BASEBALL OWNERS SEE A DEEP SHADE OF RED FROM '96 SEASON

          Information from a "management source" shows that MLB
     teams together lost about $185M last year and $875M over the
     last three years, according to Ronald Blum of the AP.  In
     '93, the last full season before the strike, teams "combined
     for an operating profit" of $36M on record operating revenue
     of $1.87B.  In '94, without the World Series, clubs lost
     $363.8M on revenue of $1.21B.  For the '95 season, delayed
     three weeks because of the strike, teams totaled losses of
     $326.3M on revenue of $1.38B.  According to "preliminary
     figures," '96 revenues rose to $1.67B, but expenses jumped
     to an all-time high of $1.85B, resulting in a loss of $185M. 
     Assessing results for this season, Blum writes that '97
     revenues "will be helped by" a 7.1% increase in the average
     MLB ticket price to $11.98 and a moderate increase in
     attendance.  Figures used by the owners do not include
     depreciation, interest received or paid, and expansion fees,
     "which are considered income from the sale of a capital
     asset" (AP/Mult., 7/25).