All-Star Game scores ratings home run

New York Yankees Derek Jeter (R), is hit by a pitch in the first inning as St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina of the National League looks on in Major League Baseball's All-Star game in St. Louis, July 14, 2009.

NEW YORK (Mediaweek) - Fox's telecast of the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game delivered an average audience of 14.6 million viewers, making it the most-watched midsummer classic since 2002.

Tuesday night's contest now stands as the sixth-most-watched sporting event of 2009, trailing Super Bowl XLIII, which drew a record 98.7 million viewers to NBC on February 1; the NCAA National Championship Game (17.6 million); the Kentucky Derby (16.3 million); Game 4 of the NBA Finals and the Daytona 500 (both drew 16 million).

The game, which cruised along at a brisk 2 hours and 31 minutes, saw the American League defeat the National League 4-3, to extend their unbeaten streak to 13. The victory once again gives the AL home-field advantage in the World Series, a wrinkle that was introduced by Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig in 2003, following an unpopular decision to call the prior year's All-Star Game after 11 innings.

The pre-game show, which culminated in President Obama's ceremonial first pitch, drew 11.2 million viewers, making it the most-watched All-Star Game place-setter in seven years. (Fox's camera angle was a little dicey, but Cardinals star Albert Pujols later refuted talk that Obama had bounced the ball over the plate. "It was in the air the whole way," Pujols said during a post-game press conference. "I scooted up a little bit, but I think I was going to catch it no matter what. It was a great pitch.")

The President saw additional screen time when he joined Fox analysts Joe Buck and Tim McCarver in the booth at the top of the second inning. When asked why he elected to wear a Chicago White Sox warm-up jacket -- per tradition, the luminary who tosses out the first pitch usually wears the host team's colors -- Obama said he was representing his local nine. "Everybody knows I'm a White Sox fan, and my wife thinks I look cute in this jacket," he said. "So, for those two reasons, why not."

(Editing by SheriLinden at Reuters)