The war between MLB players and owners deserves a deep rewind

[@SecretBaseSBN]

I'm sure you've spotted it, but this episode of Rewinder is presented by Blue Moon. We had fun with this one, not your typical Rewinder, but that let us tell a super interesting (at least to us dorks) story that we might not have otherwise. If you wanna know more about Blue Moon, check out this piece on their history and how tied to baseball they are: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmm3Y2x9h9Sai6c

[@PR24864]

When will you give us a 2022 nlcs game 5

[@PR24864]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@matthewtheis5839]

Just gotta say, that was one of the smoothest sponsor plugs in a video I’ve ever seen. I don’t even like blue moon but I might just go get a 6 pack because I appreciate that smooth transition so much

[@RealMikeGibbs]

Everyone notices the plug…

[@luizansounds]

Video suggestion: a rewind in the NBA lockouts

[@StevenEveral]

As a Mariners and Ken Griffey, Jr fan in 1994, this one hurt. Junior and a whole bunch of players were gunning for Roger Maris's 61 HR record.

[@ryukenhondaraiden]

Griffey, bonds and Matt williams

[@shoukatsukai]

@@ryukenhondaraiden And Jeff Bagwell, who won 1994 NL MVP

[@vituperativedetritus3628]

​@@ryukenhondaraiden Williams was on pace for 62 HR with 69% of the season played 😮

[@Nick_Simpson007]

And Tony Gwynn gunning for a .400 AVG

[@raskbell]

​@@shoukatsukai Yeah its a weird list to not include Bagwell, he was #1 in WAR, #2 in avg, #1 in slugging, #3 in HR (only 4 behind Williams at that point), etc.

[@GoombaGuy1996]

1994 also cost Fred McGriff in the long term. He ended his career with 493 home runs and was snubbed by the Hall of Fame until recently. Had 94 been played in full, there’s no doubt he’d gotten to 500, and a HOF induction much sooner.

[@CesarPerez-it8xy]

Barry bonds robbed of 800 home runs if they didn't walk him 2600 times. Lol

[@djcastano1180]

@@CesarPerez-it8xy Luis Sojo robbed of a starting shortstop position for the NYY if he wasn’t a backup utility infielder.

[@TrentonBlessWrestlemania489]

The 1994-1995 Strike sent ripples through the game that are, in some ways, still felt to this day. Because of the Strike, cities like Montreal lost out on a shot at championship glory, something they would never see until the franchise moved to Washington DC.

[@JZekis]

When the NFL was able to break their players union in the late 80's with replacement players it probably set this plan in motion.

[@drphot6050]

Keanu Reeves agrees😂

[@prestonlewis9877]

The fact that Bud Selig is in the HOF, yet he presided over some of the most shameful of chapters is inexplicable.

[@daBEAGLE1017]

He brought back Baseball to Milwaukee, he got the steroid problem under control and got the players union to agree on a contract. Yeah, it was all his fault the MLB was corrupt.

[@AndreIguodalaFan55]

@@daBEAGLE1017are you being sarcastic

[@DiscGolfLeagueMVP]

@@daBEAGLE1017 He knew about and ignored the steroid issue while it was going on you dolt

[@samuelmoulds1016]

Yeah, Alan Selig is not my 'Bud'. it is total travesty he is in The Hall!! because of him, they should change it to 'the hall of shame'.

[@samuelmoulds1016]

@@daBEAGLE1017 aaah...actually...he was an 'owners commissioner'. that's fer sure!! he WAS AN OWNER!

[@jamesdrummond7684]

This was both what was the final nail in the Expos existence, and baseball's replacement as America's game.

[@darthrevan6]

If the Expos wins the WS, they probably get a new stadium.

[@MultiBluedog123]

Nfl had long overtaken baseball at this point, probably about 15-20 years before this if we are being honest but I do know what you mean. The magic about the game has never been the same, even when they tried to bring it back by juicing the balls and turning a blind eye to steroid use.

[@Pikabo0]

@@darthrevan6 not so sure about that. Quebec put an INSANE amount of money into the O

[@MIKEDOMO]

That happened in 1985, for that time NFL was more popular than MLB. I saw many games from late 80’s and early 90’s and there a lot of teams with attendance issues.

