Was soccer as popular as baseball in New York during the 1970's when Pele and the Cosmos were around?

Answer 1

No, not at all. Football, which is called soccer in the states was never popular until the mid 80's when the Spanish population started to rise. With the U.S hosting the FIFA world cup in 1994, the sport started adding more and more fans. During the 70's Pele was hardly known in the states, simply because TV did not cover any football events, the American public was not interested in the sport and thus there was very little exposure for the sport.

Answer 2

no, baseball is number one in NY. even now soccer is not that popular as a spectator sport even now that so many kids are into it.