Saying Goodbye To Yankee Stadium
Sad for me to see a place full of history be no more. The house that Ruth built is nothing but rubble. The very ground where Lou Gehrig gave baseball and the world his tearful farewell speech is now covered in rocks. The outfield where Yankee fans witnessed Mickey Mantle tear cartilage in his knee as his cleats caught a drainage cover because Joltin Joe DiMaggio called him off at the very last second for a routine fly ball is nothing but dirt. The upper deck where Reggie Jackson became Mr. October falls to its dismay.
Too many memories to list as heavens playground is just that, memories.
Former Yankees ‘God Bless America’ Singer Moves To Boston
Sweet Caroline Next?
For nearly a decade at New York Yankees games, Irish tenor Ronan Tynan belted out “God Bless America.” After being accused of making an anti-Semitic remark he was absent from the Yankees World Series run in October but is now moving to Boston.
Tynan says that he’s gotten death threats and all employers haven’t been returning any of his calls. The New York Times was shown a letter from a doctor wrote saying that he would let Tynan die on the operating table if he was his patient.
As the story goes, a real estate agent brought two Jewish ladies to view an apartment neighboring Tynan’s. The agent warned Tynan that the “two Jewish ladies” were very particular, and the tenor wondered if living next to him would be prudent. Later, when an associate of the agent told Tynan the apartment had been sold, he joked,
“Don’t worry, they’re not Red Sox fans.” Tynan retorted, “As long as they are not the Jewish ladies,” which was overheard by the client, Dr. Gabrielle Gold-Von Simson, also Jewish.
Gold-Von Simson complained to the Yankees, who then told Tynan not to come to Yankee Stadium for Game 1 of the 2009 ALCS against the Los Angeles Angels.
“I made a comment that was misunderstood,” Tynan said. “If anyone knows the pain of discrimination, I do.”
Tynan was born with lower leg problems that forced him to wear braces. After complications following a car accident, Tynan elected to amputate both legs. He would go on to compete in the Paralympics on two prosthetic legs, representing Ireland in the 1984 and 1988 Summer Paralympics, according to the Paralympics Web site. He won four gold medals, two silvers and a bronze.
Following the controversy, Tynan apologized to the Anti-Defamation League. ADL director Abraham Foxman, accepted the mea culpa.
Red Sox fans already have “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond to serenade them in the eighth inning of every home game. But could Tynan make an appearance at Fenway Park to sing “God Bless America,” in an upcoming Yankees series? It would certainly fuel the fire the rivalry.
New York Yankees Each Have To Return $10,000
That Miller Light Just Cost You $10,000
I guess the rich don’t always get richer as is the case with the New York Yankees. The Yankees won their 27th championship last fall but have received word they will have to give back $10,000 of their World Series bonus. Winning sucks.
Major League Baseball Players Association has informed the Yankees that there was a mistake in the calculation of the World Series championship share, that’s what happens when I’m asked to doing any arithmetic.
Winning the World Series the Yankees divided up $21.2 million. Originally the Yankees awarded 46 players and coaches full shares, making a full share $365,052. But it was later discovered that that three people (two trainers and a player) were not allocated their proper share.
Those who received full shares are now being asked to pay back approximately $10,000 each.
New York Mets To Pay Bobby Bonilla $1.9 Milli Until 2035
Absolutely Brilliant
Welcome to another day of why I hate former ESPN analyst and New York Mets general manager Steve Phillips. With days away from pitchers and catchers reporting in Major League Baseball and the Mets trying to hang with divisional Philadelphia Phillies and cross town rivals New York Yankees the one thing they wont be able to do is touch Bobby Bonilla money.
Beginning in 2011, the Mets will pay Bobby Bonilla $1.19 million in deferred money every July 1 until 2035. Seriously. That’s right, the Mets payroll still includes the 6 time all-star. He retired in 2001 and he hasn’t played for the Mets since 1999.