[@adamori9736]

The "replacement fan" sign is one of the funniest I've seen in sports in a long time :D

[@soulofthemedley]

feel bad for the Expo’s. Their chance was taken from them by this dispute. :/

[@hibiki8473]

As a braves fan I feel bad but I like the record

[@StevenEveral]

If the Expos won the WS in 1994, it would have been three years in a row that a Canadian team won the World Series.

[@CALAdminWaffle]

As a kid this strike killed my love for baseball. Thought the expos were gonna go all the way only to find out “baseball isn’t happening”.

[@seand1011]

Imagine what would've happened if Montreal actually just got to a World Series, let alone won it in '94. There may still be a team there today.

[@leorickt.9604]

I hate you bud selig i hate you bud selig i hate you bud selig. I went to the last expos home game as a kid and i remember there were some signs in the crowd saying some less than charitable things about him

[@jokersinurface]

I was 11 years old living in NYC when the strike started in 1994. I vividly remember Don Mattingly walking off the field at Yankee stadium, handing his cap and glove to fans by the dugout. It's the last image of baseball I would see until the strike ended in 1995.

[@Venom3254]

Them fans are lucky

[@HonorFlowProductions]

The section on the Orioles reminds me when my family and I went to Maryland for a family reunion in 1994; while the strike was still going on. The stadium office was really cool and gave my family and I a tour of Camden Yards, and hooked up a 6 year old me with a lot Orioles swag. I am a life long Dodgers fan, but I have always have love for the O's for that experience.

[@oogabooga6939]

That graphic of the 1994 MLB Payrolls is insane because today, that’s how much one player can make in one season!!! 2:07

[@ddrum619]

Also crazy because the Royals had the 4th highest payroll in the league

[@djtrankilo231]

​@D Drum that is crazy. And unfortunately, the Royals were probably trash in '94

[@paulnycnz]

Baseball revenues are exponentially higher, and that money is better in the players' pockets than the owners'.

[@showstealer1829]

@@djtrankilo231 They were 64-51 when the Strike killed the season. 3 games out of what would have been the first ever wildcard spot. The problem with them was they had the still strong but never quite strong enough Chicago White Sox and the emerging Cleveland Indians in their division EDIT: It would've actually shown what a problem the new playoff structure was given they probably would have missed being well above .500, while either the Rangers or A's, at the time of the strike 10 and 12 games BELOW .500 at the time respectfully, would have made it as the Western Division Champion.

[@SmoothCriminal12]

Here are some of the names from that 1994 Expos team. Larry Walker, Moises Alou, Marquis Grissom, Wil Cordero, Rondell White, Cliff Floyd, Darrin Fletcher, Pedro Martinez, Jeff Fassero, Ken Hill, John Wetteland, and Mel Rojas. Plus guys like. Vlad Guerrero Sr, Orlando Cabrera, Jose Vidro and Mark Grudzielanek in the minors.

[@samuraibeastwarrior2886]

They were going to lose to The Yankees

[@RobertJW]

@@samuraibeastwarrior2886 The Yankees were not as good as the Expos in '94.

[@samuraibeastwarrior2886]

@@RobertJW Look it don't matter I still had them winning

[@djtrankilo231]

What a stacked team and farm

[@samuelmoulds1016]

WOW!! WHAT A TEAM!!

[@nohbuddy1]

Baseball's labor history is just so ridiculous. No free agency until the 70s

[@korosz9591]

Yeah I feel like ignoring the Reserve Clause (and the owners basically conspiring to balck ball anyone who would refuse to play unless released) locking players to a team for perpetuity is really important to understand.

[@yungmetrogaming9487]

Even today i dont likw how their free agency works

[@BondandBourne]

The year the expos were robbed. The scary part is that we nearly had a similar situation last year where it was possible baseball wouldn’t be played in 2022.

[@danceyrselfkleen]

Maybe your team should just get better?

[@Infernos94]

@@danceyrselfkleen the expos dont even exist anymore you bum

[@rico9163]

@@danceyrselfkleen what?

[@qman66]

@@danceyrselfkleen weird comment for sure

[@carlospadilla5959]

Braves would have eventually caught up to them and win the division

[@RetroJR3379]

A lot of What if in 1994 Baseball season had the strike never happened. Tony Gwynn not only wouldve batted .400 but would've likely won his only NL MVP

[@dailytaylor]

My White Sox were having a hell of a season in 94 too. That lockout broke my heart when I was kid.

