ST. LOUIS -- When it comes to a fan base following its team, the St. Louis Cardinals are usually in pretty good shape. For 13 consecutive seasons prior to 2013, the team landed a spot in the nation's top three when it comes to most-viewed teams.
This year even more tuned in.
Nielsen Media Research shows Cardinals telecasts on FOX Sports Midwest increased 15 percent. The team's 8.8 household rating ranked first in the National League, and second behind Detroit in Major League Baseball.
These numbers make it 14 straight times the Cardinals find themselves in the top three. Similarly, the Cardinals on FOX Sports Midwest have ranked in the top three in MLB local market TV ratings every year since 2000.
Other ratings info that shows the passion of Cardinals Nation:
* FOX Sports Midwest ranked No. 1 in prime time in St. Louis on 70 nights this season (56 last year), including 51 of the last 54 nights it televised a Cards game.
* "Cardinals Live" pregame show ratings on FSMW increased 41 percent.
* "Cardinals Live" postgame show ratings on FSMW increased 16 percent.
* The "Cardinals Live" postgame show, featuring the locker-room celebration after the Cardinals clinched the NL Central on Sept. 27, was the highest-rated "Cardinals Live" postgame ever on FSMW (9.7).
