Gym Cracks By Jim October 23, 2004 BASEBALL SNOOZEFEST TV has changed major league baseball, night games steal sleep By Jim (Babe) Berryman MissingNebraska.com Television has been an invention that has had a profound effect on every phase of society. Television has certainly changed major league baseball. Not all of these changes have been positive. This medium dictates the times games will be played. Games from the American League Championship Series have lasted until midnight or later in the Central Time Zone. Prior to 1961 each league had eight teams. The winners of each league would play in the World Series--DAY GAMES STARTING THE FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER. In 1961 the American League expanded to 10-teams. The National League adopted the 10-team format the next year. Then in 1969, each league was expanded to twelve teams--divided into six-team divisions. Major league baseball playoffs started this year. Television dictated some games be played in the afternoon and other games at night. The surviving winner from each the American and National Leagues would play in the World Series, starting now in the middle of October. The two leagues continued to expand. In 1995, each league increased to three divisions. Major league team owners and others ( television executives had their say) felt it would be difficult to get a fair playoff with three teams, so a "wild card" team was added to the trio of teams winning their division. The wild card team is the second place finisher is one of the three divisions which had the best won-lost record. Thus major league baseball now have four teams in each league to participate in the playoffs. The two qualifiers for the World Series now have to win two playoffs in their respective leagues. More revenue for television. This year the World Series is scheduled to start October 23. If the series goes seven games, without a weather delay, the seventh game will be played on October 31. Most of these games will be played at night. Baseball was not made to be played in the last week of October in Nebraska, Kansas City, in Boston, or in any northern city without a dome. Other sports have taken the place of baseball as the number one sport in the United States. Gone are the days when you hurried home from school to listen on the radio to the final inning or two of a World Series game. Of course this happened back in the 50s. In the 60s, students used to sneak transistor radios into the school to listen to the games. After television became a part of daily life, school officials usually placed a television set in a gym or commons area so students from study halls could watch the games. Most every student rooted for a team. There's not nearly as much interest in the World Series today as in decades past. Major league baseball has forgotten about the youngsters--the future fans and the senior citizens. Most youngsters and senior citizens are asleep before their games have been decided. Post/Read Feedback PREVIOUS GYM CRACKS: Click Here