What Was the Most Watched Game in MLB History?

One of the most significant records in the history of American baseball revolves around viewership. As of August 2023, the most-watched game in Major League Baseball (MLB) history is Game 6 of the 2020 World Series, which aired on October 27, 2020. This game featured the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays.

According to the available data, the game had an average viewership of 9.8 million, making it the highest-rated World Series game since 2019. This high viewership underscores the continued popularity of the game in contemporary times, even as viewing habits evolve and new formats are introduced.

Historical Records and Notable Games

Before the 2020 World Series Game 6, the most-watched game on record is often cited as Game 7 of the 1986 World Series between the New York Mets and the Boston Red Sox. This game is reported to have had the most viewers at an estimated 55–60 million. Game 7 of the 1991 World Series between the Minnesota Twins and the Atlanta Braves is also notable, with around 50 million viewers.

Another significant game is a preseason exhibition match that holds the all-time record for attendance, but not for viewership. This game was between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 29, 2008, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with an estimated 115,301 live attendees. While this game isn't typically considered in the context of television ratings, its impact on the baseball community is undeniable.

MLB’s Top National Televised Games

When discussing the most-watched baseball games in history, it's important to consider the impact of live attendance versus television viewership. One of the most significant television-viewed games was the 1980 World Series Game 6. This game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Kansas City Royals aired on NBC and recorded a staggering 54.86 million viewers. This game was particularly significant as it clinched the title for the Phillies, and it's notable for its record-breaking ratings. Specifically, 40 percent of all TV sets were tuned into this game, which is an unprecedented level of viewership in the history of sports broadcasting.

Other notable games that have broken viewership records include:

Game 5 of the 1978 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers, which reached 45.87 million viewers. Game 5 of the 1982 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers, with 48.99 million viewers. Game 7 of the 1979 World Series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Baltimore Orioles, with 49.89 million viewers. Game 7 of the 1991 World Series between the Minnesota Twins and the Atlanta Braves, viewed by 50.34 million viewers. Game 7 of the 1987 World Series between the Minnesota Twins and the St. Louis Cardinals, having 51.18 million viewers. Game 7 of the 1975 World Series between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox, watched by 51.56 million viewers.

The top-ranked game, however, is Game 6 of the 1980 World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Kansas City Royals. This game not only set the record with 54.86 million viewers but also became the only baseball game to achieve a 40 rating, meaning 40 percent of all TV households were tuned in, a remarkable feat in sports broadcasting history.

Recent Notable Games

In the more recent past, another game that made headlines was the 2016 World Series Game 7. This game, featuring the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians, saw the Cubs end a 108-year drought by clinching the title. This game was watched by 51.35 million viewers, proving the enduring popularity of high-stakes baseball games even after a long period of inactivity. Another notable game with significant viewership was Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, when the Arizona Diamondbacks clinched the title with a 39.1 million viewer count, the second-highest of the last 30 years.

While the landscape of baseball viewership has evolved, these games showcase the enduring impact of high-stakes, passionately contested games on the viewership of MLB.