Bonilla’s second stint with the Mets turned out to be just as disastrous as his first. After a knee injury sidelined him in March, he gained weight and hit just .160 in 60 games with the team. The Mets then placed him on irrevocable waivers but went unclaimed.
He was finally released in January after reaching an unusual agreement with the Mets. Instead of picking up his $5.9 million salary for the 2000 season, the team pledged to pay him $1,193,248.20 each July 1st from 2011 to 2035, nearly $30 million.
Who makes such idiotic decisions? None other than Steve Phillips who was the Mets general manager from 97-’03.
Randy Johnson Retires From Major League Baseball
No, THANK YOU
Am I a Randy Johnson stan? Yes. Is Randy Johnson a Hall of Famer? Yes. Will Randy Johnson be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first ballot? Yes. Again Am I a Randy Johnson stan? Yes.
Now that those questions are out of the way, it’s time to say goodbye to an extraordinary 22 year Major League Baseball career. The Big Unit finished with 303 wins on his career, good enough for 22nd all-time, 5 Cy Young Awards with another 3 in which he finished 2nd place and 1 3rd place finish, he struckout 4,875 batters to put him second all-time behind Nolan Ryan and first among left-handers, 10 time All-Star, 2 time 20 game winner, a World Series champion, and to not to be forgotten is that he pitched a no-hitter and a perfect game.
You can call those the major accomplishments but here’s just a few more to add to the resume a 2001 World Series co-MVP, earning four ERA crowns, nine strikeout titles, and the ability to boast having beaten every single big league team at least once.
Johnson’s career began in Montreal with the Expos and included stops in Seattle, Houston (where he was the CC Sabitha before there was a CC Sabaitha going 10-1 after being traded down the strecth to push the Astros into the playoffs), Arizona, New York and finally San Francisco. Johnson overcame wildness early in his career to become a dominant starter that included a 10-year stretch between 1993 and 2002. During that span, he struck out 2,928 batters in 2,188 innings to go with a 2.73 ERA and 175 wins.
Thank you Randy Johnson for the memories and allowing me to say I witnessed perhaps the most dominant left handed pitcher of all time.
Javier Vazquez & Boone Logan Traded For Melky Cabrera, Mike Dunn, Arodys Vizcaino & Cash
Moving Day
The New York Yankees where just hit with $25.69 million in luxury taxes and then turned around and traded for right hander Javier Vazquez from the Atlanta Braves and left handed reliver pitcher Boone Logan for centerfielder Melky Cabrera, lefty prospect Mike Dunn, right-handed Arodys Vizcaino, and half a million dollars. This move for the Yankees might actually go against all recent signs and have the Yankees keep Johnny Damon.
Cabrera set career highs with 13 homers and 68 RBIs last season for the Yanks while batting .274. Vazquez, 33, enjoyed one of his best seasons in the major leagues in 2009, with career bests in ERA and across the board. Logan was touched for a 5.19 ERA in 20 appearances out of the pen. He’s expected to replace Phil Coke as a lefty out of the pen.
Cabrera, 25, was long touted as a prime Yankee prospect, and enjoyed a solid year at the plate in 2009 with a .274/.336/.416 line. Cabrera plays capably at all three outfield positions. Dunn, 24 made four appearances out of the pen for the Yanks in 2009. The lefty posted a 3.31 ERA in 73.1 minor league innings with a gaudy 12.2 K/9. Vizcaino made ten starts for Staten Island in the NY-Penn League as an 18 year old and had a 2.14 ERA.
The move makes sense for the Braves as they are to replenish with youth in the outfield and on the mound for priced, aging pitcher that has trouble keeping the ball in the park. It even allows the Braves to be flexible with one of the many outfielders for an extra bat or even more youth on the mound.
Yankees: Losers/ Braves: Winners
Nick Johnson Signs With New York Yankees
"Private Pyle I'm gonna give you three seconds to wipe that stupid looking grin off your face"
The New York Yankees have signed sorry ass Nick Johnson, signing a one-year $5.5 million contract. Johnson is expected to disappoint Yankees fans by filling the vacated designated hitter spot when Hideki Matsui signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last week.