[@kevinkuenn5733]

The Biggest Hurt

[@mrmacross]

@@kevinkuenn5733 He had a 212 OPS+ and a 1.200 OPS that season. No living baseball player who wasn't implicated in drug use has done that. EDIT: Forgot about Bagwell, but I guess Bagwell's HOF induction was delayed because of insinuations he used drugs so maybe my original comment wasn't that off.

[@SmoothCriminal12]

Everyone brings up NY and Montreal getting screwed by the strike, but Chicago was arguably better than the Yankees that year. A middle of the lineup of Thomas, Ventura and Julio Franco, along with speedsters like Tim Raines, Joey Cora and Lance Johnson. Not to mention a loaded starting rotation.

[@danceyrselfkleen]

Grow up

[@wcarlosbrown]

Jerry has to sell the team. Im so sick of dude. #SellTheTeamJerry

[@滋榎本]

It's a shame the World Series didn't happen in 1994.

[@stevenrose86]

The war between Blue Moon and Secret Base fans is gonna need a deep rewind...

[@zlpatriot11]

The 1994 Montreal Expos had their season and players stripped away from them. They were by far the biggest victims of the strike.

[@cooperwolfe5478]

Yeah I agree. Although we’ll never know for sure if they would’ve won it. A potential World Series matchup between the Expos and Yankees would’ve been awesome to watch.

[@zlpatriot11]

@@cooperwolfe5478 interesting thought on this: if they did win it all that year, do you think they could've stayed in Montreal?

[@susan_beaver]

This is why I always refer to Justice Sotomayor by her full title as "Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor Who Saved the Game of Baseball."

[@BigJonahJ]

Every time I picture either Bud Selig or Rob Manfred I just get an image of Randall from that Recess cartoon in the 00s

[@87alock]

Very anti-climatic ending. Also this was the year Jordan was playing in the minors.

[@SometimesCompitent]

This is why he gave up on baseball and rejoined the bulls.

[@ahogg5960]

​@@SometimesCompitent Yep, he refused to be even associated with the possibility of being a scab

[@rico9163]

@@ahogg5960 based proletariat Jordan

[@nanyer]

@@rico9163 before he became an owner and fight against nbapa on players wages so he as the owner of a team could gain more money instead of the players 😂

[@djtrankilo231]

​@nanyeR well he was underpaid as a player.

[@drphot6050]

I was too young to understand this at the time but as an adult it’s truly crazy what transpired. Plus the salary’s as a team are one player’s salary now! 😮

[@bartcooper2920]

Not for Cincinnati. If you exclude the Votto contract I think we spent more in 94 than we do now

[@MKISports]

The 1994 MLB lockout was also called in some people in baseball world as "The Montreal screw job"...

[@Dinomatt9090]

The UTree reference

[@planetvegan7843]

Shame... and with Curt Henning going for the Cy young as the first pitcher in history to catch for himself.

[@enthusiastofcute]

Knowing the Expos luck they probably would have blown it in the playoffs anyway.

[@illusioNery]

“Who’s your daddy, Montreal?!” -idk, some kind of sexy boy

[@WrongedSports]

I went to Montreal 5 years ago and people still talk about the 1994 team. They were completely different the next year

[@iagreebut2216]

Yo, I'm subscribed to your channel. Fancy seeing you here.

[@WrongedSports]

@@iagreebut2216 thanks. I'm trying to get more subs

[@serisothikos]

When I was a teen I was extremely anti-labor because my parents were. I didn't understand until years later why I was on the wrong side.

[@jamesdrummond7684]

Your parents are/were rich business owners that additionally didn't have moral compasses? Regardless, welcome back to the morally correct side.

[@enthusiastofcute]

Are your parents filthy rich? That’s the only way I could see someone get raised as anti-labor

[@serisothikos]

I was a teen in the 90s and my mother got addicted to right-wing talk radio right as it got off the ground. Had it on all the time in the car. I absorbed a lot of talking points and repeated them because I knew it'd please her. Took me until my mid-20s to start unraveling the mess. She was a "unions stifle free enterprise" type from a second-generation immigrant family. She'd just been poisoned against her class interests, among other things.

