America’s baseball hearts are with the Houston Astros as the World Series begins Tuesday night, but their brains tell them the Los Angeles Dodgers will come out on top.
A new baseball poll provided to Secrets also suggests that the take a knee controversy in the NFL has driven viewers to baseball, the nation’s favorite sport. Some 60 percent view Major League Baseball favorably in the poll.
“Interest is high heading into the World Series,” said Titus Bond, director of Remington Research Group, which conducted the survey. “Controversy surrounding the NFL and the National Anthem may have led many Americans to return to baseball. A byproduct of President Trump’s public debate with the NFL seems to be a return for many Americans to our National Pastime,” he added.
The survey of 1,211, conducted Oct. 22, found that 30 percent call baseball their “favorite,” followed by the NFL at 25 percent, the NBA at 10 percent, NHL at 8 percent and Major League Soccer at 2 percent.
The survey analysis added: “The NFL’s numbers seem to have been hurt amongst Republicans and non-partisans. Republicans and non-partisans prefer Major League Baseball over the NFL 30 percent to 21 percent, while Democrats prefer the NFL over Major League Baseball 33 percent to 29 percent.”
Interest in the World Series that begins Tuesday in Los Angeles is high, despite the exit of the New York Yankees.
Remington found that 61 percent felt the baseball playoffs “have been interesting,” and 31 percent dubbed the playoffs “very interesting.”
And 61 percent are eager for the Astros-Dodgers series.
The Astros are making only their second appearance in the championship, and more of those surveyed hope Houston wins. Some 37 percent hope the Astros win to 25 percent for the Dodgers.
But, more think the Dodgers will come out on top, 35 percent to 31 percent.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
