1994 Strike
The MLB season in 1994 was derailed by a players strike on August 11,1994, and 34 days later it was made infamous when [acting] commissioner Bud Selig cancelled the postseason. So today, on the 30th anniversary of the cancellation, let's look back on the season that left a void in the baseball soul.
The most visible symbol of regret from this lost season was the fact that this was the best season of the Montreal Expos. This perennial non-contender was finally putting everything together in '94. After this season, the team did their usual sell-off and their best players were shipped away. The popular opponent for the Expos in the "what if" World Series was the Yankees, who were also on an incredible run that year. People go with the feel good story of this being the year the Expos win it all, but to expect either team to even reach the World Series was a long shot, as this would've been the first playoff season to feature the Division Series, and history has shown how incredibly difficult it is for even the best team in baseball to prevail through 2 playoff rounds to even reach the WS, let alone win it. Featured above are each teams most winning pitcher in that short season, with Hill co-leading the NL with 16 wins, and Key leading baseball with just 17.
The Yankees today are known as a team that just doesn't lose. The "feel good" story of how the Yankees possibly reaching the WS was because they hadn't reached the playoffs since 1981. 1994 was the 2nd season of what today is a 32 year streak of winning seasons, currently the 2nd longest in history. If the 1994 strike happened today, people would be less inclined to "assume" NY would represent the AL...or more inclined to make them the giant for the plucky underdog Expos to defeat.
The Yankees today are known as a team that just doesn't lose. The "feel good" story of how the Yankees possibly reaching the WS was because they hadn't reached the playoffs since 1981. 1994 was the 2nd season of what today is a 32 year streak of winning seasons, currently the 2nd longest in history. If the 1994 strike happened today, people would be less inclined to "assume" NY would represent the AL...or more inclined to make them the giant for the plucky underdog Expos to defeat.
Your 1994 MVPs. Thomas bashed his way to his 2nd straight MVP award while leading the White Sox to 1st place in the newly created AL Central division. Bagwell, meanwhile got lucky. He was on a tear when he went down with a season ending injury. Normally, missing 1/3 of a season kills your chances of winning any awards, but since the final portion of the season was cancelled, Bagwell was able to sneak the award over Matt Williams.
Winning the new NL Central were the Cincinnati Reds. Future HoF Barry Larkin was seen here still trying to stand out in the same league as Ozzie Smith. The Reds had the smallest divisional lead in baseball at the time with a mere half game over the Astros, Houston had an additional loss that held them back.
Some league leaders for you here. I had the O'Neill card redone with a proper picture from a previous post, which highlights his beastly on-base from '94 that gave him an AL best .359 average.
Lofton paced the majors with an insane 60 steals, which would shame most players today if they had a full season. The Indians ended the season one game back of the White Sox in the standings, but they were in position to be the first wild card team in AL history, so they would've had a shot at the postseason.
A short season didn't prevent the Big Unit from hitting 200 Ks for the 5th straight season. The man who would make 300 in a season a regular feat "only" put up 204 to lead baseball in '94.
Greg Maddux put in another stellar Cy Young season, co-leading the league with 16 wins and an incredible 1.56 ERA.
Another typical Griffey season with 40 homers.
Lofton paced the majors with an insane 60 steals, which would shame most players today if they had a full season. The Indians ended the season one game back of the White Sox in the standings, but they were in position to be the first wild card team in AL history, so they would've had a shot at the postseason.
A short season didn't prevent the Big Unit from hitting 200 Ks for the 5th straight season. The man who would make 300 in a season a regular feat "only" put up 204 to lead baseball in '94.
Greg Maddux put in another stellar Cy Young season, co-leading the league with 16 wins and an incredible 1.56 ERA.
Another typical Griffey season with 40 homers.
Both West divisions in 1994 were what one may refer to as pathetic. The Braves were moved to the East, and that saw them trailing the Expos in the standings...but if they were back in the West, they'd easily be leading the LA Dodgers by 10 whole games. Don't feel too bad for the Braves, since they were sitting in the top spot for the first ever NL wild card berth. Thus as it were, Piazza and co got themselves a cheap division title...though that has nothing on the Rangers.
Texas was 52-62 and leading the division by a single game. The entire AL West was so bad, that the last place Angels were only 5.5 games behind. Now, it's not unreasonable to assume that one of the teams in that lousy division could've caught fire and finished above .500 during a full season, but here in reality, all star Catcher Pudge Rodriguez and the Rangers have the honor of being one of the worst division "champions" in sports history.
Texas was 52-62 and leading the division by a single game. The entire AL West was so bad, that the last place Angels were only 5.5 games behind. Now, it's not unreasonable to assume that one of the teams in that lousy division could've caught fire and finished above .500 during a full season, but here in reality, all star Catcher Pudge Rodriguez and the Rangers have the honor of being one of the worst division "champions" in sports history.
1994 still featured an all star game, and Fred McGriff was able to capture the MVP award for it with his 9th inning game tying homer, giving the NL a chance to win it in extras.
Besides the Expos championship aspirations, there were two other notable casualties of the 1994 strike. Tony Gwynn was sporting a .394 batting average and was threatening to become the first .400 hitter since Ted Williams. Matt Williams, meanwhile, was slugging a baseball best 43 homers and was on pace to threaten the Roger Maris mark of 61. As it were, both men were denied. Teddy Ballgame still remains the last .400 man, and the home run record would have to wait a few more years for McGwire to break it (and even longer for Aaron Judge to break it cleanly).
And we end this look back with David Cone. Not just because he was the AL Cy Young winner, but also because of his union ties, as he was an MLBPA representative during the negotiations with the owners.
