LOCAL STATIONS THAT CARRIED YOUR PRO-BASEBALL TEAM OVER THE YEARS

[gregg75]

(other than ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX network games)

Braves in Atlanta (wikipedia)

1965 they moved from Milwaukee
1966-1972 WSB 2 (also syndicated)
1973-1976 WTCG 17 (Turner buys WJRJ 17 1970)
1977-2007 WTCG/WTBS 17 (Superstation),TBS
2007-NOW WTBS/WPCH 17 (fall of '07) (local, Super for Canada)

Sports South 2000- (contract ends in 2012)
FSN 1991-2012 (contract ends in 2012) airs outside the Atlanta area
Comcast 2008-2010 outside Atlanta area

Ok, now who can do New York??????

 

[KeithE4]

Chicago Cubs
WBKB/4 (1946-51)*
WENR-TV/7 (1948)
WGN-TV/9 (1948 to present)
WCIU-TV/26 (2000-present)

* 1946-51 is documented, although I have heard stories from my family and others that WBKB televised at least one of the 1945 World Series games that were played at Wrigley Field (Games 4-7). WGN wasn't awarded exclusive rights to the Cubs until 1952.

Link: JustOneBadCentury.com
Link: Cubs Broadcast History, Page 6

Chicago White Sox
WGN-TV/9 (1948-1967, 1981, 1990-Present)
WCIU-TV/26 (2000-Present)
WFLD/32 (1968-1972, 1982-1989)
WSNS/44 (1973-1980, produced by WGN-TV)

I have no information about any Sox games that might have aired on other stations prior to 1952. AFAIK, WGN had exclusive rights to the Sox from the beginning, and no Sox games were ever televised prior to WGN-TV's signing on in 1948.

 

[FreddyE1977]

The Pittsburgh Pirates were on WENS-TV 16 back in the 1950's. That station was partly owned
by long time Pirates' play-by-play broadcaster Bob Prince. After that station went dark in 1957
they moved to KDKA-TV 2, where they remained until 1994. Then they moved to WPXI-TV 11 for
a couple of years, but have been basically cable-only via the local RSN since the late 90's.

The move from KDKA was supposedly prompted by pressure from CBS about the frequent
pre-emptions of CBS programming. This was pretty much set in stone once CBS and Westinghouse
became one and the same.

The Pirates of the 1950's were a struggling last-place team known as the Rickey-Dinks
(after General Manager Branch Rickey, who traded away star Ralph Kiner and slashed
their payroll). Clearly the team was not good enough to save the struggling UHF signal
of WENS.

 

[aznyin]

The Arizona Diamondbacks were on KTVK channel 3 from its inception in 1998 through 2007(?) when Diamondback games began to air exclusively on FOX Sports Arizona in 2008. I question through 2007 because I don't remember if Channel 3 stopped airing games before 2007. I don't know if it was the D-Backs decision to go exclusive on cable or none of the Phoenix stations didn't want to air the games, but it's disappointing that there isn't a local broadcast presence. Even the New York Yankees, who have their own network, still show a handful of games on WWOR channel 9.

 

[crainbebo]

Seattle Mariners here started [IIRC] on KSTW 11, then moved to KIRO 7 [station in 1995 when the Mariners won the AL West], then KSTW again [Fox Sports Northwest also in the mix], and now it is exclusively on Root Sports.

-crainbebo

 

[onairb]

SF Giants on KTVU from 1958-2007; KNTV(NBC Bay Area) since 2008(although KTVU still holds a small ownership stake in the team).

 

[Ultimajock]

The Arizona Diamondbacks were on KTVK channel 3 from its inception in 1998 through 2007(?) when Diamondback games began to air exclusively on FOX Sports Arizona in 2008. I question through 2007 because I don't remember if Channel 3 stopped airing games before 2007. I don't know if it was the D-Backs decision to go exclusive on cable or none of the Phoenix stations didn't want to air the games, but it's disappointing that there isn't a local broadcast presence. Even the New York Yankees, who have their own network, still show a handful of games on WWOR channel 9.

