NBA's Jalen Rose to Be Featured on ABC's BALL BOYS, 3/31

A visit by former NBA great Jalen Rose, plus one of the world's largest football collections highlight the new sports-oriented reality series BALL BOYS, Saturday, March 31 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, MARCH 31 (3:00-4:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Strike It Rich" (3:00-3:30 p.m.) - Former NBA star Jalen Rose swings by to educate Junior in basketball, while Senior negotiates with a customer who literally crosses the line. Sweet Lou and Junior go to bat for a Minneapolis Twins fan looking to surprise his dad for his birthday, while the boys barter for a 1940s Philadelphia Eagles football signed by a Hollywood icon. Plus, Sweet Lou misbehaves in the store and Senior contemplates his punishment.

"Shirts and 'Skins" (3:30-4:00 p.m.) - To Sweet Lou's lament, Senior rewards Shaggy with a trip to see one of the greatest - and strangest - Washington Redskins collections in the world. Meanwhile, a Hank Aaron Atlanta Braves jersey forces to boys to be creative during negotiation with the owner, and things get personal when Junior is offered a chance to purchase a Magic Johnson signed basketball. In addition, Shaggy and Sweet Lou get into an argument about the recent All-Star baseball game.

From the producers of cable's top rated "Pawn Stars," the 12 half-hour episodes will 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.

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