World Series Scheduling Notes

I fondly recall the years from 1963-1968 when the World Series would open with a Wednesday afternoon game. Those days are long gone.

The World Series began on Wednesday nights from 2007 through last year. This year it will begin on a Tuesday night (as was the case from 1977-1984).

Perhaps the reason for the return to the Tuesday start, is so that baseball’s World Series would not compete with regular season NFL games. Such ratings competition might have proved embarrassing for baseball.

Now, with the Tuesday start, the only scheduled “conflict” will be Sunday night if game 5 of the World Series is necessary.

For years now, the NFL, formerly a Sunday staple,  has invaded not only Monday night but the Thursday and Saturday night television landscapes.

More series starting day details:  begining with 1963, the Series was scheduled to start on Saturday night 22 times (1985-2006.) I believe only game 1 of the 1996 World Series among the 22, was postponed. There was no World series in 1994 due to a labor dispute. The World Series opened on a Saturday afternoon 8 times (1969-1976).

With Joe Buck and the never quiet Harold Reynolds on this years telecast, I subscribe to the late Beano Cook’s wish that whomever wins game 1 of the World Series, wins in 4 straight games.

Beano Cook