...original Spanish-language telecasts of Diamondbacks games also appeared on KPHE-LP/44 from 2007 thru 2009...

 

[Ultimajock]

Seattle Mariners here started [IIRC] on KSTW 11, then moved to KIRO 7 [station in 1995 when the Mariners won the AL West], then KSTW again [Fox Sports Northwest also in the mix], and now it is exclusively on Root Sports.

...who carried the Seattle Pilots?...

 

[KML0224]

I know that for many years, the Yankees were always on WPIX-TV and the Mets were on WWOR-TV. Then the Yankees were on WCBS-TV for a couple of seasons. Today, the Yankees and Mets local TV games air on WWOR-TV and WPIX-TV, respectively.

Here in Hartford/New Haven, I can't remember anybody airing the Yankees games before the old WTWS-TV channel 26 of New London did. Then and now, some of the Mets games have been aired by both the old WTXX-TV (IND) and today's WCCT-TV (CW) channel 20 of Waterbury/Hartford. The WWOR-TV Yankees games now air on WCTX-TV (MY) channel 59 of New Haven. I seem to remember the WCBS-TV airings of the Yankees a few years ago being carried by WFSB-TV (CBS) channel 3 of Hartford. Lastly, back when WSBK-TV channel 38 of Boston carried the Red Sox, a few games would air on WVIT-TV (NBC) channel 30 of New Britain/Hartford. The previously-mentioned WTXX-TV channel 20 even aired their games for a short time. I believe the Red Sox were already off of WSBK-TV by then, either on channel 25 (FOX) or even channel 68 (then an independent, now a ION affiliate).

 

[oldiesfan6479]

...who carried the Seattle Pilots?...

If you can believe Wiki, radio was KVI 570 and TV was "none."

 

[KYLEBOOK]

Here in Hartford/New Haven, I can't remember anybody airing the Yankees games before the old WTWS-TV channel 26 of New London did. Then and now, some of the Mets games have been aired by both the old WTXX-TV (IND) and today's WCCT-TV (CW) channel 20 of Waterbury/Hartford. The WWOR-TV Yankees games now air on WCTX-TV (MY) channel 59 of New Haven. I seem to remember the WCBS-TV airings of the Yankees a few years ago being carried by WFSB-TV (CBS) channel 3 of Hartford. Lastly, back when WSBK-TV channel 38 of Boston carried the Red Sox, a few games would air on WVIT-TV (NBC) channel 30 of New Britain/Hartford. The previously-mentioned WTXX-TV channel 20 even aired their games for a short time. I believe the Red Sox were already off of WSBK-TV by then, either on channel 25 (FOX) or even channel 68 (then an independent, now a ION affiliate).

Yankees TV coverage has a very spotty history in the Hartford/New Haven market. Channel 18 WHCT carried selected Yankee games from 1971 - 1973 (weekends & occasional weeknights). The old Channel 20 WATR in Waterbury carried Sunday afternoon Yankee games in 1974 & 1975. Channel 3 WFSB also carried selected Yankee games around 1980, as well.

Prior to WTXX airing Met games, Mets weekend games were carried on Channel 8 WTNH from 1970 - 1974.

Prior to Channel 30 WVIT airing the Red Sox, Channel 3 WFSB picked up selected games from 1977 - 1979. Red Sox telecasts were also available in the Hartford area on Channel 22 WWLP in Springfield, MA from the 50s until 1989, when the telecasts switched to Channel 40 WGGB. Channel 8 in New Haven also carried the Sox from 1967 to 1969.

 

[wtxf29fan788]

Philadelphia Phillies:

1948: WPTZ-TV and WCAU-TV
1949-54: WPTZ-TV, WCAU-TV and WFIL-TV
1955: WPTZ-TV and WCAU-TV
1956-57: WRCV-TV and WFIL-TV
1958: WRCV-TV and WVUE-TV
1959-70: WFIL-TV
1971-80: WPHL-TV
1981-82: WPHL-TV and PRISM
1983-92: WTAF/WTXF-TV and PRISM
1993-97: WPHL-TV and PRISM
1998: WPHL-TV and Comcast SportsNet
1999-2008: WPSG-TV and Comcast SportsNet
2009-Current: WPHL-TV and Comcast SportsNet

