NBC's Baseball Farewell from 1989

[877LLB]

Baseball needs to go back to nbc fox sucks cock at baseball

[TMC1982Part2]

CBS really should've hired Vin Scully to front their MLB coverage going into 1990 rather than only bringing him in to do radio for the World Series. Besides giving CBS instant credibility (unlike CBS' original choice, Brent Musburger, was admitedly, was their top sportscaster during the '80s), it would've lessened the blow of NBC losing MLB after some 42 years. Also, Scully was much more TV savvy than Jack Buck and more than likely would've better controlled/reigned in Tim McCarver.

[TMC1982Part2]

1989 was a really weird and distressing baseball year. NBC (as well as ABC) loses baseball after having covered it since 1989. Pete Rose gets banned for life for betting on baseball. Bart Giamatti dies a year into his commissionership. Donnie Moore commits suicide and Billy Martin dies in a car crash. Dave Dravecky's comeback from cancer is short-lived. And of course, the earthquake before Game 3 of the World Series.

[TheNewGateStudios]

Final National Anthem on NBC Baseball until 1994: The Tower of Power Horns, who are to San Francisco what the Funk Brothers are to Detroit.

[MrLehnerd]

hey nothin like 89 chokin cubs lose 84 lose chokein 2003 chokin vs fla marlins n blame Bartman still......and again since 1908 cubs be waitin n waitin by 2018 still waitin.......

[wizeman5974]

Wow.....so ironic! Not only was San Francisco the last place Scully broadcast a baseball game for NBC, I believe it was also the last place he broadcast a football game for CBS ('81 NFC Championship Game, 49ers vs Cowboys: The Dwight Clark "Catch" Game).

[MasterAtari]

Baseball on CBS was boring and Fox has been brutal. NBC did it right.

[vitoduval]

I look forward to Vin announcing the 2011 opening game when the Giants play at Dodger stadium. "The world Champion San Francisco Giants sponsored by Farmer John"

[juan833blue]

Now the SF Giants can forget what happened in 1989, they're 2010 world champions of Baseball!!!

[GateStudios]

@brad2542

"For a little while" was five years, and in 1994 both ABC and NBC returned with the Baseball Network. The 1994 baseball strike eventually ended NBC's baseball broadcast partnership, (as well as ABC's). Even after Fox became baseball's broadcast partner, as it remains to this day, NBC continued to air 3 ASGs, 2 World Series and selected playoff games...one wonders if the '95 Series went 5 or 7 games...we would have gotten 5 more years of Al, Jim and Tim at least!

[obiwanobiwan13]

So... they lost the rights to the Original Star Trek, to David Letterman, to Conan O'Brien, just shut down their long-running and hugely famous "Law and Order," and they also booted baseball...

Yep- I think NBC's on a mission to TRY and implode as a company (but at least it's ALWAYS, even as a Mets fan, GREAT to hear Vin Scully, BEST ANNOUNCER IN ANY SPORT EVER... every thing from the most calm, fun stories to BEHIND THE BAG! IT GETS THROUGH BUCKNER! HERE COMES KNIGHT AND THE METS WIN IT!)

[jmg999]

"So long for the last time..."

[RockeyJesse20]

Hopefully NBC would bring back MLB until 2014.

[Tommy6583]

I wish Joe Garagiola could have hung on one more year till the NBC finale. Would have been special with Vin and Joe. Bob Costas should have been there for the NBC close but he did the ALCS.

[TMC1982Part2]

@Tommy6583 True, but if NBC was going to go out like this, then why not have the greatest baseball announcer to ever live in Vin Scully close it out? I just hope and pray that when the next contract is up, NBC comes back into the fray (to put an end to Joe Buck, Tim McCarver and Fox's reign of terror for the past decade and a half).

[eltio452]

Remember watching that game!!!

[tommusicfan19]

Joe Buck sucks. Bob Costas actually knows what he is talking about.

[Sampson678]

I remember being sad when this played. Growing up in the midwest being a Cubs fan and then NBC (and that AWESOME theme music) playing the outro, I cried. This was the end of an era and baseball hasn't been the same since.

