Ken Burns Heads Back to the Ballpark With 'The Tenth Inning'

Ken Burns is returning to home plate with a follow-up to his 1994 documentary 'Baseball.' The filmmaker's new project about "America's favorite pastime," 'The Tenth Inning,' premieres Sept. 28 on PBS.

According to USA Today, the two-part film picks up where 'Baseball' left off to examine the last 16 years of the sport, including the 1994 player strike and the rise of performance-enhancing drugs.

But this 'Inning' won't be a total downer. Burns said the film was strongly inspired by a desire to celebrate his beloved Boston Red Sox's 2004 World Series win.

Much like 'Baseball,' 'The Tenth Inning' will balance stories about the sport's darker days with a look at its resilience and enduring fan appeal.

Burns was unable to coax major league players tied to steroid allegations to appear on camera. Instead, the doc will feature talking heads like Dominican Red Sox star Pedro Martinez, obsessive fan Doris Kearns Goodwin and sports reporter Bob Costas.

'Baseball' lured 45 million viewers during its initial run on PBS in 1994, making it the most-watched program in the history of Public Television. PBS hopes the four-hour 'Tenth Inning,' airing over two nights, will make it two-for-two.