Major League Baseball teams, emboldened by last year's banner season and home run records, have increased their ticket prices by an average of 9.7 percent for the 1999 season.

The Orioles, who didn't increase prices this year, nonetheless have the fifth-highest-priced tickets in baseball. Orioles tickets will average $19.82 each, well above the major-league average ($14.91), according to a survey by Team Marketing Report, a Chicago-based newsletter.

"Baseball marketers clearly are confident that the wave of fan support from a banner year in 1998 will continue this season," said Sean Brenner, editor of Team Marketing Report.

The Boston Red Sox have the costliest ticket, averaging $24.05, followed by the Yankees ($23.33), Texas Rangers ($19.93) and Mets ($19.80). The cheapest average is the Minnesota Twins' $8.46.

The cost of a family of four to attend an Orioles game and buy four tickets, soft drinks and hot dogs, as well as two small beers, game programs and caps, is $139.30, up 10 percent from last year. That compares with a baseball average of $121.36, up 6.8 percent.

Pub Date: 4/02/99