Is Baseball a dying sport?

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   lions44posted 10 years ago

   Is Baseball a dying sport?
   
   I think yes. World Series ratings are down by 65% in the last 25 years. Same goes for the All Star Game. Fox had its worst year in ratings for their game of the week in 2012 (averaged a 2 share for 24 games).  Don't let the local TV deals or fantasy leagues fool you.

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   AlexDrinkH2Oposted 10 years ago

   I sincerely hope not - it is the greatest sport in the world and it is truly Americana.

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   Neallposted 10 years ago

   Is baseball a dying sport? I'm not sure if it is dying or if it is being overtaken in popularity by the other sports. That may in fact be the same thing. It used to be baseball was the one sport everyone played at one time or another so everyone could relate to what was happening on the field. That isn't true anymore. Second, when baseball was at its height it was the age of radio and baseball transferred very nicely to the radio. Look at Reagan's career, the announcer didn't even need to be at the ballgame to make the call. Since the 60's and the explosion of television football has become the game of choice. It's popularity is second to none. The game itself is made to be televised and the technological advances they have mace to enhance the telecast have made it extraordinarily entertaining. Also, under the leadership of Pete Rozelle professional football completely outmaneuvered baseball in the ratings/popularity game.
   
   The backbone of sports is ids and from what I see fewer kids are playing baseball, they find it slow and boring. Today they want to play football, lacrosse and soccer and leagues are flourishing, especially soccer and lacrosse. Where I'm from youth hockey - both roller and ice - is huge. When I was a kid all of this youth league activity was baseball alone - the NHL was only 6 teams, they played no lacrosse where I grew up, and there were no organized youth football or basketball leagues -- and you only played soccer in gym class.
   
   The NFL is also structured -- Republicans are gonna love this -- as a socialist league -- they share the wealth. A small market team like Pittsburgh can compete with a large market like New York -- that doesn't happen as readily in baseball and it is hurting the presentation of the game.
   
   I live in Philadelphia where all of the sports including the Union are well supported, particularly if they demonstrate any type of effort in improving their product. In final analysis I think the comparison of baseball and football was best summed up by George Carlin - If you know what I mean.

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      lions44posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      All the baseball field near my home lay empty most of the summer. When I was a kid in the Bronx there was never an empty field (or court).  I just see kids skateboard by them all.  Kids don't get together on their own anymore  and play pickup ball.

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   whonunuwhoposted 10 years ago

   Baseball is the true international sport and is actually one in which people from around the globe participate in. It is always thought of as America's game and will always be a big part of the sports world in this country. Football, basketball, hockey, and soccer, are all improving in popularity and compete with baseball. The one sport that will be claimed as our own will always be baseball.

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   Man of Strengthposted 10 years ago

   I don't think baseball will ever die, but popularity will continue to decline. The slow pace of the game has been an issue for years. The games are simply too long. We're an instant gratification society. Also, the explosion in popurlarity of the NFL has hurt as well. In all honesty, I believe the whole steroid scandal has hurt more than anything.

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      lions44posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You know, the steroids issue has been very underrated in terms of the decline of the game.   The entire strategy of the game changed. The ball is no longer in play as much.  Getting the key extra base hit or moving runners over is now gone.

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   RonElFranposted 10 years ago

   Have you noticed that although football now has bigger ratings, few people ever say it has replaced baseball as the "national pastime"? Baseball will never give up that title because it really describes the appeal of the game. Football season is a series of events (games). Basketball season is basically a lead-in to the playoffs. But baseball is a spend-an-afternoon or -evening pastime. For many fans, the outcome of the game is decidedly secondary to the experience of a day at the ballpark. That's both baseball's glory and its problem. We live in an age that is at odds with the slower, more contemplative pace of the times in which baseball was born and thrived. You can't speed up the game to match the frenzy of our times. Will we ever return to that less hectic pace of life? I don't know. But enough people crave that slower pace that baseball will survive.

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   barbat79posted 10 years ago

   No it is not.  All sports rise and decline in popularity over years but they always shift again.  Baseball is the greatest American Pastime and will always be that no matter what may draw more attention to a particular crowd.
   Sports are seasonal, so when there is no football, there is baseball etc...
   Jeter will make the Hall of Fame as well.

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      lions44posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      First off...Jeter is a lock HoFer.  No doubt it.  He's a winner. But I think the decline will continue for baseball.  It's going to get edged out. It'll take 20 years or so.

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   thelyricwriterposted 10 years ago

   I believe baseball has been a dying sport for years now. I believe one of the main reasons is the lack of importance during the regular season. I know every game is crucial, but fans don't see it this way. Baseball schedules 162 games a year, which is another reason for the lack of popularity. You don't see the big names in baseball like other sports. Yes, there are big names, I know. However, when compared to other sports, there are much bigger names. Big names in baseball get less coverage in the media. The NFL is very popular and there has been an increase in the NBA. Even the NHL is gaining popularity. Baseball continues to fall. I say play less regular season games and add a few more teams into the playoffs. This would help spark the interest. I was so disappointed when they only added 2 more teams, for only one game I may add. It is obvious, look at the stands compared to other sports teams. I know ballparks hold more people then hockey and basketball, but parks all around America are empty. Changes need to be made. A real great question.

