The Orioles drew 2.1 million this year, an increase of about 350,000 over 2011 and the most since 2007.

For much of the year, Baltimore fans were slow to embrace the Orioles. It wasn’t until the last month of the season they started to draw well.

There will probably be some carryover effect next season. Season ticket sales are likely to rise because postseason tickets were offered if fans signed for plans in 2013.

Sometimes the greatest attendance increases occur the year after a team’s greatest success. In 2002, the Angels won the World Series and drew 2.3 million. A year later, attendance jumped by about 750,000. 

The Tigers’ drew nearly 2.6 million in 2006 when they went to the World Series for the first time in 22 years. In 2007, they had an increase of more than 400,000.

Sometimes, it doesn’t work out that way. In 1983 when the Orioles last won the World Series, their attendance was 2.042 million. They next year, it was just three thousand more.