CNN/SI poll: Let the record fall
Posted: Thursday August 20, 1998 04:56 PM
Here are the results from a poll commissioned by CNN/SI on August 13-16. Results from a previous CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll, conducted on June 22-23, also are included for some questions.
Question 1 was asked of 1,011 adult Americans. Sampling error is plus or minus 3 percent.
1. Are you a fan of professional baseball or not?
Yes Somewhat No
August 13-16, 1998 30 5 64
June 22-23, 1998 34 10 56
The following questions were asked of the 366 fans who said they were baseball fans, or somewhat baseball fans. Sampling error is plus or minus 5 percent.
As you may know, the major league home run record for one season is 61 home runs, hit by Roger Maris in 1961. There is a possibility that one or more players this year will break that record and hit more than 61 home runs.
2. In general, would you like to see Maris' home tun record broken this year or not?
Yes No No opinion
August 13-16 75 14 11
June 22-23 73 18 9
3. Regardless of how you feel in general, we'd now like to ask you about some more specific players. For each of the following players, please tell me if you are rooting for him to break the home run record this year or not.
Yes No No opinion
A. Mark McGwire
August 13-16 64 29 7
June 22-23 64 28 8
B. Sammy Sosa
August 13-16 49 41 10
June 22-23 39 51 10
C. Ken Griffey Jr.
August 13-16 58 35 10
June 22-23 63 30 7
4. Do you think each of these player has or has not accomplished enough in his career to have earned the honor of breaking the home run record?
Has Has not Not sure
A. Mark McGwire 75 12 13
B. Sammy Sosa 55 25 20
C. Ken Griffey Jr. 71 16 13
5. Have you paid more attention to Major League Baseball in general this year than you did last year because of these players' efforts to break the home run record, or has this not affected the amount of attention you pay to Major League Baseball?
Yes, paid more attention 25
Has not affected amount of attention 74
Not sure 1
6. How much attention have you paid to these players' efforts to hit more than 61 home runs: A great deal of attention, a fair amount, not much attention or no attention at all.
A great deal of attention 16
A fair amount of attention 50
Not much attention 25
No attention at all 8
Not sure 1
7. Do you think that players and fans today pay too much attention to home runs at the expense of other skills, such as pitching and defense, or do you think players and fans pay the right amount of attention to home runs?
Yes, pay too much attention 53
No, pay right attention 39
No, pay too little attention 1
Not sure 7
8. Compared to baseballs used in major league games last year, do you think that the balls used in games this year are livelier and travel farther when hit, or are they the same as balls used last year?
Yes, balls travel farther 18
Same as balls used last year 63
Not sure 19
9. Do you think that McGwire, Griffey or Sosa are taking steroids or other drugs designed to make them stronger, or don't you think so?
Yes, think so 6
No, don't think so 81
Not sure 13
10. If yes, who do you think is taking such drugs?
A. Mark McGwire 6
B. Ken Griffey Jr. 3
C. Sammy Sosa 5
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