In Pittsburgh, Robert Dvorchak examined the state of
MLB and wrote that "attendance is up half a percent from the
McGwire/Sosa mania of last year, when more fans than ever
attended games. That's due to expansion; average game
attendance still hasn't surpassed pre-strike levels.
Baseball is still on trial in Pittsburgh and in other
pillars of middle America" (POST-GAZETTE, 7/12). Pirates
Owner Kevin McClatchy said that while MLB's CBA expires
after 2001, he "sees no labor Armageddon in baseball's
future." McClatchy: "I've read a couple of places about
this huge labor fight we're about to enter. If it's out
there, I haven't heard about it." In Pittsburgh, Bob Smizik
wrote that "one thing is clear" about MLB's current state,
"new stadiums are not the answer" (POST-GAZETTE, 7/12). But
a BOSTON HERALD editorial on MLB states that "somehow this
game that was supposed to be dying is still packing 'em in.
... All over the country new ballparks are adding to the
appeal, giving fans yet another reason to come out and
really see a game the way it was meant to be seen" (BOSTON
HERALD, 7/11). For more on the Pirates, see (#27).
WOMEN'S DAY: In Boston, Gregg Krupa examines the
growing role of women execs around the All-Star Game under
the header, "Women Becoming Big-League Players." Among
those profiled: MLB VP/Broadcasting & New Media Development
Leslie Sullivan, MLB VP/Marketing Kathy Francis and MLB
VP/Special Events Marla Miller. Krupa: "Anyone spending any
time behind the scenes around Boston this week knows that
the All-Star Game clearly is not just another 'guy thing.'
Women are playing key roles" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/13).
