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A Statistic That Should Alarm Major League Baseball
In the realm of sports, numbers tell a compelling story, and one particular statistic regarding baseball should raise significant concern. In recent years, the percentage of Americans engaged with Major League Baseball has dwindled to the lowest levels in over four decades—perhaps even longer. This decline is not merely about fewer people tuning in to watch games; it coincides with a remarkable increase in the U.S. population, which has grown by more than 100 million during the same timeframe.
From 1973 to 2013, the U.S. population increased nearly 50 percent, yet the average viewership for the World Series has taken a steep nosedive—from a peak of 44 million in 1978 to a mere 12.5 million in recent years. To put this in perspective, the latest Super Bowl attracted 115 million viewers, while a regular season NFL game between the Colts and Steelers on October 26 drew 23.8 million viewers. Even a World Cup match between the U.S. and Portugal last summer saw 25 million people watching.
This begs the question: how low will baseball’s viewership need to go before it becomes ridiculous to refer to it as America’s pastime? This designation is not just nostalgic; baseball enjoys a unique position in American law, being exempt from federal antitrust regulations based on the argument that it functions as an exhibition rather than a traditional business.
Historically, baseball was indeed America’s beloved sport. During World War II, soldiers often posed questions to gauge loyalty, such as “Who won the World Series last year?” In 1944, every American man could confidently answer: the Cardinals triumphed over the Browns in an all-St. Louis series. Today, however, the majority might struggle to recall such facts, with pop culture references like NCIS: New Orleans or cable’s The Walking Dead overshadowing the World Series in popularity.
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In summary, Major League Baseball faces a significant challenge as viewer engagement declines alarmingly amid a growing population. Historical significance and a unique legal status do not guarantee the sport’s continued relevance in American culture.