Johnson is pretty much always hurt and doesn’t seem to have the kinda pop that is expected from a platooning first baseman or DH. Johnson split last season with the Nationals and Marlins, hitting a combined .291 with eight homers, 62 RBIs and 99 walks. He only played 38 games in 2008 because of a torn ligament in his wrist and he didn’t play at all in 2007 because of a broken femur. He’s also missed time with a broken hand, back problems, and a broken cheekbone.
Johnson has already played for the Yankees playing for them from 2001-2003 before being traded to Montreal.
Hideki Matsui Signs With Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim
2009 World Series MVP
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have signed World Series MVP Hideki Matsui to serve as DH for one-year at $6.5 million, possibly marking the end of the Vladimir Guerrero era with the Angels.
The former Yomiuri Giants and New York Yankees hit .274 last season with 28 home runs, and that kind of production in the DH spot should really benefit them, who are relying on Kendry Morales, Bobby Abreu, Torii Hunter, and now Matsui to carry the team in production. The Angels have Juan Rivera in left field and Bobby Abreu in right field but if Matsui’s knees are in good shape, he could see time when Rivera or Abreu need a day off.
The 35-year-old left-handed-hitter has enjoyed a prosperous career in the United States with a .292 batting average with 140 home runs and 597 RBIs over seven Major League seasons with the Yankees. And he’s coming off a season in which he had .274 batting average, 28 home runs and 90 RBIs while also posting a .367 on-base percentage and .509 slugging percentage.
Matsui, like Guerrero, is nearing the end of a storied career and, combining Japan and the United States, is 133 hits shy of 2,500, 28 home runs shy of 500 and 14 RBIs shy of 1,500. And in the Majors, he’s 23 hits shy of 1,000, 84 games shy of 1,000 and two doubles shy of 200. He’s also the first player since former closer John Wetteland in 1996 to switch teams after being named World Series MVP.
Pedro Feliz Signs With The Houston Astros
Pedro Did You Forget Something?
The Houston Astros have signed third baseman Pedro Feliz to a one-year $4.5 million contract.
Feliz joins the Astros after they traded three Minor Leaguers to the Florida Marlins for reliever Matt Lindstrom and reached a contract agreement with reliever Brandon Lyon.
Feliz, 34, played the previous two seasons with the Phillies, helping them win the World Series in 2008 and return in 2009. He hit .266 with 12 homers and 82 RBIs in 158 games last year for Philadelphia. Feliz spent the first eight years of his career with the San Francisco Giants and is a career .254 hitter with 135 homers and 558 RBIs.
Feliz is known for more for his defense except when he had a mental lapse in the World Series and forgot to cover third base which allowing New York Yankees Johnny Damon to get into scoring position in the top of the ninth of Game Four of the World Series. An inning in which the Yankees would score three and eventually win 7-4.
Andy Pettitte Re-Signs With New York Yankees
18-9 In Postseason
The New York Yankees have agreed to a deal worth $11.75 million with their No. 3 starter Andy Pettitte. The 37-year-old southpaw is coming off a nice bounce-back year, where he went 14-8 with a 4.16 ERA, he went 14-14 with a 4.54 ERA in 2008 and was most impressive in the postseason.
Pettitte went 4-0 with a 3.52 ERA in the playoffs and became the first pitcher in major league history to start and win all three clinching games, ALDS, ALCS and World Series. He is the major league record holder for career postseason wins and innings pitched, 18-9 in 40 postseason starts.
With Pettitte now slotted behind CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, the Yankees still have to fill the back end of their rotation but it’s pleasure to see the Deer Park native in one more season.
Yankees, Tigers, Diamondbacks Complete Three-Way Trade
Winners All Around
I gotta admit I have been neglecting my responsibilities when it comes to offering Sports Grind Entertainment feelings about all the moves happening at the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis. Instead I’ve just been siting on my fat ass and watching as fan and enjoying that Christmas always comes early for this O.G. baseball fan. So I’ll start off by tossing the ball around the diamond with the blockbuster trade that going the hot stove burning.
