...and most of these games played in two hours or less; thanks to the almighty dollar (or the quest for it), sports has become an endless series of commercials and sales pitches (pun intended)...
Today’s longer games are a result of the change in pitching strategies. Every pitching change adds time to the game. With that comes more pitches in each at bat since the pitcher doesn’t have to conserve in order to get through the game and more throws to first to hold runners.
There are still 2 hour games, but they really require two pitchers going late into the game with no mid-inning changes. Yesterday’s shortest game was 2:14. The longest was 3:22 for a 10 inning game with 10 pitchers used.
Only playoff games and the All Star game have extended inning breaks for television. Since those are often the only games non-fans watch, it gives an impression that today’s games are all glacially slow.
Advertising is nothing new. The ballparks of the era were covered with advertising signs, just like today. The Green Monster at Fenway had ads on it until 1947.