More Americans are enjoying a traditional past time: baseball. According to the MLB, baseball attendance is up by about 4 percent from 2011.

“I went to several games this year,” Gwen Strat said. The Twins fan says she and her family always try to go to at least one game a year, but this season the family has gone to four games. The Twins recently built a new stadium in downtown Minneapolis, which has drawn fans to the stands, but Strat is not the only one buying more baseball tickets. According to statistics compiled by CBS News, more people are buying seats at baseball games across the country.

The stats

MLB’s eight best season attendance totals have all come in the last eight years, and this one is on pace to keep that run going.

The major league average of 31,516 through Monday was up 4.3 percent from 2011′s final average of 30,229, according to STATS LLC, but remains below the pre-recession highs of 32,785 in 2007 and 32,528 the following year. The average usually declines in September, after schools are back in session.

Reasons for More Fans in the Seats

Why the slight bump in attendance? Experts say there are many factors at play. The weather has been better this year than last. Last year MLB recorded 51 rainouts, the most the league has had in more than a decade. The economy may be getting better as more people are willing to spend a little extra money on a game or two. Plus, the marketing techniques have attracted more people.

“The clubs have done a wonderful job,” MLB spokesman Pat Courtney said. “You can go to any website and see the packages that they offer, whether it’s a four-pack of tickets that includes food and parking or any of these other types of discounts designed to bring people in.”