BASEBALL GREAT PETE ROSE WITH AN IMPROMPTU LESSON AND THE FIRST HEISMAN TROPHY HIGHLIGHT SPORTS-ORIENTED REALITY SERIES "BALL BOYS," SATURDAY, APRIL 7 ON ABC

"Ball Boys" follows the sports memorabilia business at iconic Robbie's 1st Base in Baltimore, MD, and the charming family-like relationships of the sports fanatics who work there - Robbie Sr. and Junior, Sweet Lou and Shaggy. Two half-hour episodes air SATURDAY, APRIL 7 (3:00-3:30 & 3:30-4:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Stadium Dirt" - The boys come face to face with Mickey Mantle's Triple Crown and the first-ever Heisman trophy. Also, Sweet Lou tries to impress Senior by getting down and dirty with a questionable transaction, while Junior has a close encounter with one of the worst basketball teams in history.

"Place Your Bats" - The all-time hit king, Pete Rose, teaches Sweet Lou how to keep his eye on the ball. An eccentric Los Angeles Lakers fan sends the boys to the Holy Grail of sports memorabilia collections, and a customer brings in a bat he once took from Don Mattingly.

From the producers of cable's top rated "Pawn Stars," the 12 half-hour episodes of "Ball Boys" feature the never-before-seen negotiation of buying and selling unique sports merchandise, both at the store and at off-site locations. In addition, numerous sports legends - from football pioneer Jim Brown to baseball great Pete Rose to former NBA star and current ESPN commentator Jalen Rose - stop by the store to join in lively debates, smack talk and comical antics with the staff.

More than just a sports shop, Robbie's 1st Base is like an old school hometown barbershop where everyone has an opinion and is eager to share their stories and love of the game. Touching on the unique capability of sports to bring people together, "Ball Boys" tells the intriguing stories beyond the action on the field - using the symbolic value of the merchandise changing hands to represent a rare and valuable social bond uniting individuals across all ages, races, genders and economic classes. Never before seen on a broadcast network, both the collectors and the merely curious come to the store from far and wide to experience a shared affinity for the great stories of sport. And when the situation calls, the staff hits the road to buy and sell prized artifacts with some of the top collectors in the nation.

Leftfield Pictures produces "Ball Boys," with Brent Montgomery and David George serving as executive producers. Shawn Witt is co-executive producer. The program is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HD format, with 5.1 channel surround sound. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to airdate.