After years in the wilderness, fumbling around in the dark with mostly forgettable series, the Fall Classic has found its way back to ratings nirvana.
Game 6 of the Cubs/Indians World Series earned a 14.8 overnight rating on FOX Tuesday night, up 66% from Giants/Royals in 2014 (8.9) and up 18% from Cardinals/Red Sox in 2014 (12.5), the previous two game sixes.
The 14.8 overnight is the highest for Game 6 of the World Series since Phillies/Yankees in 2009 (15.5). The previous high over that span was a 13.8 for Rangers/Cardinals in 2011, widely considered one of the great games in baseball history. Tuesday’s game, a full point higher, was a 9-3 wipeout that the Cubs led 7-0 after three innnings.
The Cubs’ series-tying win earned the fourth-highest Major League Baseball overnight in the past seven years, behind Game 5 of the series on Sunday (15.3), Giants/Royals Game 7 in 2014 (15.2) and Rangers/Cardinals Game 7 in 2011 (16.3).
Cleveland posted a 40.5 rating for Game 6, down 17% from the series-high 48.6 in Game 5. Compared to the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, it trailed this year’s Game 6 (44.3) and Game 6 in 2015 (42.0). Chicago delivered a 40.2 rating, also down from Game 5 (42.8).
(Tue. numbers from Fox Sports)
