MLB SETS SECOND-HIGHEST TOTAL ATTENDANCE MARK IN '97

          MLB announced its second-highest total attendance in
     history as 63,196,222 fans attended games during the '97
     season.  This year's total is second only to the all-time
     record of 70,256,459 in '93.  Overall, MLB teams averaged
     28,288 in '97, the third-highest average in history and a
     5.2% increase over '96's average of 26,889.  Six teams, the
     Braves, Orioles, Indians, Mariners, Dodgers and Rockies,
     drew more than three million fans.  Every MLB team drew over
     one million fans for only the sixth time.  Attendance was
     boosted by the 214 interleague games, which averaged 33,407,
     up 20.4% over intraleague action (MLB).  See (#30) for final
     AL attendance.  For the NL, see tomorrow's DAILY. 
          TWO VIEWS: USA TODAY's debate is on realigning baseball
     with the newspaper's editorial board in favor of realignment
     and the opposing view written by former editor of The
     Baseball Encyclopedia, Rick Wolff (USA TODAY, 9/30).