The three team deal had the New York Yankees receiving All-Star center fielder Curtis Granderson. The Arizona Diamondbacks received right-hander Edwin Jackson and right-hander Ian Kennedy. The Detroit Tigers acquired the most players in getting lefty reliever Phil Coke and prospect Austin Jackson and right-hander Max Scherzer and left-hander Daniel Schlereth.
I’ll go by win-loss record in breaking down each team involvement, so first up is the World Series champion Yankees (103-59) who acquired Grandson. He’s a web gem in the outfield who’s only 28 and adds another left handed bat to an already dangerous lineup. Granderson hit .249 with 30 home runs, 71 RBIs and 20 steals. But to acquire Grandson the Yankees gave up Kennedy who has been hit with the injury bug but is fairly young and has only pitched 59 innings in big leagues. Coke is also another young arm sent packing, he was the Yankees primary left-handed reliever for 2009. The Yankees dug into their farm system and sent their best prospect rated by Baseball America Austin Jackson away.
My prospective is that this move signals that they are unlikely to re-sign both Johnny Damon and World Series MVP Hideki Matsui and might have bailed on too much youth but these are the Yankees so you can almost guarantee they will always be movers and shakers if they see an area of weakness in the future.
The Tigers (86-77) are next up to bat and keep in mind that this ball club forced a one game playoff with the Minnesota Twins. Detroit received a young left-handed Coke to help out an already strong pitching staff and Austin Jackson to eventually take over for Grandson. They reeled in a strikeout machine in Scherzer who is a number two starter on most clubs but could be pushed as far down as fourth with the Tigers, he struck out 174 batters in 170 1/3 innings. Detroit also received Schlereth, the son of former NFL lineman Mark Schlereth, who has a mid-90s fastball and could be the Tigers future closer or slot in to be the setup man.
The Tigers did give up a web gem outfielder in Grandson but where able to shed his $23 million contract over the next three years and the arbitration-eligible Edwin Jackson. In return received a plethora of young talent on the mound and a possible replacement for the center field spot.
Coming in last in this trade as well as the National League West is the Diamondbacks (70-92). Arizona received All-Star Edwin Jackson who is World Series tested and fails to the number three starter behind aces Dan Haren, Brandon Webb. and replacing the young arm of Scherzer with Kennedy. Edwin Jackson finished the season with a record of 13-9 with a 3.62 ERA and 191 strikeouts in 214 innings, his best ever in MLB.
The Diamondbacks might have given up two young arms but a huge reason why the team fail to the lows they did last year was the season ending injury to Webb after one start and the lack of run production. While the bats haven’t been address yet, the pitching staff didn’t take a nosedive.
Yankees: Winners/Tigers: Winners/Diamondbacks: Winners
Minnesota Twins Joe Mauer Wins American League Most Valuable Player Award
MVP
Joe Mauer catcher of the Minnesota Twins has been named the American League Most Valuable Player in a near unanimous vote,receiving 27 of the 28 first-place votes to easily beat out the Yankees’ duo of Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter, conducted by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Mauer also joined an elite group of players when he won his third American League batting title this season.
The 26-year-old Mauer finished with 327 points, well ahead of Teixeira, who had 225, and Jeter, who had 193. Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who received the only other first-place vote, was fourth with 171 points.
Mauer became the fifth player in Twins history to win the MVP Award. He joined teammate Justin Morneau, who took home the honor in 2006, as well as Zoilo Versalles (1965) Harmon Killebrew (1969) and Rod Carew (1977).
He also became just the second catcher in the past 33 years to be named MVP. Texas Rangers Ivan Rodriguez (1999) is the only backstop besides Mauer to take home the honor since Yankees catcher Thurman Munson won it in 1976. The last catcher to win National League MVP honors was Cincinnati’s Johnny Bench in 1972.
