The first round of interleague play ended last night,
and USA TODAY's Mel Antonen reports that through Wednesday,
the average attendance was 30,512, which is a 12.6% drop
from last year's average of 34,922 for the first round of
interleague action, but still a 15.2% increase over the
intraleague average of 26,481 so far this season. In USA
TODAY's "Extra Innings" section, Chuck Johnson examines MLB
attendance under the header, "Crowds Begin To Return To
Ballparks." Johnson: "While some resentment about the
strike remains and not all teams are sharing in baseball's
resurgence, it's obvious that many fans who vowed to never
come back have changed their minds." USA TODAY charts the
average attendance of each MLB team through May of each year
from '94 through '98. Teams with the biggest rise in
average attendance since May of '94 are the Mariners and
Padres. Teams with the biggest drop in average attendance
are the Blue Jays and Phillies (USA TODAY, 6/12).
HEADING FOR HOME: USA TODAY's Hal Bodley reports that
it's "looking more and more" like Acting Commissioner Bud
Selig "will take the job" full-time. Bodley: "Chances are
good it will happen during the September meetings in his
hometown, Milwaukee" (Hal Bodley, USA TODAY, 6/12).
WHITHER PORTLAND? In Portland, Rob Eure wrote that no
one from Portland attended MLB's ownership meetings in
Seattle, "to promote" the city's quest for an MLB franchise.
Eure called such attendance a "necessary piece of schmoozing
among owners." Selig: "I haven't heard anything about
(Portland). And I would know" (OREGONIAN, 6/11).
