The MLB’s popularity amongst millennials and Gen Z is the lowest it has been for any generation. World Series viewership has been on a downward trend since 1995, with a few spikes, such as in ’04 and ’16. Baseball has tried to fix this by making the games faster, looking at a pitch clock and limiting mound visits during games to facilitate this. However, this is not the bigger issue, and by making slight rule changes, popularity could improve again.
Lack of Individuality
Baseball is one of the oldest professional sports leagues in the country, with the first modern World Series being played in 1903. Because of this, there are a lot of older fans who just want the team to be the focus, and not the player. Just look at the Yankees rules for how its players must look while donning the pinstripes. They have to be clean shaven and look professional. In addition to this, the MLB itself is anti-individuality, threatening to fine Cubs Catcher Willson Contreras for wearing a Venezuelan flag arm sleeve, and Ben Zobrist for wearing “non-team color cleats.” The cleats in question were black.
Fining that might be the most absurd thing in the world. These are just examples of baseball’s rules holding it back. In the other major sports, there are rules, but there are still players who are known simply as individuals. Baseball doesn’t really have that. Mike Trout, for example, is a generational talent who also may be one of the most boring professional athletes ever. With the rules set in place to limit personal freedoms, baseball has shot itself in the foot. Fans cannot find a “poster boy” of baseball to automatically associate with the MLB. Even if baseball allowed its players to be themselves, it wouldn’t matter due to one major issue.
Social Media Policy
On twitter and instagram, if there is a sporting even going on, highlights will be plastered all over your timeline: Aaron Donald absolutely destroying lineman, Connor McDavid undressing opposing defensemen with his dekes, or Giannis dunking on some poor defender. Baseball does not have this because of the leagues policy. Baseball does not allow anyone else to post game highlights except them, even sending out attorneys to prevent this. If you see Bryce Harper jack one out of the park, they want to make sure it comes from them. That’s not too ridiculous right? I mean, they are in charge of what happens on the diamond. However, if you look at it from the viewpoint of someone who is not a regular fan, the issue becomes apparent. Let’s say someone doesn’t really care about baseball, so they don’t follow the MLB account. They won’t see Jackie Bradley Jr.’s ridiculous catch in the outfield, or Giancarlo Stanton putting one into the upper deck.
How Will This Fix the MLB?
By modeling itself after the NBA, the MLB can save itself from itself. If they allow players to be themselves and wear the cleats they want (to a point), they can create faces of the sport. This will allow fans to latch on to players they identify with, and grow a fan base for that player. But without allowing sites like Belly Up to share these highlights, it wouldn’t matter. Plastering a beloved team or player all over social media outlets will let baseball’s younger viewership grow more naturally. Once this happens, then they should try to shorten games one way or another.
