MLB's first week of interleague play saw a league-wide
average attendance increase of 35.3%. See #10 for full
attendance numbers (THE DAILY). The Mets-Yankees series at
Yankee Stadium drew 168,719 over three games, making it the
most-populated series there since '78 (N.Y. DAILY NEWS,
6/19). The Expos-Orioles series at Camden Yards drew
142,798 over three games, the second best in ballpark
history for a three-game series (WASHINGTON POST, 6/19).
INTER-REAX: Among a sampling of media reaction to
interleague play: ESPN's Charley Steiner: "Even the game's
staunchest traditionalists must reluctantly agree the grand
experiment of interleague play has been a success. ... And
for the first time in a long time, baseball's got a positive
buzz about it" ("SportsCenter," 6/18). In Denver, Mike
Littwin: "What's really historic about interleague play is
that baseball finally has done something right" (ROCKY
MOUNTAIN NEWS, 6/17). CNN/SI's Tim Kurkjian: "I think it
was a tremendous success" (CNN/SI, 6/17). In Philadelphia,
Bill Conlin: "It was mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for a
drowning sport" (PHILA. DAILY NEWS, 6/19). A CHRISTIAN
SCIENCE MONITOR editorial: "Interleague play may not have
chased the clouds from baseball's future, but it has
undoubtedly brightened the game's image for the fans and the
media" (CSM, 6/19). A N.Y. TIMES editorial: "[I]f the
turnouts in New York and many other cities are any guide,
the usually stodgy people who run baseball have to be
congratulating themselves" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/19). The TIMES'
Claire Smith, on the Mets-Yankees series: "For if the
doubters west of the Hudson got even a whiff of what
unfolded at Yankee Stadium ... they will have to admit that
what was accomplished is the blueprint for success for this
interleague experiment that is now on a short two-year
leash" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/19). In San Diego, Wayne Lockwood:
"It's not perfect. ... But one thing seems obvious: It
works. ... After decades in which baseball needlessly
alienated people who buy tickets, it finally appears to have
stumbled upon something that has piqued public interest"
(SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/19). But in Detroit, Jerry
Green: "The wise men who control baseball are trying to
peddle the mystique of interleague play as a long-term
solution for their ailing sport. It won't work" (DETROIT
NEWS, 6/18). In Chicago, Bernie Lincicome: "They could have
held a seance or run a shell game for all the virtue
connected to this whole interleague sham. Interleague play
is this summer's macarena" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/18).
NEWSWEEK's "Conventional Wisdom Watch" gave MLB an undecided
arrow: "Old: Faithful to the history of the game. New:
Every year a new gimmick" (NEWSWEEK, 6/23).
MLB'S VIEW: Acting Commissioner Bud Selig, on being the
force behind interleague play: "I don't like to crow. But
this time I will" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/18). Selig: "I've had
dozens of calls from the owners and all of them I mentioned
said, 'Thank You.' ... Most of them said 'We should have
done this sooner.'" Selig, on players' complaining about
travel and two-day series': "That won't happen next year.
It's a legitimate complaint. We're going to change that"
(DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/18). White Sox Owner Jerry
Reinsdorf: "Originally I wasn't in favor of it ... But now
that I've had a chance to see it, it really is very
exciting. ... I just hope we don't expand it. I just hope
that we leave it the way it is ... so that the integrity of
the leagues is maintained" ("Up Close," ESPN, 6/17).
