Fastball: Major League Baseball’s Year of Change
New rules —including the pitch clock — helped bolster attendance and new enthusiasm for America’s pastime.
One of the charms of baseball is its relatively long history and reverence for the past. The National League began play in 1876 as the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs. A few years later another baseball association, the Western League, formed. The Western League changed its name to the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs and declared itself a major league of professional teams in 1901. The upstart American League was eventually recognized by the National League and in 1903 a national agreement between the two was established. Major League Baseball (MLB) was born.
Lots of history and mass popularity. But baseball has faced challenges over the past several decades. The rise in popularity of other sports like basketball and soccer, as well as vigorous competition for sports viewer’s attention and leisure time.
Television ratings for the World Series peaked in 1978 when the New York Yankees played the Los Angeles Dodgers: Roughly 44 million viewers (series average) tuned in at some point that October.
By contrast, last year’s World Series between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies averaged 12 million combined (broadcast and streaming) viewers for Fox — only the 2020 pandemic-limited World Series had lower ratings. It was a far cry from the 50 million who watched Game 7 of the 1991 Twins-Braves series.
Despite recurring TV ratings challenges and the late-1990s steroid abuse era, baseball has largely held its own in America’s fragmented sports market. Major League Baseball took in nearly $11 billion in revenue last year and many teams have built new stadiums over the past two decades. This year, 26 of the league’s 30 teams saw their respective attendance numbers rise. Total attendance during the 2023 regular season was over 70 million, a gain of over 6 million fans from 2022.
There are compelling reasons for the seeming renaissance in Major League Baseball this year.
Global game
Earlier this year, Japan defeated the U.S. in dramatic fashion (3–2) to win the World Baseball Classic championship — its third WBC title in five tournaments. Japan’s (and MLB’s) biggest star, Shohei Ohtani, received top billing during the tournament and subsequently. As the star’s contract with the Los Angeles Angels concludes, Ohtani’s fate has garnered unprecedented media and fan attention.
The MLB World Tour, a traveling exhibition of the game, is scheduled to make four regular season international stops in 2024: London, Mexico City, Seoul and Santo Domingo.
New rules
A top priority for Major League Baseball in 2023 was the length of the game. Games were deemed too long — at the stadium and on TV. Average nine-inning games reached a record high three hours, ten minutes in duration in 2021. This year, MLB instituted several rule changes to speed up the games and to add incentives for more on-field action.
First, a pitch timer was established for pitchers. After receiving the ball, pitchers must begin their pitching motion within 15 seconds with the bases empty or 20 seconds with runners on base. Going over the aloted time means an automatic ball during the at bat. Batters, too, must be ready in the batters box during their respective at-bat.
Additionally, pitchers are limited to two disengagements (pickoff attempt of a runner or a brief step-off the mound) per plate appearance. MLB wants to promote the athleticism and speed of many of its players.
The changes have indeed led to faster games: A nine-inning game lasted an average of 2 hours, 40 minutes in 2023 — a decline of 24 minutes from 2022. It is also the shortest game time length since 1984. Generally, fans and TV networks are happy with the changes.
Creating buzz
Small steps, too, have made baseball a more engaging sport this past season. During the league’s annual All-Star Game in early July some players were mic’d up (wearing portable microphone/earpiece gear) in order to communicate live with television play-by-play announcers. It’s part sports reality TV, part tactical game analysis — and it works.
Additionally, the MLB 2023 schedule now features every team playing every other team in the league at least once during the regular season. It’s a chance for the game’s best players to be seen across the league.
Another factor in baseball’s resurgence this summer: unique players with unique energy and stories, from Australia-born Liam Hendriks’s return (he successfully battled Stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma) to Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan designing Grateful Dead-themed t-shirts to the emotional retirement of Detroit Tigers legend Miguel Cabrera (a Venezuela-born MLB legend).
America’s pastime has enjoyed a revival so far in 2023. As the playoffs continue, it is likely that sport will gain some new fans. The game is still a timeless American cultural experience.
There are only three things that America will be known for 2000 years from now when they study this civilization: The Constitution, jazz music, and baseball. They’re the three most beautifully designed things this culture’s ever produced.
— American Essayist Gerald Early