[thanksmanny]

@Sampson678 how hasnt it been the same its been better since fox took it over.

[TMC1982Part2]

Even though I was 7 @ the time, looking back, I'm absolutely devistated over NBC losing baseball in '89. CBS treated their MLB coverage (at least regular season wise) like dirt. And because they lost half a billion $ off of baseball after 4 years, we were dealt w/ the insipid Baseball Network joint venture w/ ABC & NBC. For the rest of the '90s on through 2000, NBC treated baseball like the redheaded stepchild to their NFL (through '97), NBA & Olympic coverage.

[wiedep]

@TMC1982Part2 don't take it so personally, i worked with several who were listed and they got over it.

[SacTownSharksFan]

Typical douchebag Dodger fans

GIANTS >>>>>>> DODGERS

[daveyg8499]

Giants > Dodgers at what? Losing and never winning anything, congrats scrub

[billc756]

@daveyg8499 NO RING FOR BARRY! LOL! GO BLUE!

[gfscarface13]

GIANTS SWALLOW LOADS OF CUM

GIANTS CHOKE 51 YEARS and COUNTING AND NO CHAMPIONSHIP

FUCK THE GAY GIANTS

DODGERS ALL DAY EVERYDAY FUCK DODGER HATERS

DODGERS 4 LiFE

[mrcprandom]

I'm a Giants fan and last time they were in the world series was 2002 when they went against the Anahiem Angels (now Los Angeles Angels of Anahiem).

[lumpagogo]

That right m/rando. 1962, 1989, 2002 and youze lost 'em all. Yins would have been better off if yins had stayed at the Polo Grounds.

[eviltodd1]

NBC did such a wonderful job with baseball as did CBS then in 96 it went to Fox now baseball is a game where only the extremely rich can compete . Go figure

[Mrtraveler01]

Wow, just think, just a few weeks after this the bay area got shook up by the worst earthquake it had seen since 1906.

[juan833cheer]

As the late Russ Hodges would say:

THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!!!

THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!!!

THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!!!

a fitting way to end NBC's baseball coverage from 1989.

R.I.P. Russ Hodges

[voyager202000]

Vin Scully is by far the best for announcing a world series or any game. My only wish is that one of my favorites the late Harry Kalas and Vin Scully could have teamed up and called a world series game. It would have been a classic, agree with a previous post Buck and McCarver have to go!!!!

[lumpagogo]

You know, voy, it's interesting how Joe Buck have improved (much less preaching) whereas McCarver is the same champion of irritation. HK was adequate but was no John Facenda nor Vin Scully.

[GeorgeVreelandHill]

Cool.

George Vreeland Hill

[OCdodgerfan88]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Vin Scully should be calling playoffs games (including the World Series.) There is nobody better to call them. I agree with jceuto75 too. Pardon my language but FUCK the yankees and red sox. I hate Tim McCarver and Joe Buck.

[jaytf123]

I don't what hating the Sox has anything to do with Vin Scully but for your information a few weeks back a Red Sox fan web site known as Boston Dirt Dogs did a pole on who the all time best Red Sox announcer was or is and who the best national announcer is or was. Vin Scully won by a landslide so your opinion is wrong on Sox fans. We are more objective then most.

[OCdodgerfan88]

I see.

[chrisbam1989]

0:29 - is he sleeping on the third base bag? LOL

[altratronic]

READ BEFORE VIEWING! Vince Scully's voice has been known to trigger epileptic seizures.

[sxsder24]

What's up with 1:28??? How is that bat standing up like that??

[negtype13]

Damn right! The THRILL!!!

.650 avg. (13 for 20) Hit for the cylce in the 5 game series w/ 3 doubles, 1 triple, and

2 HRs including a grand slam that left the park in Wrigley, 8 runs, 8RBIs, 6 in Game 1 alone!

totalled a 1.200 Slg% in the series. No wonder how he basically single handedly defeated the Cubs in the NLCS.

the FUCKIN' THRILL INDEED!!!!!

