In recent years the MLB has found itself on the upward side of increased viewership, both nationally and globally. With adjusted rules to speed up the game and big names spread throughout the league, baseball is introducing an already high quality product to an even newer crowd of sport fans.
The Major Leagues have reported a 27% increase in viewership for this past season, and I can proudly say I am in this total of new spectators.
As a long time basketball and football reporter and enthusiast, this was the first year baseball sparked genuine curiosity. And with it all said and done…I would give it a standing ovation.
When the season first began in late March, I was instantly tapped in. Admittedly, I stayed close to the names I was familiar with like Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes and Juan Soto.
However, it wasn’t long before I was eager to learn about new players and teams that I would naturally gravitate towards.
Being from Los Angeles of course I knew about the Dodgers, but I hadn’t known much. So naturally, they were one of the first teams I had to revisit.
The first game I checked in on was April 2, against the Atlanta Braves.
I remember this so vividly because prior to me being forced to purchase ESPN plus, I was an avid Streameast user.
Now, this was a butt clencher of a game. Dodgers were down by one at home in the bottom of the ninth with a runner in scoring position, and here comes Shohei Ohtani up to bat.
The pitch is thrown, he swings, and…
Streameast lags and crashes.
I quickly refresh and all of a sudden the lights are flashing, everyone’s cheering, Ohatni clears the bases and his teammates are covering him in Gatorade.
He’d just hit his first walk-off home run as a Dodger, and I missed it.
Nevertheless, what a rush. After that, there was no turning back. I’d just found my new love; a whole new world. A Pandora’s box that had yet to be explored. After waiting and trying to connect to new players in sports that I’ve followed and covered for so long, baseball was able to provide me with a surplus of new players, new drama, new rules and a different type of entertainment.
Naturally, the next step was to find my “first” favorite players.
Of course this is subject to change as I learn them, their stories and the game more but I was eager to get started. I didn’t want to choose the biggest names because that’s too easy, but I did start with the bigger teams.
Depending who this is said to, it’ll warrant different reactions…but the Yankees and the Mets were just so easy to gravitate to, and they had the right headlines to reel in a new fan.
Torpedo bats, and absurd contracts to so-called “lazy” players—yeah, that’ll do it.
Franscisco Lindor of the Mets, and Jazz Chrisolm Jr. quickly became the two that I followed and while their teams were streaky throughout the entirety of the season there was always that feeling that something crazy could happen.
I was able to attend two Astros games in person this year. One versus the Phillies in June, and another against the Red Sox in August. These weren’t my first ever baseball games but they sure did feel like it. They both ran longer than I thought, but who’s complaining?
Definitely not me.
Despite living in Houston, I have no connection to the Astros. Maybe it’s the LA in me, or maybe the fact that orange is my least favorite color. Regardless, if I show up to an Astros game it’s most likely for the opponent or my new love for the game.
I was looking forward to actively participating in October baseball but was unaware how the MLB playoff seeding is orchestrated. So to my surprise the Astros didn’t even make it to the playoffs which I’m hoping doesn’t become a trend for the next few years.
Because the Yankees were the team I followed most, I gained some knowledge on what opponents give them the most trouble.
So when I saw the Toronto Blue Jays on the schedule, I knew what was coming, their season was about to end.
On the other side of the bracket, the Dodgers were doing what I grew accustomed to hearing about:
Win here, win there, win everywhere.
And they quickly became sitting ducks at the World Series waiting for Toronto to catch up.
The time had finally arrived—my first World Series. No flukes, no upsets, no injuries to my knowledge. Two of the best teams from two cities that seemed to be in pop culture headlines going on for two years.
I quickly became familiar with these clubs and their style of play and what a first world series this was for a new and fresh baseball fan. Back and forth games filled with uncertainty, well executed plays, combined with extra innings one of them almost reaching 20 and a clutch, get it out the mud comeback win in Game 7.
Is this what I’ve been missing the whole time? If so, I won’t be missing anymore.
Game 7 featuring LA and Toronto was the most watched baseball game in 34 years averaging 27.3 million viewers and I was one of them to witness sports history.
Maybe I just caught the MLB on a good year, or perhaps this is what they normally provide. There isn’t a shortage of talent, personalities, stories or drama, in fact it’s so much more than I’d ever imagined.
A few years ago my, response would be different, but for now and probably for the rest of my life if someone told me “baseball is the best sport’’
After what I witnessed and experienced, I couldn’t even argue with them.
Hell, I might even have to agree.
Delivered by Le’Raun Peron
