Are you a fan of Interleague play?

Honestly, I’m not.

Growing up near Cincinnati, I instantly became a National League fan – specifically a Reds fan – as a youngster. Now, 40-some years later, I still have the same beliefs.

I was brought up to believe that the only two times the American and National leagues should meet is in the mid-summer classic, also known as Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game, and in the season-ending World Series.

Personally, I think Interleague play has tainted the World Series a little.

Sure, this season fans in the Pittsburgh area got to see teams like Tampa Bay, Toronto and the famed New York Yankees, but the intensity just doesn’t seem to be there at times in Interleague action.

If you’re like many Pittsburgh Pirates’ fans, you probably have the same beliefs as yours truly, only for different reasons, and I can count 103 of them.

That would be a safe assumption I presume, seeing that the Buccos were just 6-9 against American League foes in 2008, and a dismal 63-103 in the 12-year existence of play between the junior and senior circuits.

The Black-and-Gold completed Interleague play Thursday night with a much-needed, 4-2, triumph over the Yankees in a makeup game at PNC Park. Pittsburgh is now a meager 2-7 against the Bronx Bombers since Interleague play was introduced back in 1996.

Although the contest was a sellout back on June 26 when play was halted after three innings with the Pinstripers ahead 3-1, the crowd Thursday night was less than capacity, with a few fans showed up as empty seats on the North Shore.

That can be attributed to several reasons – the main being that Pittsburgh-area Yankees’ fans got a chance to see their guys two weeks ago. Another could be it’s nearly the middle of July and a lot of vacations were already planned. Or, it could be that they stayed home and watched it on television instead of battling the traffic – both pre- and post-game;and paying outrageous prices at the concession stands.

The American League owned the National League this season by the tune of 149-103. The A.L. Central had the best record of any division as its five teams combined to post a 58-32 ledger. Minnesota won 14 of 18 while Detroit and Kansas City each finished 13-5. Division leader Chicago was 12-6, with Cleveland as the lone loser with a 6-12 mark.

The A.L. East combined for a 52-38 record, with front-running Tampa Bay winning 12 of 18 contests. Baltimore and Boston each finished at 11-7, with the New Yorkers one game back of that. Toronto, which lost two of three to the Pirates at PNC Park, was 8-10.

Although all four if its teams finished .500 or better, the A.L. West went 39-33. Los Angeles, Oakland and Texas all had 10-8 marks, with Seattle checking it at 9-9. That means one-fourth of the Mariners’ victories (36) came against the N.L.

The National League Central was the closest division to finish at .500, with its six teams combine for a 42-51 ledger. Only one team finished with a winning mark – Cincinnati which won 9 of its 15 contests, including two of three against the guys from the Bronx.

The N.L. East was 34-44 as the New York Mets (9-6) and Atlanta Braves (8-7) led the way. The lowly, but evenly-balanced N.L. West was a very sub-par 27-54, including an atrocious 3-15 ledger recorded by the San Diego Padres.

I know Interleague play draws out some fans that would normally not venture out to the parks or stadiums, but I’m still not a fan of it.

Abner Doubleday didn’t perceive the game coming to this.

IT was also interesting to see the LACK of New York media in the press box during Thursday night’s contest.

Having attended the first game between the Yankees and the Buccos, the press box was packed with journalists covering the New York squad. Included in that throng was more than a handful of Japanese reporters. However, without their beloved Hideki Matsui, who is on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his left knee, not around, there wasn’t a foreign reporter to be found.

North can be reached at knorth@timesleaderonline.com