[wiedep]

steve "can't i just see it ?!?" rosen - r.i.p.

[timsk]

Ah I see Dave Dravecky as well. His return to pitch that season, even though it was only for 2 games, was very inspirational.

[timsk]

omg.. Roger Craig! Hummmmmm Baby!

[Blaze1071]

The Cubs were skightly overmatched in 89. They were head and shoulders better than SD in 84, but it's baseball, and they lost that series.

[Haurko01]

My Perfect world

MLB on NBC and FOX

NFL On NBC, CBS, and FOX

MNF on ABC SportsNet with Al and John on loan from NBC

NBA on NBC,CBS,TNT,and TBS

NHL on NBC,FOX,ESPN,CBC and TSN

Stanley Cup Playoffs on ABC Sportsnet,NBC,FOX,and CBC and TSN

BCS on ABC alterates between ABC Sportsnet, NBC, and CBS

Summer Olympics on ABC or NBC and TNT

Winter Olympics on CBS and TNT

[55Porter]

ANDRE.

DAWSON.

PERIOD.

[negtype13]

Too bad in this series it was :

WILL(THE THRILL).

CLARK.

PERIOD.

[deyoungparker]

.650 baby.

Funny, I was in Chicago last summer for a 3 game series against the Cubs. I was wearing my Giants gear and I lost track of how many Cubs fans came up to me and were like, "FUCK WILL CLARK!"

Keep in mind the Cubs were, at the time (July '08), in 1st place and favorites to win the World Series and the Giants were one of the worst teams in baseball.

'89 still stings.

(DISCLAIMER: Cubs fans are passionate and cool. Go see a game at Wrigley if you haven't. It's always a party.)

[negtype13]

Just goes to show Clark's IMMENSE impact!!! Stinging after 20 years...Fuckin' A !!!!! THE THRILL BABY!!!

[gracebasherguy92]

This wasn't the last game on NBC. The last game on NBC was Game 6 of the 2000 ALCS.

[TMC1982Part2]

True, but this was the last time that NBC seemed to really give a damn about baseball. The next time they had it was for the dreaded Baseball Network. Afterwards, they didn't even bother to show regular season games.

[xSoccerxCorex]

@TMC1982Part2 they weren't allowed to show them anyway as long as Fox did. it's why they dropped all baseball after 2000. if they can't show regular season games, why even bother having the contract???

[JZ2001JC]

Game 6 of the 2000 ALCS was Seattle Mariners at New York Yankees. It was on a Tuesday Night, October 17, 2000, and the Yankees won to clinch the series 4 games to 2. The ALCS win by Yanks set up the Subway Series.

[JohnQ1127]

@gracebasherguy92,

This was an end of an era in baseball broadcasting. NBC had been broadcasting baseball since 1947 so it was kind of sad when the 1989 NLCS was finished. NBC was excellent with their broadcasts and the NBC game of the week was essential in the pre, espn, MLB extra innings world.

When NBC got back into baseball from 1994-2000 it was done poorly and that combo of Costas, Morgan and Ueker was terrible.

[altfactor]

@gracebasherguy92 But at the time (October, 1989), no one at NBC knew when, or even if, they'd ever resume telecasting Major League Baseball.

The "42 years" Vin Scully mentioned goes back to 1947, when NBC (along with CBS and DuMont) jointly televised the World Series (the first World Series on TV). But NBC's local New York station began televising local MLB games as far back as August, 1939.

[xSoccerxCorex]

@altfactor and NBC covered the series on radio since the 20's til 1976 when CBS got that contract

[pax2677]

Being a cub fan and witnessing the terrible play in nlds against the dodgers makes me believe i will never see the cubs win a series. I am only 30 and have not had to live through what other fans have though. Vin Scully is the best ever and could listen to him all day. I am kinda sick of joe buck, you listen to him on football games and baseball games.

