Rookie’s debut as a Bat Dog on the field, and he ran into the outfield. The show received national acclaim and in December, ESPN selected it as one of the top three E-60 stories of 2015. ESPN has run it dozens of times over the past ten years.
Now we have come to the 10-year anniversary of the show that let the world meet our fantastic Bat Dogs. Both Chase & Derby are no longer with us, and Rookie is the veteran superstar who has retrieved bats in many Minor League Stadiums, including Buffalo, Lehigh Valley, Scranton, Bowie and Staten Island. He also made an appearance at Yankee Stadium in July 2019. We thank ESPN E-60 for this great feature. If you haven’t seen the show, just go on YouTube and put in ESPN E:60 - THE FAMILY BUSINESS.
