Ernie Johnson, known for NBA work, has baseball in his blood

Ernie Johnson speaks at the NBA Awards in June.It’s fair to say Ernie Johnson is best-known for his role as the exasperated-but-actually-in-on-the-joke host of TNT’s celebrated studio program, “Inside the NBA.’’

The host since 1990, he has been the perfect ringmaster for Kenny Smith (joined the show in 1998), Charles Barkley (2001), and Shaquille O’Neal (2011) as “Inside The NBA’’ turned into the quintessential sports studio program. It has won nine Sports Emmy awards, while Johnson has collected three as Best Studio Host.

While his studio work in basketball will be his broadcasting legacy, baseball is in his blood. Johnson, who will call Sunday’s Red Sox-Rays game in St. Petersburg, Fla.,…