Mauer put together the best season of his already impressive young career in 2009. He batted .365 to earn his second straight AL batting title. It was his third batting title in four seasons, making the 26-year-old the only catcher in Major League history to accomplish the feat. He is the 10th player in AL history with three or more batting titles.
In addition to leading the league in batting average, Mauer also was the leader in on-base percentage (.444) and slugging percentage (.587), giving him what some stat gurus have deemed the modern Triple Crown. The last AL player to lead in all three of those categories was George Brett of the Royals in 1980. Mauer set career highs in home runs (28) and RBIs (96). And it was that unexpected power surge that was the biggest change for Mauer in 2009, as he more than doubled his previous high in homers (13 in 2006).
This award season had already been kind to Mauer. He was named the AL’s Outstanding Player in the Player’s Choice Awards as well as being named the top player in the AL by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. He also earned his third Silver Slugger Award and his second straight Gold Glove.
Check back to read about Albert Pujols’ NL MVP award, which will be announced Tuesday.
Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim Mike Scioscia Wins American League Manager Of The Year
34 Would Be Proud
Mike Scioscia of the Los Angeles Angels of Anhiem had to endure the most emotionally season of his 10 seasons as leader of the Angels and that culminated in him selected as the 2009 American League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
It was Scioscia’s second Manager of the Year award. He was named by the BBWAA in 2002, when the Angels claimed their first World Series title under his direction after entering the postseason as a Wild Card. Scioscia, who is the first manager in Major League history to pilot six postseason teams in his first 10 seasons, received 15 of a possible 28 first-place votes for 106 points.
The Twins’ Ron Gardenhire finished second with six first-place votes and 72 points. Joe Girardi of the Yankees (four first-place votes) was third, followed by the Mariners’ Don Wakamatsu (two), the Rangers’ Ron Washington (one) and the Tigers’ Jim Leyland.
Coping with the death of young pitcher Nick Adenhart in a car wreck on April 9, Scioscia and the Angels emerged from early struggles — they were 29-29 on June 11 — to take flight en route to a third consecutive AL West title, their fifth in six seasons.
In the AL Division Series, the Angels swept their October nemesis, Boston, in three games before falling in six games in the AL Championship Series to the Yankees, who went on to subdue the Phillies in the World Series.
With 97 wins, the Angels continued a run of excellence under Scioscia, whose teams have won 900 regular-season games in 10 seasons. His 567 victories over the past six seasons represent a Major League best — one more than Joe Torre has achieved with the Yankees and Dodgers and two more than Terry Francona with the Red Sox.
WTF LeBron James
#27
Prior to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic game LeBron James said he would stop talking about the upcoming 2010 free agency but then he goes out and wears these kicks to honor the NEW YORK Yankees.
Does James just bring this extra talk upon himself?
Joe Girardi Goes From World Series Champion To Good Samaritan
Well Done Joe
Joe Girardi is a World Series-winning manager and apparently, also a good samaritan. On his way home from winning the World Series with a 7-3 win over the Phillies on Wednesday night, At about 2:25 AM Thursday morning, a woman named Marie Henry lost control of her vehicle on the Cross County Parkway in Eastchester, New York and crashed into a wall. Not only did Girardi stop to check on her well-being, but he also flagged down the police.
According to the police, Girardi ran across moving traffic that travels at speeds at 80 mph to get across the highway and check on the accident.
“The guy wins the World Series, what does he do? He stops to help,” Westchester County police officer Kathleen Cristiano, who was among the first to arrive at the accident scene, told The Journal News. “It was totally surreal.”
We don’t hear enough good stories like this that surround sports figures. Girardi had no way of knowing the woman in the accident was unharmed and he put himself at risk in the case he would be able to help an injured motorist. This is a nice story and it shines light on the fact that there are many sports figures out there that do some good for society.
From champion to fine human being.
22.3 Million Watch Game 6 Of The World Series
105th
For all those people that say ignorant things like no one watched the World Series, obviously live in under a rock and are not in tune with the rest of the 22.3 million who did so just for game 6.
