Judging baseball’s popularity in attendance figures in Oakland is like judging them today by the attendance figures at Tropicana Field. Some towns just don’t get behind certain teams.
Still, I wish there were more video broadcasts of games prior to 1977 when the VCRs began appearing on the market and fans could record games themselves. A lot of great baseball was missed.
That was real shame that the networks tossed out or taped over a lot of broadcasts (as reusability was one of videotape’s virtues) during those years up to about 1977. I would like to see videotape footage of Montreal Expo games at old Jarry Park (the Expos’ home until 1977 when they moved to the Big O).
Last summer, I shared here a YouTube video of a Dodgers-Reds game from June 1970 and it was one of the last times (if not the very last) the Dodgers played at Crosley Field and you get to see a few nice views of the old ballpark and it was recovered from the collection of an early home videotape recorder owner.
The game venue has an impact on attendance also, IMO.
Our local hometown farm league team played in a historic stadium that was tired but had a great ambiance to it. Just being there was as fun as watching the game.
The city decided it wanted a new stadium which was built and became the team’s home. Myself and others I know haven’t been to a game since.
When I lived in the Bay Area, I used to go to A’s games and pay $2 for a bleacher seat. Sometimes a day game would have about 2,000 fans in attendance. This was in the 1970s.