MLB Network Honors the Late, Great Russell Gabay During World Baseball Classic Telecasts

Long-time sports-production executive and SVG Advisory Board member Russell Gabay, who served as VP and EP for MLB International for the past two decades, died on Nov. 7, 2016, at the age of 59. Among his greatest accomplishments at Major League Baseball was his work on the World Baseball Classic, an event that has grown in stature around the world — largely thanks to his production efforts behind the scenes. As the WBC culminates this week in Los Angeles, MLB Network is honoring Gabay with a video tribute that will be shown in the ballpark during the games and will run on MLB Network today:

Gabay’s career began in 1979 at ESPN as an ENG editor and included a six-year stint at HBO as director of East Coast Production before he became VP/EP for MLB International. He is survived by his wife, Liz, and daughters, Sydney and Samantha.

The Sports Broadcasting Fund has established a dedicated college fund for Russell’s daughters. To donate, please click here.

Gabay’s vision even led to deployment of virtual-ad–insertion technology, enabling productions to insert different ads to be served out to different parts of the globe. And all those productions of MLB games from countries outside the U.S.? Gabay was at the helm, working with local-rights holders, production crews, and more to produce a top-notch broadcast. Click here for SVG’s full remembrance of Gabay.