Earlier today MLB.com was showing the 1969 clinching game live and free. I watched a few minutes and its very interesting to see how baseball has changed so much, yet it hasn't changed at all. Which of course is the charm and a major part of the appeal of America's pastime. The part of the game I caught was when Frank Robinson was hit by a pitch from Koosman, but he wasn't, it was called foul, then Weaver came out to argue.
One thing that hasn't changed about baseball is commentary still sounds like it can belong on the radio more than the TV set, which is fantastic because baseball is the only game you can watch by listening to it. When the whole arguement about the hit by pitch was going down on the field, the Mets fans were letting the Orioles have it which led one of the announcers to say, “As long as Mets fans are concerned, Baseball is a particpating sport.” Its nice to know that our passion goes through generations.
The ondeck circle is one thing that has changed over the years. Back then, if you watch any game from back then, no one really stands at the circle. They almost take a knee, and they might move the bat a little, but are looking more at the pitcher. Boog Powell was on deck and he was actually the only left handed batter in the game at the moment because of the pitchers. The biggest difference was advertising. There was very little of it being said by the announcers. The commericialism in the sport of baseball really has grown a lot in baseball and thats really a testament to how much commericialism has grown in America and part of American culture over the last 40 years.