[EddieNeverSleeps]

The Giants eliminated the scrubs in the playoffs. The cubs suck. 101 years without a World Series Championship. Pitiful. The franchise should just fold already

[boodat77]

I could listen to Vin Scully do play-by-play of paint drying

[heclove816]

Vin Scully is the freakin GREATEST OF ALL TIME!!!!!...Exceptional Voice...he is the true voice of baseball.

[billc756]

@boodat77 So could I. I'm blessed to have listened to Vin for 40 years, having grown up in Los Angeles. Five words that always makes my day better: "It's time for Dodger Baseball!"

[coloniaIVU]

@billc756 I love hearing those words too: "It's time for Dodger Baseball". I'm just glad Vin decided to stick around for a few more years to hear him say it.

[THENTENT]

Basball would come back to NBC in 1994 with the ill-fated Baseball Network concept, and the network stayed with baseball afterwards until 2000. The last game that NBC has televised was Game 6 of the 2000 ALCS between the Mariners and Yankees.

[Ididyourmom88]

Vin Scully is the greatest ever. Thankfully I can still listen to him call the dodgers games on prime ticket and kcal.

[sxw]

I always thought NBC did a great job with baseball. FOX is ok but their main thing is the NFL to me. Used to like hearing Vin Scully in his unmistakeable voice calling the games.

[IllinoisHighwayMan]

Main thing to FOX is their NASCAR coverage.

[giles422]

aww, lay off McCarver. He's knowledgeable.

[BrightWave]

This is what baseball used to be about. Now, it's innocence and glamor is non-existent. I miss those years. They were great.

[junctionboys]

Amen, brother. This video just oozes nostalgia.

[deyoungparker]

Baseball lost its innocence and glamour between '89 and '08? I'd LOVE to hear that explanation.

I think you need a few baseball history books.

[BrightWave]

If you're talking about the media overplayed, over-covered, and biased reporting of the so called "Steroid Era", then, I could see where you're coming from.

[deyoungparker]

From the Black Sox scandal almost 90 years ago to the cocaine era of the mid-80's, baseball has never been a game of "innocence".

I suspect, like most people, you're combining baseball in 1989 with memories of your own childhood. Like people who complain that "music was better back in -insert decade here-", what they're really nostalgic for is their youth.

The steroid era was a drag, but it was just one of many low points in baseball's 150 years. And right now, baseball is better than ever.

[BrightWave]

I'm not saying that major league baseball has always been innocent. If anything, it's been a game of shadows and corruption since its inception. My original comment was directed toward the television production of baseball with NBC during the 80s. And I will stand by what I said, in that the game (not the politics behind it) was a game of innocence.

[TMC1982Part2]

Lets put it this way, in 1989, the main baseball announcers on TV were Vin Scully and Bob Costas on NBC and Al Michaels on ABC. Fast foward 20 years later, and now we have Joe Buck on FOX (who has admitted that he doesn't enjoy watching baseball this days when compared to when he was younger), Chip Caray on TBS, and on ESPN, they've trotted out Chris Berman for high profile gigs like the Division Series, HR Derby, and Cal Ripken's 2,131 consecutive game. There was more class back then.

[richmjr67]

put baseball back on nbc...grew up with abc and nbc doing games

[TMC1982Part2]

As long as ABC reestablishes its own identity, instead of essentially being ESPN3 ("ESPN on ABC" instead of ABC Sports) then, I agree that ABC needs to get baseball back as well.

[vln1972]

i tell u what that VIN SCULLY is underrated!! he was amazing as a sportscaster i enjoyed him as being the voice of NBC BASEBALL back in the 80's espn and fox took over all of sports now its a shame that they are damagin g the sport with there crappy telecasts. NBC's formats were the best! Because they had the best and TOP professional people working for them mainly my DAD! ha!

[floydefisher]

Top two broadcasters of recent years (not all time, nobody touches Red Barber):

1. Vin Scully

2. Jerry Coleman

[Fruth37]

Joe Schmuck and Tim McAsshole are just mouthpieces for the New York Yankees. Every week they drone on about how great A-Rod and Jeter are, no matter what teams are on that week end. They are so bad that I mute the game so I can enjoy it. They are about as fair and balanced as WFAN and YES. Oh for the days of Vin, Joe, Bob, Curt, Tony, Dizzy, and Pee Wee. McCarver second guesses every play and Buck is just a talking head. His dad,however was about the best ever.

