Television of Major League Baseball during the 1950s

Some sports adapted to television better than others. The size of the ball used was one factor in selecting sports programming for the early broadcast networks. When TV screens were small and pictures fuzzy, sports such as golf and hockey were difficult for viewers to follow. Some sports also provided better TV viewing because of the way the action unfolded, with the potential for something exciting to happen at any moment. The most popular sports in the early years of television broadcasting were baseball, boxing, and wrestling. The action in these events tended to be concentrated in a small space, making it easier for TV cameras to follow.

Baseball was not televised as part of a regular program schedule until 1951. On July 11, 1950, the All-Star Game out of Chicago’s Comiskey Park was televised for the first time. By 1950, World Series games could be seen in most of the country, but not all. 1950 also marked the first time that there was an exclusive network television broadcaster (NBC). West Coast viewers finally saw live major league games on television during the 1951 postseason. October 3, 1951 marked the first coast-to-coast television broadcast of a baseball game. The New York Giants played the Brooklyn Dodgers in a one-game, winner-take-all playoff for the National League Championship. Bobby Thomson of the Giants hit a three run home run in the bottom of the 9th inning that became known as the “Shot Heard ‘round the World.”

On August 11, 1951, WCBS-TV in New York City televised the first baseball game (in which the Boston Braves beat the Brooklyn Dodgers by the score of 8–1) in color. As noted, on October 1 of that year, NBC aired the first coast-to-coast baseball telecast as the Brooklyn Dodgers were beaten by the New York Giants in the first game of a playoff series by the score of 3–1 featuring Bobby Thomson’s two-run home run. Thomson’s famous now-legendary home run would occur in the third game of the best of 3 series. The 1952 All-Star Game at Shibe Park in Philadelphia was the first nationally televised All-Star Game, but it was shortened due to rain.

In 1953, ABC-TV launched a Saturday Game of the Week, TV sport’s first network series. At first, ABC hesitated at the idea of a nationally televised regular season baseball program. ABC wondered how exactly the Game of the Week would reach television in the first place and who would notice if it did? Also, Major League Baseball barred the Game of the Week from airing within 50 miles of any ballpark. In 1953, ABC earned an 11.4 rating for their Game of the Week telecasts. CBS took over the Saturday Game in 1955 and added Sunday coverage in 1957. Another first for NBC during this period was the first color telecast of a World Series, the 1955 matchup between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Yankees.

What may be the first sports instant replay using videotape occurred on July 17, 1959, during a broadcast of a New York Yankees game by New York TV station WPIX. It came after a hit by Jim McAnany of the Chicago White Sox ended a no-hitter by the Yankees’ Ralph Terry. Since the game was being videotaped, broadcaster Mel Allen asked director Terry Murphy to play a tape of McAnany’s hit over the air.

In 1959, ABC broadcast the best-of-three playoff series to decide the National League pennant between the Milwaukee Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers. The Chicago White Sox played the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1959 World Series that was carried on NBC. The Dodgers prevailed 4 games to 2.

“Talkin’ Baseball (Willie, Mickey and The Duke)” – Terry Cashman (1981) (The song encapsulates some of the Fifties’ baseball highlights, focusing on the rivalry among Willie Mays of the New York Giants, Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees, and Duke Snyder of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Each of them was the center-fielder for New York City’s three major league teams.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETGHslCMByI

The Whiz Kids had won it,
Bobby Thomson had done it,
And Yogi read the comics all the while.
Rock ‘n roll was being born,
Marijuana, we would scorn,
So down on the corner,
The national past-time went on trial.

We’re talkin’ baseball!
Kluszewski, Campanella.
Talkin’ baseball!
The Man and Bobby Feller.
The Scooter, the Barber, and the Newc,
They knew ’em all from Boston to Dubuque.
Especially Willie, Mickey, and the Duke.

Well, Casey was winning,
Hank Aaron was beginning,
One Robbie going out, one coming in.
Kiner and Midget Gaedel,
The Thumper and Mel Parnell,
And Ike was the only one winning down in Washington.

We’re talkin’ baseball!
Kluszewski, Campanella.
Talkin’ baseball!
The Man and Bobby Feller.
The Scooter, the Barber, and the Newc,
They knew ’em all from Boston to Dubuque.
Especially Willie, Mickey, and the Duke.

Now my old friend, The Bachelor,
Well, he swore he was the Oklahoma Kid.
And Cookie played hooky,
To go and see the Duke.
And me, I always loved Willie Mays,
Those were the days!

Well, now it’s the 80’s,
And Brett is the greatest,
And Bobby Bonds can play for everyone.
Rose is at the Vet,
And Rusty again is a Met,
And the great Alexander is pitchin’ again in Washington.

I’m talkin’ baseball!
Like Reggie, Quisenberry.
Talkin’ baseball!
Carew and Gaylord Perry,
Seaver, Garvey, Schmidt and Vida Blue,
If Cooperstown is calling, it’s no fluke.
They’ll be with Willie, Mickey, and the Duke.

Willie, Mickey, and the Duke. (Say hey, say hey, say hey)
It was Willie, Mickey and the Duke (Say hey, say hey, say hey)
I’m talkin’ Willie, Mickey and the Duke (Say hey, say hey, say hey)
Willie, Mickey, and the Duke. (Say hey, say hey, say hey, say hey)