The New York Yankees’ World Series-clinching victory over the Philadelphia Phillies drew a massive 15.5 overnight rating on Fox Wednesday night, which contributed to lower-than-usual scores for shows on competing networks. The Fall Classic on Fox also averaged a 7.4 rating/21 share in adults 18-49. And overall, this year’s World Series averaged a 6.2 rating in adults 18-49 and 19.4 million viewers overall.
Preliminary 18-49 averages for the night: Fox, 7.4/21; CBS, 2.7/7; ABC, 2.1/6; Univision, 1.4/4; CW, 1.2/3.
In total viewers: Fox, 22.3 million; CBS, 10.2 million; NBC, 6.4 million; ABC, 6.0 million; Univision, 3.3 million; CW, 2.7 million.
Additionally, the 15.5 overnight is the third-highest of 2009 for any non-NFL sporting event, behind only the BCS National Championship Game in January (17.0), and Game 4 of Yankees/Phillies on Sunday (15.6).
The Phillies Anthem That Never Came True
This Jakk Frost and Freeway Philadelphia anthem was suppose to be kicked off after the Phillies won the 105th World Series in five games. At least Chase Utley and I will always have the letter:
Dear Chase,
I feel like I can call you Chase because you and me are so much alike. I would love to meet you someday, it would be great to have a catch. I know I can’t throw as fast as you, but I think you would be impressed with my speed. I love your hair. You run fast. Did you have a good relationship with your father? Me neither. These are all things we can talk about, and more. I know you have not been getting my letters because I know you would write back if you did. And I hope you write back this time and we get to be good friends. I am sure our relationship would be a real home run.
The New York Yankees Are Your 2009 MLB Champions
#27
The New York Yankees are Major League Baseball’s World Champions after winning Game 6 of the 105th World Series 7-3 over the Philadelphia Phillies, who I wrongly predicted to win in 5 and keep the championship in the National League.
I admit my MLB postseason predictions where my worst ever and about as foul as that after taste from vomiting, utterly nasty, Ryan Howard, and I will go sit somewhere till pitchers and catches report in February.
I am glad to see the core four back on top especially Derek Jeter and the best closer of all time Mariano Rivera. Captain Cheeseburger Sabathia welcome to the champion stage, you deserve it. If the Yankees didn’t win it all, then Mark Teixeira you would be enjoying an ass ripping for not producing at all during the postseason with your bat. You didn’t bring the bat but you did bring the five fingers covered in gold, credit for shining in another area of your game when the bat went ice cold.
Brain Cashman your a champion once again but your off season surely doesn’t get any easier with some tough decisions lingering on free agents Johnny Damon, Andy Pettitte, and World Series MVP Hideki Matsui, who didn’t make those decisions any easier.
A big congratulations to Alex Rodriguez, the 2009 season really was all about you, now your a World Series champion, and no one can take that off your resume.
Hey lets not forget Chien-Ming Wang is a champion too.
As for the Phillies, great job, I do wish you could have given me one more night of baseball but you didn’t. That club option on Cliff Lee is without a doubt gonna be picked up. It’s a shame that Cole Hamels pretty much checked out on the season back on June 14 and that Jamie Moyer got hurt right as the season pretty much ended, he would have been a nice option.
You know it’s coming so lets just say Brad Lidge you blow in every way known to mankind, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you.
Congratulations to George Steinbrenner and his New York Yankees on their MLB record 27th World Series title. Get well Boss.
Game 5 Of World Series Draws 17.1 Million Viewers
105th
After Game 4 topped 20 million viewers, Game 5 of the 2009 World Series fell back towards earth on Monday night with 17.1 million viewers on FOX.
While the numbers may not be spectacular historically, Game 5 still put up a strong performance. The game topped Monday Night Football on ESPN head-to-head by 38% in both ratings and viewership (10.6 and 17.1 million to 7.7 and 12.4 million).
