Is the World Series still relevant in a world dominated by the NFL?
USA Today Sports’ Bob Nightengale and Steve Gardner share their thoughts on what makes the World Series so special.
Sports Seriously, USA TODAY
The 2022 World Series is on a collision course with the NFL.
It’s something Major League Baseball tried to avoid. The Fall Classic went dark on a Sunday for the first time since the 1947 World Series was first televised, to avoid competing with “Sunday Night Football.” But a rainout has the World Series aligning with the NFL again on Thursday.
Game 5 of the World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros will air in direct competition with the “Thursday Night Football” matchup between the unbeaten Eagles and Texans, football teams also representing Philadelphia and Houston. TNF’s matchup will take place in Houston at NRG Stadium while the World Series game is at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Thursday will mark only the seventh time that a World Series game and NFL game involving the same two metro areas will occur on the same day, according to ESPN Stats.
Astros manager Dusty Baker learned of the conflict Wednesday and was disappointed he wouldn’t “get to see that game.”
“I’ve always liked the Eagles, but I like the Texans because Lovie Smith is my partner from Chicago,” Baker said. “I think it’s great for the city. It’s great for any city when you have a World Series and you’ve got an undefeated football team.
‘CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES’: How the NFL chased MLB World Series off all’s holy day
GAME 1 RECAP: J.T. Realmuto’s heroic homer in 10th inning lifts Phillies over Astros
GAME 2 RECAP: Astros strike back to win vs. Phillies, evening up World Series
GAME 3 RECAP: Bryce Harper leads record five-homer barrage as Phillies beat Astros
Thursday was originally scheduled to be an off day but Game 3 was postponed from Monday to Tuesday due to rain in the City of Brotherly Love. As a result, the whole series was shifted back a day.
The Eagles remain the NFL’s lone undefeated team at 7-0. The same cannot be said about the Houston Texans, who are 1-5-1 on the season.
Not only do Philadelphia fans get to celebrate the Eagles and Phillies, the Philadelphia Union will play in the MLS Cup final on Saturday.
