The ratings don’t always translate to the viewership numbers you like. Despite ratings being at their highest since 2009, the 2013 Home Run Derby actually went down in viewers from 2012’s event.
2013 Home Run Derby down slightly in viewers
Though ratings were up, total viewers and young adult demos were slightly down for the annual dinger derby.
USA TODAY Sports
ESPN scored 6.65 million viewers for the annual summer slugger showcase, which was won by Oakland Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. It’ll still end up being the largest audience for an MLB event (other than Tuesday night’s All-Star Game) until October, and it will likely end up as ESPN’s biggest audience until college football returns. That said, the numbers were still down slightly from last year’s Prince Fielder victory, which drew 6.88 million viewers. The derby was also down slightly among young adults, dropping from a 2.7 to a 2.6.
The viewership drop is fairly inconsequential, though it is odd that a Home Run Derby centered around the country’s biggest media market saw a drop from the 2012 event, which was held in Kansas City. It isn’t as if New Yorkers weren’t tuned in either, as ESPN hit a 7.9 rating in the market. That translates to well over 600,000 households, far more than any other market. Other markets that drew huge numbers for the derby: Detroit (which led all markets), Pittsburgh, Baltimore, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Cleveland, Washington and Hartford. Three of those markets had competitors in the derby.
Here’s how popular the Home Run Derby remains: no game from League Division Series, and neither Wild Card game from the 2012 post-season, drew more viewers than the event. The derby also out-drew Games 2-4 of the Yankees-Tigers American League Championship Series last year.
Following up the Home Run Derby, the Legends & Celebrities Softball Game drew 2.17 million viewers, also down slightly from last year’s, which scored 2.27 million.
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