Major League Baseball introduced the concept of inter-league play four seasons ago. The Cardinals played their first regular season game ever against a Junior Circuit team on June 13, 1997 when the Cleveland Indians traveled to Busch Stadium.

That game was rained out. It just poured. Baseball purists throughout the Gateway City declared that when God opened up the heavens it was a sign against inter-league play.

One more thing, the date of that first game was FRIDAY THE 13TH of June 1997.

Conspiracy theorists as well as you purists, feel free to draw your own conclusions.

During that summer of 1997, baseball fans throughout the fruited plain flocked to their favorite ballpark. Long time arguments and mysteries would finally be settled. It's the National Past time's answer to "Who Shot J R?" or "Who shot Mr. Burns", and "Who's better Magic or Larry or Michael?" Baseball fans would finally get their wishes of a Yankees/Mets, Cubs/White Sox, Dodgers/Angels or Giants/A's match-up.

And, the game looks upon inter-league scheduling as a moneymaking venture. Heck, all those unlucky Indian fans who can not get tickets at Jacobs Field because they have been gobbled up by the rich and famous, can now see the Tribe in action in Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Chicago or St. Louis.

However, while all these owners were counting their new found money with their newest and best gimmick, they did not count the number of existing franchises and how this total would effect their inter-league scheduling.

Plus, Inter-League play in its current format, has run the course of any other fad. Just like Tickle Me Elmo, the Power Rangers, or Disco, playing "the other league" just doesn't have the same zest as it did in 1997. Playing Kansas City in 2000 is just another game.

Our fourth grade arithmetic teacher reminds us that a group of fourteen parts does not go into a group of sixteen parts evenly. There will be a remainder of two. Hence, assuming all current American League teams are playing inter-league games, there will always be two National League teams that will not.

No problem, you say. Let's just re-shuffle the divisions, right? It might be easier to settle the Microsoft dispute.

Commissioner in Name Bud Selig is floating trial balloons for realigning the divisions of the Grand Old Game. However, the Real Commissioner of Baseball, Donald Fehr, has not given any feedback on Selig's proposals.

Rather the Players Association has a simpler answer. Just move the Houston Astros to the American League. Both leagues will have fifteen teams so for inter-league purposes, all divisions will consist of five teams and scheduling will be easier. Not only that, the Texas Rangers will not only have a playmate in own their time zone, but in their own state.

One problem, though, the Stros don't want to go anywhere. Future Expansion?? NOT!!

During these past four seasons, the Cardinals and their Central Division fraternity brothers have played their counterparts in the American League Central Division. They are seeing these same teams over, and over, and over, and over. The only change from season to season to season to season is the location of these games.

The Cardinals vs. Minnesota doesn't have quite the appeal as in October,1987, does it? Doesn't somebody else want to play?

The Lords of Baseball have no one to blame but themselves for this. Inter-League play was originally devised as a scheme to appease the fans of the game for the Strike of 1994. Also due to their greed (and a possible lawsuit from the city of St Petersburg), the game expanded in 1998, bringing the league total to thirty teams.

Major League should adopt an inter-league scheduling system somewhat like that rich and arrogant cartel better known as the National Football League. (How scary is that thought?) That is, rotate the inter-league divisions as the NFL does with its conferences. Perhaps those of us in the Gateway City can see Cal Ripken, Jr. or Mo Vaughn, or Ivan Rodriguez up and personal. Do you know that the Cardinals have never played the California Angels in either spring training, regular season, or post season play?

Bottom line, Baseball has missed another opportunity to market its product The game's inter-league teasing has run its course with the fans. Now is the time to either open the door all the way or close it on the inter-league concept.

The trinket that the Lords of Baseball sent to its fans as a peace offering for their sins of 1994 is getting tarnished. It's time to either replace the trinket or put it away.

We won't know the final outcome for some time. The final decision regarding the future and/or future format of inter-league play will undoubtedly be decided after the Game experiences its upcoming strike/lockout/labor impasse/work stoppage in either 2001 or 2002. Just what they need, another bargaining chip for Donald Fehr and the owners.

When that day comes, Baseball will revisit the inter-league play concept for another attempt to recapture and appease their fans. I can hear it now: get your Cards/Yankees tickets. All Major Credit Cards are accepted.

Perhaps it is true that history is cyclical. Time will tell if it actual works.

When that day does come, I just need to know whether or not to bring an umbrella.