Minor League Baseball Sets Attendance Record For 4th Straight Year

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) _ Minor league baseball set an attendance record for an unprecedented fourth consecutive year, drawing 900,000 more fans than last season. <br/><br/>As of Labor Day, the 175 minor

Wednesday, September 5th 2007, 10:52 am

By: News On 6

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) _ Minor league baseball set an attendance record for an unprecedented fourth consecutive year, drawing 900,000 more fans than last season.

As of Labor Day, the 175 minor league baseball clubs that charge admission attracted 42.6 million fans. The total will increase because the New York-Penn and Pioneer leagues wrap up their regular seasons Friday. The Northwest league finished Wednesday.

Ten of the 12 leagues that have ended their regular seasons enjoyed boosts at the gate from 2006. The Northwest and Pioneer leagues already have surpassed last season's totals, and the New York-Penn is on track to do so.

Minor league baseball attendance figures are compiled from the International, Pacific Coast, Mexican, Eastern, Southern, Texas, California, Carolina, Florida State, Midwest, South Atlantic, New York-Penn, Northwest, Appalachian and Pioneer leagues.

The record-breaking run began in 2004 when the minors drew 39.9 million fans, topping the mark that stood since 1949. In 2005, the total was 41.3 million and last year it was 41.7 million.