Little League Classic TV ratings help Tigers rub in victory over Yankees

2024 Little League Classic: New York Yankees v Detroit Tigers
2024 Little League Classic: New York Yankees v Detroit Tigers | Joe Sargent/GettyImages

The Tigers definitely ruined many Little Leaguers' nights on Sunday, when they beat the Yankees in extra-inning, walk-off fashion at Williamsport as part of the Little League Classic. It wouldn't be altogether surprising if MLB put this specific matchup together for the express purpose of matching their darling Yankees up against an objectively worse team, so that potential future major leaguers watching could be inspired by two of the biggest figures in the sport.

Aaron Judge did get a hit, and Juan Soto walked once, but the Yankees' two runs that game were supplied by a wild pitch from Tarik Skubal and an RBI single from DJ LeMahieu with the ghost runner on second. Skubal only gave up three hits through six innings, and although he was uncharacteristically walk-heavy (he gave out four free passes), he was characteristically excellent overall.

To the Yankees' credit, Marcus Stroman also went six innings and only gave up four hits and two walks, and the Tigers couldn't score until his day was over. However, they came back against Clay Holmes and Mark Leiter Jr., with Parker Meadows scoring Zach McKinstry to walk it off in the bottom of the 10th.

On Tuesday, ESPN reported that this year's Little League Classic was the most watched of any of the seven since 2017, up 39% from 2023.

A record amount of viewers watched the Tigers beat the Yankees in the Little League Classic

Sure, some of those who were tuning in had to be watching for the Tigers. They'd just gotten Riley Greene back from the IL, and had called up two top prospects, both of whom came through during that Yankees series (Jace Jung tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with an RBI single, and Trey Sweeney scored the Tigers' second run).

However, it's pretty easy to assume that most of the 2.36 million viewers who tuned in did so for the Yankees. New York is fighting for their playoff lives and Judge could hit 60 homers this season. Even people who know nothing else about baseball know that the Yankees are the most famous franchise.

All of those viewers were disappointed, though, and the scrappy, young Tigers took a series from the fearsome Bronx Bombers. It was the perfect message to send to Tigers fans that their young guys are actually making this team look like they could really contend next season.

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