World Series Game 7 Ratings Hit Eight-Year High for MLB

The 2025 World Series wrapped up with one of the wildest finales in recent memory. The Los Angeles Dodgers outlasted the Toronto Blue Jays, 5–4, in an 11-inning Game 7 nail-biter.

Will Smith’s decisive home run and MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s lights-out relief stole the show. Fox’s broadcast drew massive television ratings—over 25 million people tuned in, which is just wild for baseball these days.

Record-Breaking Viewership for Game 7

Preliminary Nielsen ratings put the Dodgers–Blue Jays clash at 25.45 million viewers on Fox. That’s baseball’s biggest TV audience in eight years.

Fox Deportes and Fox Sports streaming added another 530,000 viewers. Once Nielsen’s expanded big data comes in, the final numbers will probably be even higher.

Peak Audience During the Decisive Moments

Fans stayed glued to their screens deep into extra innings. Ratings peaked at a staggering 31.54 million viewers between 11:30 and 11:45 p.m. ET.

That’s the stretch when Smith’s go-ahead blast and Yamamoto’s clutch pitching pretty much sealed the Dodgers’ second straight title.

Historical Context and Comparisons

This broadcast beat the last World Series Game 7 in 2019 by 10 percent. That’s impressive, especially since out-of-home viewing wasn’t even counted back then.

Among the eight Game 7s since 2001, this year’s ranks fifth overall. The 2016 Cubs–Indians classic still sits at the top, drawing over 40 million viewers.

Recent Trends in World Series Ratings

The first five games of the 2025 series averaged 12.52 million viewers for Fox. With Game 7’s huge numbers, the average should jump to about 14.76 million.

In Canada, baseball’s popularity absolutely soared with Toronto’s run. The series averaged around 7 million viewers per game up north through the first five contests.

The Dodgers’ Championship Journey

The Dodgers’ win cemented their place as a modern dynasty. The team showed real resilience, handling Toronto’s relentless offense and thriving under pressure in extra innings.

Will Smith’s home run in the top of the 11th will stick in fans’ minds for years. Yamamoto shut down the Blue Jays in the bottom of the frame, showing textbook postseason poise.

Key Highlights from Game 7

The night was packed with moments that fueled the ratings surge:

• Will Smith’s clutch homer in the 11th electrified Dodgers fans everywhere.
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s relief heroics earned him MVP honors for sheer dominance.
• Manager Dave Roberts navigated the bullpen with well-timed moves, squeezing every ounce from his staff.
• The Blue Jays just wouldn’t go away, battling back and keeping the tension sky-high until the very last out.

What This Means for Baseball’s Popularity

Television ratings still matter when it comes to the sport’s health. The 2025 World Series numbers send a pretty encouraging signal.

Big-market teams, international stars, and high-stakes drama gave baseball a real jolt. These strong ratings show the game can still pull in a massive crowd, especially when everything comes down to a winner-take-all Game 7.

Looking Ahead

The Dodgers look ready for another deep run. Toronto’s making their case as real contenders, too.

Fans might get even more marquee matchups and wild, heart-pounding finales in the next few seasons. If future Series bring the same mix of drama and balance we saw in 2025, who knows? Maybe baseball’s viewership—and its cultural buzz—will go even higher.

 
Here is the source article for this story: TV Ratings: World Series Game 7 Thriller Hits Eight-Year High for MLB