1989 MLB Season
As originally written by Tim Brulia:
1989. End of Line. For NBC and ABC, that is...AFTER this season. Details on the brave new world for MLB on TV will come in the 1990 thread.
But the two networks knew before the season's end that this would be it for awhile.
For NBC in particular, this would end - at the time - the longest TV partnership in sports. NBC had a hand in telecasting baseball every season since 1947.
Here come the crews (post season courtesy Jeff79).
National Television
Spring Training
Saturday 3/25:
Dodgers-Red Sox, 1:30, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver, Marv Albert, Gayle Gardner
NBC left early to cover golf.
Regular Season
APRIL
Saturday 4/8:
Dodgers-Braves, 3:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver (rained out)
Pirates-Cubs, 3:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek (telecast called off after lengthy rain/snow delay)
Note: a rare instance in which both games were rained out.
Saturday 4/15:
Twins-Yankees, 1:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver (rained out)
Athletics-White Sox, 1:15, NBC. Ted Robinson, Bobby Murcer
Mets-Cardinals, 4:00, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Astros-Dodgers, 4:00, NBC. Charlie Slowes, Larry Dierker
Saturday 4/22:
Cubs-Mets, 2:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Tigers-Brewers, 2:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Saturday 4/29:
Dodgers-Cardinals, 1:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Reds-Phillies, 1:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek (telecast called off after lengthy rain delay)
MAY
Saturday 5/6:
Astros-Mets, 2:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Athletics-Tigers, 2:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Saturday 5/13:
Astros-Cubs, 1:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Blue Jays-Twins, 1:15, NBC. Ted Robinson, Bobby Murcer
Yankees-Angels, 4:00, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Brewers-Athletics, 4:00, NBC. Jay Randolph, Joe Torre
Saturday 5/20:
Giants-Mets, 3:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Pirates-Astros, 3:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Saturday 5/27:
Athletics-Yankees, 2:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Reds-Cubs, 2:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
JUNE
Saturday 6/3:
Cubs-Cardinals, 2:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Giants-Braves, 2:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Thursday 6/8:
Mets-Cubs, 8:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver
Padres-Astros, 8:00, ABC. Gary Thorne, Joe Morgan
Saturday 6/10 (non-doubleheader):
Tigers-Blue Jays, 12:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Reds-Dodgers, 3:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Note: markets either saw DET-TOR game followed by tape-delayed French Open coverage (most east/midwest/south markets), or live French Open coverage followed by the CIN-LAD game (west coast markets, and possibly Cincinnati).
Thursday 6/15:
Cubs-Mets, 8:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver
Astros-Dodgers, 8:00, ABC. Gary Thorne, Joe Morgan
Saturday 6/17:
Athletics-Orioles, 1:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Angels-Tigers, 1:15, NBC. Jay Randolph, Joe Torre
Reds-Giants, 4:00, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Brewers-Twins, 4:00, NBC. Jon Miller, Jim Kaat
Thursday 6/22:
Orioles-Angels, 8:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver
Blue Jays-Athletics, 8:00, ABC. Gary Thorne, Joe Morgan
Saturday 6/24:
Dodgers-Reds, 2:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Twins-Red Sox, 2:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Thursday 6/29:
Cubs-Giants, 8:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver
Astros-Expos, 8:00, ABC. Gary Thorne, Joe Morgan
JULY
Saturday 7/1:
Mets-Reds, 3:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Pirates-Dodgers, 3:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Thursday 7/6:
Reds-Mets, 8:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver
Royals-Athletics, 8:00, ABC. Gary Thorne, Joe Morgan
Friday 7/7:
Yankees-Red Sox, 8:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Expos-Astros, 8:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Saturday 7/8 (non-doubleheader):
Yankees-Red Sox, 2:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Expos-Astros, 2:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Twins-Angels, 4:15, NBC. Jay Randolph, Joe Torre
Note: the MIN-CAL game was only seen in west coast markets (and possibly Minneapolis/St. Paul?) following NBC's Wimbledon coverage.
Tuesday 7/11:
Baseball All-Star Game from Anaheim.
National-American, 8:00, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver, Bob Costas, Marv Albert, (and a little help from Ronald Reagan)
Thursday 7/13:
Royals-Yankees, 8:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver
Cardinals-Dodgers, 8:00, ABC. Gary Thorne, Joe Morgan
Saturday 7/15:
Royals-Yankees, 1:45, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Red Sox-Twins, 1:45, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Thursday 7/20:
Giants-Cubs, 8:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver
Tigers-Angels, 8:00, ABC. Gary Thorne, Joe Morgan
Saturday 7/22:
Giants-Cubs, 2:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Reds-Expos, 2:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Thursday 7/27:
Orioles-Twins, 8:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver
Royals-Red Sox, 8:00, ABC. Gary Thorne, Joe Morgan
Saturday 7/29:
Mets-Cubs, 1:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Red Sox-Indians, 1:15, NBC. Jon Miller, Jim Kaat
Giants-Astros, 4:00, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
AUGUST
Tuesday 8/1:
Giants-Dodgers, 8:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Saturday 8/5:
Astros-Giants, 3:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Cubs-Pirates, 3:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Saturday 8/12:
Athletics-Angels, 3:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Saturday 8/19:
Dodgers-Mets, 2:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Red Sox-Brewers, 2:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Saturday 8/26:
Orioles-Yankees, 2:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Brewers-Blue Jays, 2:15, NBC. Mel Proctor, Tom Seaver
SEPTEMBER
Saturday 9/2:
Mets-Giants, 3:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Indians-Tigers, 3:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Saturday 9/9:
Yankees-Athletics, 3:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Saturday 9/16:
Cubs-Pirates, 2:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Athletics-Red Sox, 2:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Saturday 9/23:
Pirates-Cubs, 2:15, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Expos-Mets, 2:15, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Saturday 9/30:
Orioles-Blue Jays, 2:30, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Postseason
LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Tuesday 10/3:
Game 1, Blue Jays-Athletics, 8:00, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Wednesday 10/4:
Game 2, Blue Jays-Athletics, 3:00, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Game 1, Giants-Cubs, 8:00, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver, Marv Albert
Thursday 10/5:
Game 2, Giants-Cubs, 8:30, NBC. Bob Costas, Tom Seaver
Note: Costas filled in on short notice with Scully suffering from laryngitis after game 1.
Friday 10/6:
Game 3, Athletics-Blue Jays, 8:00, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Saturday 10/7:
Game 4, Athletics-Blue Jays, 1:00, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Game 3, Cubs-Giants, 8:00, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Sunday 10/8:
Game 5, Athletics-Blue Jays, 4:00, NBC. Bob Costas, Tony Kubek
Game 4, Cubs-Giants, 8:00, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
Monday 10/9:
Game 5, Cubs-Giants, 3:00, NBC. Vin Scully, Tom Seaver
WORLD SERIES
Saturday 10/14:
Game 1, Giants-Athletics, 8:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver
Sunday 10/15:
Game 2, Giants-Athletics, 8:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver
Tuesday 10/17:
Game 3, Athletics-Giants, 8:00, ABC. Al Mich...."I'll tell you what, we're having an earthq.......
Friday 10/28:
Game 3, Athletics-Giants, 8:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver
Saturday 10/29:
Game 4, Athletics-Giants, 8:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver, Gary Thorne, Joe Morgan
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