 

[cyberdad]

Philadelphia Phillies:

1949-54: WPTZ-TV, WCAU-TV and WFIL-TV

Dick Clark wrote in his book "Rock Roll & Remember" that in his pre-Bandstand days as a WFIL staff announcer, one of his duties during the 7th inning stretch was a live on-air sampling of the beer sponsor's product. I don't recall the exact details, but apparently the contract called for a live repeat of the commercial at pre-determined intervals if the game went into extra innings. According to Clark, this made for some very interesting broadcasting if the game ran especially long!

 

[nsa1]

Cleveland Indians:

Not sure before the 70's.

1970's - WJW/8 (then CBS), often pre-empting CBS programming (or bumping it to indie WUAB/43).
1980-2002 - WUAB/43 (indie, later UPN)
2003-2006 - No OTA games, cable only.
2007-present - WKYC/3 (NBC - approx 20 games per year, the rest on cable) often pre-empting NBC programming (or delaying to late nights).

 

[WMC2006]

Lastly, back when WSBK-TV channel 38 of Boston carried the Red Sox, a few games would air on WVIT-TV (NBC) channel 30 of New Britain/Hartford. The previously-mentioned WTXX-TV channel 20 even aired their games for a short time. I believe the Red Sox were already off of WSBK-TV by then, either on channel 25 (FOX) or even channel 68 (then an independent, now a ION affiliate).

In Boston, for the Red Sox, in no particular order (someone else can look up the exact sequence ;D ):

WSBK-TV38 (2 tours of duty..75-95 and 2003-05)
WABU-68
WFXT-Fox25
WBZ-TV4 (Friday night baseball only for a couple years with Sean McDonough and Remdawg)
and, of course, New England Sports Network (NESN) where all non-network Sox games now air.

 

[Tim L]

Complete Cleveland Indians TV History:

1948-49 WEWS-TV 5
1950-55 WXEL-9 (Changed to 8 for the 1954 season)
1956-60 WEWS-5
1961-79 WJW-TV 8
1980-2001 WUAB-43
2002-2005 No Broadcast TV
2006-Present WKYC-3 (20 select games, simulcast with STO)

Cable
1982 TEN TV
1983 The Sports Exchange (Both failed local sports networks)

1990-1997 SportsChannel Ohio
1998-2005 Fox Sports Ohio (name change of SportsChannel)
2006-Present SportsTime Ohio

 

[onairb]

...who carried the Seattle Pilots?...

If you can believe Wiki, radio was KVI 570 and TV was "none."

There was a recent post on the506.com Sports Broadcasting Forums(some people from here frequent that site, too) which mentioned the Pilots demanded too much money for TV rights, and so there was no TV deal..aside from a single telecast in September, from Boston(not sure which station carried it).

 

[Bluenoser]

In Boston, for the Red Sox, in no particular order (someone else can look up the exact sequence ;D ):

According to the list on Wikipedia... (NESN shared coverage 1984-2005, sole rights since 2006)
1948-1956: shared between WBZ and WNAC
1957-1971: WHDH
1972-1974: WBZ
1975-1995: WSBK
1996-1998: WABU
1999: WLVI
2000-2003: WFXT
2004-2005: WBZ/WSBK

 

[WMC2006]

Thanks Bluenoser, I knew someone would come through. ;D

 

[FreddyE1977]

...who carried the Seattle Pilots?...

If you can believe Wiki, radio was KVI 570 and TV was "none."

There was a recent post on the506.com Sports Broadcasting Forums(some people from here frequent that site, too) which mentioned the Pilots demanded too much money for TV rights, and so there was no TV deal..aside from a single telecast in September, from Boston(not sure which station carried it).

Part of their problem was that the planned expansion of Sicks Stadium to Major-League size was never completed,
due to union problems, cost overruns and rainy Seattle weather. They were never able to seat more than 16,000
at any point during the season....woefully undersized for a Major League team. The management apparently tried
to compensate by overreaching on the TV deal and it backfired on them.