[6] The deal involved the airing of Thursday night games[7] in markets at least 50 miles (80 km) from a major league park.

[19][20][21] Once in a while, when USA aired a repeat of the telecast late at night, local cities were allowed to show the rerun.

Meanwhile, Eddie Doucette (replacing Jim Woods) and Nelson Briles were assigned to call the early game.

USA's coverage became a casualty of the new $1.2 billion TV contract[28] between Major League Baseball, ABC and NBC beginning in 1984 and lasting through 1989.

[32] The game in question featured Fernando Valenzuela picking up his eighth consecutive win to start the season.