Additionally, the 17.1 million viewers still topped events such as the race segment of the Kentucky Derby (16.3 mil), the Daytona 500 (16.0 mil), and the most-viewed game of the NBA Finals (16.0 mil).
Brad Lidge BLOWS
It's On You Lidge
I gone from wanting my dam apology back from Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge to demanding him to admit he just blows and I’m not taking about his baseball leading 12 saves this year. I really hate talking about him because I know he is the definition of fraud.
Sure Lidge had a perfect season last year but even a broken clock is right twice a day. Houston Astros fans could tell you that season was a fluke as could Cardinal fans. So while the rest of the country was getting swept up into his madness last year, wise MLB O.G. fans knew Lidge would soon come back to that place called Earth.
Nice cover at third, how many spring training have you been to where you practice that? Oh I don’t know maybe between 8-10.
What the country and Phillies fan witnessed in Game 4 of the World Series is your true Lidge, last year was just a fraud.
Game 4 Of The World Series Draws In 22.8 Million Viewers
105th
Game 3 of the World Series was on no ordinary night, it went toe to toe with a couple of Primetime College Football games, Halloween night and over a hour long rain delay that saw its numbers in viewers plunge to a series low 15.4 million on FOX on Saturday night.
Game 4 saw a huge rebound in viewers with no NFL Sunday Night Football to choose from, drew in a strong 22.8 million viewers overall. Meaning the Yankees Game 4 win over the Phillies drew a 15.6 overnight rating, the highest overnight for any World Series game since 2004 (Red Sox/Cardinals, 19.7/29).
The 15.6 overnight for Game 4 is the fourth-highest overnight for any sporting event since the Super Bowl in February and that includes regular season NFL games. Excluding the NFL, Sunday’s Game 4 drew the second-highest overnight for any sporting event in 2009 behind only the BCS National Championship Game in January (17.0/27).
Game 2 Of World Series Sees Drop In Viewers To 18.9 Million
105th
The Yankees’ Game 2 win over the Phillies drew a 13.6 overnight rating on FOX. 18.9 million viewers for the Phillies/Yankees Game 2 helped FOX to the highest rated Thursday night in primetime on any network since the BCS National Championship Game in January.
The 18.9 million viewers is the fourth-most of the year for a non-NFL sporting event, behind only the BCS National Championship Game, the Rose Bowl and Wednesday’s Phillies/Yankees Game 1.
Game 2 drew a 42.5 rating in Philadelphia, off slightly from a 44.5 for Game 1, meanwhile, the game drew a 29.8 in New York, up a tick from a 29.7 for Game 1.
Through two games, the 2009 World Series is averaging a 13.7 overnight rating, the highest average through two games of the World Series since ‘04.
Special “Stand-Up to Cancer” Ad To Run Game 3 Of World Series
SU2C
The fight against cancer means a lot to the Sports Grind Entertainment family and we are have to report that Major League Baseball and Stand Up To Cancer, who have been joined since it’s May 2008 launch, in it’s continued message to battle cancer has now teamed up Mastercard Worldwide. They will come together for an historic live event to occur during Game Three of the 2009 World Series on Saturday, October 31, incorporating the live crowd inside Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia into a “Priceless” public awareness spot produced by Stand Up To Cancer Founding Member Laura Ziskin.
The spot will air between the start of the second and end of the third innings and will be broadcast live on FOX as well as inside the stadium. Near the conclusion of the 30-second spot – which celebrates the powerful emotions baseball creates – the action will turn live to the ballpark, where actors Terrence Howard and Minka Kelly will encourage the rest of the crowd and the viewing audience to “stand up” to cancer.
Stand Up 2 Cancer raises funds for innovative research conducted primarily by teams of scientists, aimed at accelerating the development of new cancer treatments in order to save lives now. MasterCard is also donating $1,000 for every home run hit throughout the entire 2009 Postseason. Through Game Two of the World Series, 50 home runs have been hit, resulting in a $50,000 donation thus far. Major League Baseball has given a $10 million donation to Stand Up To Cancer.
