NOW YOU KNOW

A comparison of baseball statistics for the last four seasons, as compiled by the Elias Sports Bureau:

*--* 2002 2001 2000 1999 RUNS PER GAME 9.24 9.55 10.28 10.58 HOME RUNS PER GAME 2.09 2.25 2.34 2.28 PLAYERS WITH 40 OR MORE HR 8 12 16 13 PLAYERS WITH 30 OR MORE HR 28 41 47 45 PLAYERS WITH 100 OR MORE RBIS 36 46 53 59 BATTING AVERAGE 261 264 270 271 EARNED-RUN AVERAGE 4.27 4.41 4.76 4.70 STRIKEOUTS PER GAME 12.94 13.34 12.90 12.80 WALKS PER GAME 6.70 6.51 7.50 7.36 AVERAGE TIME 9-INNING GAME 2:52 2:54 2:58 2:53

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