All-Star Game scores ratings home run [View All]

[cal04]

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/entertainment/5730686/allstar-game-scores-ratings-home-run/

Fox's telecast of the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game delivered an average audience of 14.6 million viewers, making it the most-watched midsummer classic since 2002.

Tuesday night's contest now stands as the sixth-most-watched sporting event of 2009, trailing Super Bowl XLIII, which drew a record 98.7 million viewers to NBC on Feb. 1; the NCAA National Championship Game (17.6 million); the Kentucky Derby (16.3 million); Game 4 of the NBA Finals and the Daytona 500 (both drew 16 million).

The game, which cruised along at a brisk 2 hours and 31 minutes, saw the American League defeat the National League 4-3, to extend their unbeaten streak to 13. The victory once again gives the AL home-field advantage in the World Series, a wrinkle that was introduced by Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig in 2003, following an unpopular decision to call the prior year's All-Star Game after 11 innings.

The pre-game show, which culminated in President Obama's ceremonial first pitch, drew 11.2 million viewers, making it the most-watched All-Star Game place-setter in seven years. (Fox's camera angle was a little dicey, but Cardinals star Albert Pujols later refuted talk that Obama had bounced the ball over the plate. "It was in the air the whole way," Pujols said during a post-game press conference. "I scooted up a little bit, but I think I was going to catch it no matter what. It was a great pitch.")