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      lions44posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I could not agree more.  Although it would mean less revenue, 150 games max would be great.  Start mid April, not in the cold weather. End by mid September. Get the playoff drame started before the NFL kicks into high gear.

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      thelyricwriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Absolutely. More meaningful games would help. I believe more teams in the playoffs could cut the obvious revenue loss. Not the total loss, but it would help and be great for the cities involved. There is no creativity for the future and it is sad.

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   IDONOposted 10 years ago

   Dying? no. Baseball popularity has been diluted because it can only hold so many athletes. Today, many other sports, now, have big purses for winners. People like to see big money won or lost. That's why there are very few new quiz shows. Sports ran them out because their prizes have become trivial. However, baseball will never die. When you look at all other, large crowd sports, baseball is the only one that has remained somewhat family oriented. I'd never take a kid to a NFL, NBA or soccer game. It's a different crowd and a different atmosphere entirely. It's more of a carnival type atmosphere with the organs, the speakers sounds, the vendors. You have the crack of the bat, the home run, the fireworks and a history that dwarfs any other major sport.
        Hey, I'm an Indians fan. If anyone would want it to die, it would be me. But I love it. So do my kids and grandkids.

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      lions44posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree on the family-oriented part of your argument. Safeco Field is very family friendly and it's not uncommon to see young kids even at a night game. But the games are on too late in many markets for kids to watch. So that's still a problem.  Thx.

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    Raymond Bureauposted 10 years ago

    I don't think baseball is dying. There are so many other sports now that have captured interest and have to compete for attention. True baseball fans such as I will always turn to baseball first.

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       lions44posted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks, Raymond.  I think your comment speaks volumes about what baseball will become: a "niche" sport for the diehard fan.  I see the empty fields near my house as well as the empty stadiums and I can't see baseball coming back.

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    billypetty22posted 10 years ago

    No doubt baseball is a dying sport. Sure the increased popularity of football is a huge element in this discussion, however culture and generation changes have a wide impact as well. Before my generation, people didn't have phones and computers wherever they went. There was no facebook, twitter or social networking. Instead of kids being cooped in their room all day playing video games, they contained their boredom by gathering neighborhood friends together and playing a friendly game of baseball. Those games would bring out the social element that is present in twitter and facebook today. Also kids have a shorter attention span than in past generations, and a slow paced sport like baseball doesn't have immediate excitement to them as would football or basketball.

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       lions44posted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Great comment. It encapsulates my feelings exactly.  That's coming from someone your age and you're very aware of what's going on.  Although I saw a rare sight on Saturday: a dad hitting fungos to his son at the local field (which is always empty).

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    lions44posted 10 years ago

    As more proof of my position, I offer Ken Rosenthal's latest column from Fox Sports: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/atte … es-060513.
    As usual with Ken, it's a great read. He points to several factors:
    1. Weather
    2. Secondary ticket market (i.e. Stub Hub) to avoid buying season packages
    3. Ticket prices in general
    
    The upcoming PED scandal won't help.
    To me, it's all about prices.  People have been priced out of the market. Those same folks will eventually lose interest and move on.  Baseball needs to do something quick.

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    Tim Quamposted 10 years ago

    I think we can rely on baseball.  It's the only everyday sport and it's the summer game.  It's something to do when the kids are out of school during the downtime.  I think baseball's greatest time predated television.  It was a great newspaper sport — and it still is, albeit an online sport now — you can follow winning streaks and hitting streaks and learn so much about a three-hour event with a 30-second glance at a box score.  It's a great breakfast table sport.  It's also a tremendously fair sport.  Everyone gets their turn.  You can't run out the clock when you have a lead and you can't funnel the ball to your most productive player.  How many team sports don't have a clock?

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       lions44posted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Tim, I agree with a lot,  but time is not on baseball's side.  Ratings are getting worse every week (yes, school not out yet). Hockey beat it last month among those under 30.  Within 5 yrs there will be a "market crash" for the sport.

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    AlienTaylorposted 10 years ago

    It is not a dying game, but it absolutely  has less and less appeal to the masses. The American Species is getting  inherantly dumber by the minute, Thanks to Jersey  Shore, and other wastes of time. Baseball is a thinking man 's game, so its Just thinning the herd, or natural selection. Take em ', no room for facepainters in the MLB

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    1. 94

       lions44posted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Interesting take. Never thought about it that way. We have become an instant gratification society, so your point is well taken.

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    Rileseposted 9 years ago

    I don't think baseball is dying but it is slowly declining. The thing is, baseball has so much history, I don't think there is going to ever be a time when the sport dies.
    
    Me personally growing up played baseball from T-Ball until I was 13, then i realized I hated it. I was a very talented and experienced player, but it just did not have the appeal that football, or hockey did for me when because i was an angry teenager.
    
    Football is not nearly as technical as Baseball is, but instead more of a faster paced, more physical game. The one thing I realized is that like all things, Baseball is very subjective, and there is always going to be a large community that loves it, that will still be a huge part of their culture.  I'm happy to see both of my 5 year old nephews get into baseball and i hope they continue with it because baseball is such a great game.

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       lions44posted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Thx for the take, Rilese.   Interesting to note that as you got older, baseball played less and less of a role.  I've checking attendance for this year and it's down again. Even at Safeco, the place looks empty on the weekends.

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