Fans tuning into NESN’s broadcast of Tuesday night’s game between the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox in the third inning might have briefly wondered if they’d gone back in time.
The Red Sox celebrated the 50-year anniversary of their 1975 team, which lost a dramatic seven-game World Series to the Reds. To further honor the occasion, NESN used 1970s graphics for the third and fourth innings. That meant a split screen showing both the hitter and a runner on base, as well as no strike zone box.
One deviation from the 1970s broadcasts was a scorebug, which didn’t become omnipresent until the mid-1990s. As announcer Dave O’Brien noted, fans watching on television had to wait until the announcers said the score to get an update, though graphics would usually appear after a run was scored or when a broadcast went to or returned from a commercial break. NESN did show a scorebug, noting the score, inning, count and number of outs. But in keeping with the theme, those graphics were era correct.
Viewers also got a preview of what the 1970s graphic would look like before the game. Additionally, announcer O’Brien and Lou Merloni wore 1975-style suits.
As notable as those were, the outfit worn by sideline reporter Jahmai Webster stood out even more.
The idea was well received by fans.