BASEBALL'S NEW TWIST BOLSTERS INTEREST

It's not the World Series, but with interleague play starting this year in the regular season for the first time ever in the storied history of Major League Baseball, it almost seems like it.

Baseball fans have filled the stadiums to capacity in several matchups between American and National League teams. Attendance is up drastically for these games and the players themselves seem to have gotten into the playoff atmosphere these contests provide.

Baseball's attempt to bring back its fans after alienating millions with the 1994 work stoppage that ended the season without a World Series appears to be working. But is it just a quick fix?

Local fans, as expected, have differing views on the break in tradition this year.

Tim Allen of Cape Girardeau, who was pitching batting practice to his son at Arena Park, realizes why baseball is trying something new. Although Allen hasn't been to a game in several years and admitted he doesn't follow the game much anymore, he's noticed the drop in interest of the sport.

"They need to try what they can to get the people back into the park," said Allen. "You watch any of the games on television and you see a lot of seats empty."

Allen's young son Nick didn't have much to say on the subject. Like several youngsters today, he prefers the fast-paced action of basketball to the slower pace of baseball.

Long-time Kohlfeld Capaha manager Jess Bolen was a surprising advocate of interleague action.

"When I first heard about (interleague play), I didn't like it being an old, original, baseball type of guy that likes no changes," said Bolen. "But after seeing the crowds it drew and knowing that you can see a Ken Griffey, Jr., and other players like that in the regular season that you may not have a chance to see, then I'm all for it."

Bolen likes the way the interleague schedule was limited to just a few games during the year. He wouldn't want to see the two leagues play each other several times throughout the year like in the NFL, NBA and NHL.

"If they keep it limited, like they did this season, I'm all for it," Bolen said. "I think its great. It gives you a chance to see somebody different and see the strengths of some of the other teams."

Brett Schneider of Jackson, likes the idea of interleague play also.

"I haven't gone to an interleague game, but it does seem more interesting to me," Schneider said. "I'd like to see an American League team playing in St. Louis."

That seems to be the appeal for several fans. The interleague games provide fans an opportunity to see players they wouldn't normally get a chance to see in person unless it was a World Series.

Interestingly, three of the Cardinals' five interleague opponents are teams they faced during the World Series in the 1980's.

St. Louis has already played Milwaukee (1982) and Minnesota (1987), and at the end of August, they travel across Missouri to face Kansas City (1985).

The Cards will host the Chicago White Sox in a three-game series to start September for their final interleague games of the year.