That’s A Record-Low Crowd, If You’re Scoring At Home

The Toronto Blue Jays drew their smallest crowd ever at SkyDome, and San Diego and Pittsburgh each pulled under 7,500 as fans stayed away from the ballparks again Thursday.

There were thousands of empty seats at the Metrodome for the Minnesota Twins’ home opener, and Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium was about one-third full for the Braves’ second game of the season.

Neither the Cincinnati Reds nor St. Louis Cardinals drew even 20,000, although weekday afternoon games in April rarely do too well.

Still, there were plenty of no-shows all around, along with more scattered boos and protest signs.

“I think it’s a statement by the fans that it’s going to take some time,” said Mary Santelman, her Twins earrings dangling in the brisk breeze outside the Metrodome.

The crowd in Atlanta was announced at 26,120, although the actual attendance for the game between the Braves and San Francisco seemed to be around 16,000.

In Toronto, where sellouts are common, there were 31,070 to watch the Blue Jays play Oakland.<