Shohei Ohtani, wearing number 17 for the Los Angeles Dodgers, achieved a milestone by hitting his 50th home run of the season during a game against the Miami Marlins on September 19, 2024. This accomplishment makes him the first player in Major League Baseball (MLB) history to have a 50/50 season. The game took place at LoanDepot Park in Miami.
The MLB postseason is capturing significant viewer interest. The first game of the National League Championship Series between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers attracted an average of 8.26 million viewers across Fox Sports’ television networks and streaming platforms. This made it the most-watched League Championship Series (LCS) game on any network since 2009.
Similarly, the opening game of the American League Championship Series garnered 3.9 million viewers, marking a 4% increase from 2023. This matchup featured the New York Yankees against the Cleveland Guardians, as reported by a spokesperson from TNT Sports.
Both series faced competition for viewers from “Sunday Night Football” and “Monday Night Football,” which featured all three of New York’s National Football League teams in primetime slots.
The championship series success follows a strong performance from the league division series, where the American League Division Series saw an over 20% increase in viewership, averaging three million viewers. The National League Division Series also experienced an increase, with game four in each series seeing a rise from 2022.
There have been concerns about MLB’s cultural relevance in recent years, particularly as younger generations with perceived shorter attention spans emerge as key media demographics. Highlights and clips have become essential content for sports broadcasters.
Last year’s World Series between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks received the lowest TV ratings in the series’ history. Some attributed this to the teams’ lack of national appeal.
The 2024 MLB regular season was highly successful, with increases in attendance, fan engagement, streaming, and viewership. The league credits this to the introduction of a pitch clock that shortened games and other rule changes that enhanced in-game action.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred stated that there was increased enthusiasm among baseball fans of all ages over the past two seasons, as seen through various measures of fan engagement. He described 2024 as a memorable season marked by historic performances, young emerging stars, successful special events, and competitive pennant races.
The league has implemented rule changes to increase game action, such as enlarging the bases and limiting defensive shifts. MLB is also capitalizing on its generational stars like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, who play for the Dodgers and Yankees, respectively.
If their teams win their respective LCS, Ohtani and Judge could face off in the World Series. Todd Boehly, CEO of Eldridge Industries and owner of the Dodgers, commented on the potential matchup of two storied MLB franchises, suggesting it would be beneficial for baseball.
The Mets and Guardians, the other remaining teams, also have notable storylines. The Mets experienced a turnaround in June following a winning streak, partly inspired by a McDonald’s mascot, Grimace, throwing out a first pitch. The Guardians regained their division lead from the Kansas City Royals in September, thanks to a standout performance by their star player, Jose Ramirez.
Currently, the Yankees hold a 2-0 lead against the Guardians in their series, while the Mets-Dodgers series is tied at 1-1.