[kevdude65]

NBC did the BEST job covering MLB. Fox stinks. We need great announcers like Vin Scully, Tony Kubek, Joe Garagiola, Lou Brock, Bob Costas and the rest on the national broadcasts. Tim McCarver is an embarrassment and says nothing as loud as he can.

Put MLB back on NBC! Do it or the terrorists win.

[TMC1982Part2]

I don't recall Lou Brock being a major part of NBC's baseball telecasts.

[shawn12280]

Bob Costas and Tony Kubek were NBC's second team.

Just think about that for a minute.

As for McCarver, he always seems to think he's the final authority on everything and anybody who doesn't agree with him on a point of strategy or rule interpretation obviously has to be a moron. I hate having to listen to him.

The definition of a perfect Saturday: watch the NBC GotW, go mow the lawn, and play wiffleball on the freshly cut grass until dark.

[TMC1982Part2]

McCarver seemed to be more tolerable when he was at ABC w/ Al Michaels & Jim Palmer. It wasn't until he went to CBS (where he was groomed to be the "star" instead of a member of the team) and later FOX, when became increasingly unbearable.

[chds222]

will the thrill baby!

[pucklusti10]

if the world was perfect:

mlb on nbc

nfc on cbs

nba on nbc

bcs on abc

nhl on cbc only

abc sheds espn once and for all

[GeneralZodFDNY77]

Amen, my friend, A-fucking-men. I concur with you except the NHL. FOX can have that as we need hockey on network tv here in the states. And the AFC, back on NBC as well.

[pucklusti10]

i agree hockey needs to be on a network but has to be a way the cbc produces it and provides the announcers... vs. and nbc stink mike emerick may have something to do with that...

[faysal21adigun]

Yes,instead of ABC Sports going into ESPN,it should have went the other direction.Therefore,ABC Sports would exist once again,but then ESPN will have to find a new name,probably ABC SportsNet.

[thatdudecozz89]

Even though I was born about five months before NBC's last TRUE MLB telecast...But, it is way better than FOX and I wish NBC and ABC did baseball again...Many people in my generation, including me have missed out on a lot of great stuff like these...I can't stand about 75%-95% of the things now cuz they're a joke.

[RonicW]

I think the thing that may have hurt CBS's baseball coverage(though I'm not complaining too much X-D) was that the Toronto Blue Jays won the 1992 and 1993 World Series...it definitely pulled in a lot of viewers here in Canada on CTV, but our viewers weren't counted then in the overall ratings, and CBS took a heavy hit as a result. :P

[PortPowerKS]

Those were the wonder days of NBC Sports.. Now all they really have other than Sunday Night NFL is the Olympics..

[hbland]

And sorry Notre Dame

[KNS1996DFS]

And the NHL.

[faysal21adigun]

Yes,they certainly were.I wasn't born around this time,but the way i saw it,it must have been tough for the peacock to give up baseball.Even though CBS stole from them,NBC did it right back by signing that contract with the NBA,therefore CBS lost basketball and NBC made it a big hit.

[gunnohd]

Man I miss watching Will Clark play baseball. It's too bad everyone around him was doing steroids and inflating their stats.

[mattz1122]

Jeez, what was/is worse...CBS for MLB or ABC for the NBA?

[ls14]

i say both

[hbland]

I agree--CBS was stingy with the game of the week, and ABC was stingy with the NBA playoffs

[RobertLee86]

Do you have the full version of this theme?

[Ryan25015]

This was baseball

Fuck fox and all it's bullshit

[fredj]

Amen, and +1, to that.

I can't watch Fox anymore- I have to mute the TV and listen to the game on the radio on Saturdays......

[icbr]

Used to love the music, too. Thanks for posting this. Have been looking for it for quite awhile now. And now it's a favorite!

