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[edit] 1966-1968 ratings
- See also: Major League Baseball Game of the Week, 1966 in baseball, 1967 in baseball, and 1968 in baseball
The Nielsen Ratings for the Game of the Week from 1966-1968 as well as the World Series fell by 10 and 19%, respectively. Only the All-Star Game nixed the seemingly growing view that baseball was too bland for a hip and inchoate age. Almost half (48%) in a 1964 Harris Poll named baseball as their favorite sport. Unfortunately, just 19% did a decade later. Part of the problem was that exclusivity began. Lindsey Nelson said
| “ |
Think of the last decade. Mel, Buck, Diz-and one guy replaces 'em. |
” |
As viewers grew tired, the Sporting News got so many unfavorable letters (mostly concerning their problems with Curt Gowdy) -
| “ |
atrocity...a pallbearer...baseball is not dead, no thanks to Gowdy-it routed them to NBC. |
” |
Harry Caray wrote
| “ |
As spectacle, baseball suffers on [TV]. |
” |
He added by saying
| “ |
The fan at the park [talk, drink, take Junior to the john] rarely notices the time span between pitches. Not to the same fan at home. |
” |
Although not necessarily responsible, Gowdy was held accountable, becoming, as he did, more visible than even Dizzy Dean.
[edit] Regular season (Saturday afternoons: April-September)
[edit] American League Championship Series
[edit] National League Championship Series
| Year |
Rating |
Share |
Households |
| 1967 |
25.6 |
50 |
14,050,000 |
| 1968 |
25.8 |
49 |
14,450,000 |
| 1969 |
15.1 |
42 |
8,610,000 |
| 1970 |
28.5 |
54 |
16,670,000 |
| 1971 |
27.0 |
50 |
16,230,000 |
| 1972 |
22.9 |
43 |
14,220,000 |
| 1973 |
23.8 |
45 |
15,420,000 |
| 1974 |
23.4 |
44 |
15,490,000 |
| 1975 |
21.5 |
41 |
14,730,000 |
| 1977 |
24.5 |
45 |
17,440,000 |
| 1979 |
24.4 |
45 |
18,180,000 |
| 1981 |
20.1 |
36 |
15,640,000 |
| 1983 |
21.5 |
39 |
17,910,000 |
| 1985 |
20.5 |
36 |
17,400,000 |
| 1987 |
18.2 |
37 |
15,910,000 |
| 1989 |
18.2 |
33 |
16,450,000 |
| 1994 |
15.7 |
28 |
14,790,000 |
| 1996 |
13.2 |
23 |
12,659,000 |
| 1998 |
13.3 |
25 |
13,034,000 |
| 2000 |
10.1 |
18 |
10,181,000 |
- See also: List of Major League Baseball All-Star Game broadcasters
[edit] Sources
