Kids lose: Late World Series starts shut out next generation of fans

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What do you notice about this video of Joe Garagiola doing an open for the 1973 World Series?

It is a beautiful sunny day in Oakland.

Yes, back then the weekend World Series games still aired during the day. And kids were able to watch.

Not so in 2012–at least for kids in the East and Central time zones. Tonight’s first pitch for Game 3 airs at 8:07 ET and Sunday’s is at 8:15 ET. Both of those games will end after 11 ET, well past junior’s bedtime, especially on a school night.

While I would love to see a return to tradition with some daytime World Series games, I know that’s not going to happen. However, I don’t understand why MLB doesn’t move up the start times for the games during the weekend. I’d go late afternoon on Saturday (5-5:30 p.m.) and no later than 6:30-7 p.m. ET on Sunday, depending on Fox’s NFL commitment.

Give the kids a chance to experience the end of a couple World Series games, when the lasting memories occur. If an earlier start costs a tick or two off the overall rating, so what?

This is about growing the next generation of baseball fans. The late starts aren’t bringing them in. MLB will eventually pay the price down the line.

 

 

 

 

One thought on “Kids lose: Late World Series starts shut out next generation of fans”

  1. Too true, Ed. But that would mean someone in MLB and the network deciding to forego some money today for the possibility of money in the (longterm) future … and being able to justify it to one’s boss whose concern is the next qurterly earnings report. Plus they know kids today probably wouldn’t watch baseball anyway.
    I’m surprised they still had day games 40 years ago.

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