[johnymo96]

Best baseball coverage ever!..Gotta love the background music and voice of Vince Scully

[5dave1]

Boy you guys said a mouthful. I'm dating myself but I remember the Game of the Week with guys like Bob Woolf and Joe Garagiola....Dizzy Dean and Pee Wee Reese and of course Hall of Famers like Vin Scully who I listened to on radio 50 years ago until I left L.A. in 1989........what memories! I sure do miss 'em.....I taped a lot of Vin Scully with cassette tapes in the 60s and 70s when I came back from Nam. Wish I could get them on CDs now..........

[CubsFan2812]

i miss the game of the week when i was a kid in the 80s :(

[TMC1982Part2]

The "Game of the Week" meant something back then (even during the rise of SuperStations like WGN and WTBS). When CBS took over, they aired a "Game of *Every Other* Week." FOX has always resorted to a regional format, and just recently, started covering 26 weeks a year.

[CubsFan2812]

yeah i know. the games were always the exciting rivalrys like cubs vs. white sux and stuff

[blank77]

Yep,like the White Sox vs. the Scrubs.

But yes,like the sky should be blue,NBC should have baseball back.

[EddieNeverSleeps]

Which Chicago team has won 2 World Series since the scrubs last won it? Which Chicago team will be 101 years without a World Series title? The scrubs are an absolute embarrassment to baseball and to Chicago.

The White Sox' 2008 season lasted longer than the scrubs. "It's gonna happen"? HAHAHAHHAHAHAHA CUBS FUCKING SUCK

Never forget the 2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox

[diversysveryown]

that was cheap,the cubs are the classic team of baseball,that was a quiet two wins,but you dont sound old enuff to remember,but besides sutcliff dawson n sandberg that team was bout young as da rays

[EddieNeverSleeps]

The cubs are the laughingstock of baseball. Most pathetic team ever. Bar none

[diversysveryown]

they represent the common people,n thats why people love them n in chicago the team is almost as part of the city as the land n people itself,so where as the yankees or whoever are shokkers or runaway favorites people love the cubs regardless

[EddieNeverSleeps]

The scrubs represent pathetic losers.  No one cares about them.

Chicago is a WHITE SOX town. Got it?

[jerseyfla]

Do you or anyone out there in cyperspace have the 1987-1989 intro/opening used for NBC's Game of the Week and Playoff coverage, where the kid drops the baseball and sees "the light" of baseball under his bed? The intro was on here a year ago but was pulled after about a week.

[gymkatalives]

With NBC and even ABC, you had Hall of Fame quality announcers.....Vin Scully, Bob Costas, Al Michaels, and yes, even Keith Jackson. Now....we are stuck with the bufoonish Tim McCarver and all the ESPN types who refuse to criticize anything the players do (Tim "Everyone is a Hall of Famer" Kirkjian). There is no comparison to the quality of announcers we are stuck with today.....

[TMC1982Part2]

Even the studio hosts back then were much better quality-wise than today. Compare Marv Albert hosting NBC's "Game of the Week" pregame show ("Major League Baseball: An Inside Look") back in the 1980s to Jeanne "Bubblehead" Zelasko on FOX today. Why FOX continues to use somebody who is little more than a throwaway, talkinghead (compared to baseball commentators who actually know what they're talking about like Bob Costas) absoultely astonishes me.

[Waterfallguy59]

Yahtzee !! Even before that, in the 1970's "The Baseball World Of Joe Garagiola" was awsome. Yeah, Jeanne must have something on the brass @ FOX - she's worthless as a broke d**k. ESPN isn't terrible with Miller & Morgan, but growing up in MI & watching George Kell & listening to Ernie Harwell was the best.

[Antblb]

Baseball died on this day, FOX has turned me off with ther Red Sox bias. Joe and Tim hate NY, Costas should be doing the playoffs. I wish Bud would wake up and give everything back to NBC.

[TMC1982Part2]

If you want to blame somebody for NBC losing baseball, blame Peter Ueberroth. Ueberroth was the commissioner from October 1984 (replacing Bowie Kuhn) to April 1989 (when Bart Giamatti replaced him). The deal with CBS was made in December 1988, just before Ueberroth left office.

[TMC1982Part2]

I feel sorry for those people who had to grow up listening to the crassness of FOX (led by Joe "That Was a Disgusting Act..." Buck) and ESPN. I was seven years old when NBC signed off from baseball in 1989. So I never got a chance to really appriciate what guys like Vin Scully, Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek and Bob Costas did for broadcasting during the heyday.

[SFFOOL76]

They were great to listen too man

[jcueto75]

It seems nowadays with FOX and ESPN, the only teams that we are supposed to care are the red sox, yankees, and mets. The way NBC covered baseball they made the sport as a whole interesting. I hope that one baseball returns to NBC. Right now they have both Bob Costas and Al Michaels.

[TMC1982Part2]

1989 was one of the worst (or most despressing) years in baseball history. NBC was on the verge of losing baseball to CBS, the earthquake during the World Series (which ended up an easy sweep for the A's), Pete Rose getting banned, Commissioner Bart Giammati dying, Donnie Moore's suicide, Wade Boggs and Steve Garvey's "woman troubles", Dave Dravecky breaking his arm, etc.

[POWERSAW1980]

FOX would be better if Buck & McCarver went. I think Kenny Albert should be the #1 announcer for FOX Saturday Baseball. He's way better than Buck.

[SFFOOL76]

god damm, CBS ruined baseball coverage from 1990-1993. NBC will always be the best in covering baseball. FOX is good, but they tend to overdo the coverage. (Watch how many crowd shots they cut to during a game.)

[TMC1982Part2]

It's amazing that some 20 years ago, the main network baseball announcers were Vin Scully, Bob Costas, and Al Michaels. Now (despite all of the technological advancements), we have to deal with Joe Buck, Chris Berman, and Chip Caray (talk about a downgrade).

[SFFOOL76]

You called it!

[JoseAnd911World]

Yeah when the ball its poped up the sound of the crowd sounds live, but when its catched, it goes canned again.

[JoseAnd911World]

what was that theme music called

[TMC1982Part2]

The theme music (which if I'm not mistaken, was composed by Clark Gault) debuted during NBC's coverage of the 1986 World Series. I believe that they used it only for their postseason coverage. In 1989 though, it became the main NBC theme.

[JoseAnd911World]

This theme was also used in the All-Star Game segment of the 1986 Chicago Bulls film from the NBA, I saw it on ESPN Classic. I did indeed heard this theme from Game 6 of the '86 WS on a TDK HS.

[melslurp]

This music also ran during the summer of 89 on the Sports Plus Network, which ran on SportsChannel when no regular programming was on. It is not on any of the SPN clips currently on You Tube. The music would change every 3-4 months.

[KNS1996DFS]

I think that the theme proper for the GOTW was the sweeping rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," while this played during the sponsor bed and at the end of the inning.

[DUBS82]

I Couldn't Agree More No NETWORK Covered Baseball Like NBC SPORTS FROM GOWDY,KUBEK,GARGIOLA TO COSTAS TO SCULLY So Many Memories of My Life Watching Major League For as Long as I Can Remember Was on NBC SPORTS Watching This Was Bittersweet as a 6 Year Old I was The Happy My Giants Won But Sadden With No More Vin Scully And NBC SPORTS Coverage of Major League Baseball

[ericcollins81]

as a cubs fan i remeber this sereies but i was also sad as nbc was losing their rights to baseball they should get it back with the game of the week the playoffs and the ws

[TMC1982Part2]

NBC personally, have been the only major, over-the-air network that has covered Major League Baseball with proper respect and dignity. Compare that to when CBS took over, and they would only do the "Game of the Week" sporadically. Plus, they insisted on making Tim McCarver the star (a la John Madden for their NFL coverage. Now, we have to put up with FOX's garbage year-end-and-year old. I'll take Vin Scully (and Bob Costas while we're at it) any day over smug goofballs like Joe Buck.

[EddieNeverSleeps]

CUBS SUCK!!!