[@serisothikos]

@@odonnellcaleb Oh I've been through the entire catalogue front to back; watching that confirmed why it's morally correct to hate the Cowboys for eternity.

[@bmac4]

​​@@enthusiastofcute The rich and powerful have a habit of using television, radio, and nowadays internet mouthpieces to spew anti-this and anti-that stuff to skew the opinion of public who may be less involved or informed in that sort of thing, especially since said rich people realized they needed to invest in public manipulation after unions with actual teeth made great gains for the working class in the 1900s and 1940s. Labor is especially something the US has many pockets where the local culture does not fundamentally understand the idea of stopping work to hit the people profiting off their labor and have had anti-union garbage spewed for years and years by the people they listen to.

[@bigguy8435]

Gonna leave my comment hoping they continue this trend and talk about the 2011 NBA lockout

[@tedborenstein8459]

This game happened literally hours before I was born lmao

[@pandoralover21]

So I still desperately need a rewinder for the 1991 World Series.

[@prollins6443]

HELL YEAH!

[@hmhm856]

There was so many storylines across MLB in 1994 regarding teams and players, that that strike ruined what could have been a magical season. - The first year of the Wild Card and the Division Series (not counting the 1981 strike-shortened-season-postseason, ironically) - The Montreal Expos looking to make the postseason since 1981 (ironically, another strike season) and also after coming up short in 1992 and 1993 - The Yankees finally looking to get in the postseason for the first time since 1981, and Don Mattingly's first trip to October. - Cleveland looking to finally make the postseason for the first time since eternity, with that dangerous lineup and new stadium. - Frank Thomas and the White Sox looking to get back into October after their 1993 ALCS shortcomings, and break the WSOX title drought. - The AL West could have ended with a sub-500 winner. It would have been the first time in baseball history that a sub 500 team would make the postseason. - The NL West could have also ended with a sub 500 winner, but I doubt it. - Tony Gwinn reaching .400 batting average. The first .400 batting average since Ted Williams did it. - Matt Williams of the Giants and Ken Griffey Jr of the Mariners looking to break Ruth and Maris record. - Greg Maddux having a majestic season

[@KevinPayton-fq8gd]

Not to mention, a great All-Star game in '94. It's one of the best I've seen.

[@cohengamertv6548]

Dint forget that Montreal would be looking to bring the third straight worlds series title for Canada

[@matthewforbes2969]

Collapse: how the Montreal Canadiens failed to reach sniffing distance of lord Stanley for 28 years Rewinder: the miracle of Istanbul Rewinder: 1999 champions league final Beef history: George Steinbrenner vs Dave Winfield Untitled: Ted Williams Untitled: Marcel Dionne Rewinder: 2010 World Cup final Beef history: George Steinbrenner vs Billy Martin Collapse: how injuries, age, and tragedy brought down the Larry bird Celtics Collapse: how the Buffalo Bills failure to win one of 4 straight super bowls led to two decades of failure Collapse: how the Vancouver Canucks went from one of the best teams in the NHL to one of the worst Rewinder: 1991 World Series Collapse: how the Washington nationals went from miracle World Series champs to chumps

[@thomasg2488]

And this laid the ground work for the summer of 98 and probably the well balanced breakfast that Barry Bonds decided to start taking afterward

[@TheMick126]

Good topic. Cost a lot of players Gwynn trying to have .400 Matt Williams trying to get to 61 homers baerga extending his streak many others. But the biggest was the expos after Toronto won back to back mlb didn't want Canada getting 3 world series

[@donatrandom]

I know it’s not Baseball, but I’m like man of how good this video was makes me want you to make a video of NBA 99 strike 50 gm season

[@bstove24]

I remember the magic of the '95 refuse to lose Mariners. It really captured my love of the game.

[@Doommaster677]

Always love a baseball Rewinder, thanks Secret Base!

[@BessieBopOrBach]

What a gripping video. I got goosebumps flashing back on these painful childhood memories.

[@ericwicker7514]

If the 1994 strike never happened. The Montreal Expos would have won the World Series. The late great Tony Gwynn would have batted 400. No had did that since the late great Ted Williams way back in 1941. And, I think Ken Griffey, Jr would have broken Roger Maris Home run record. 1994 was the best season that never concluded. Because, there was too much greed going on. The players should have waited until the season was over. To do this. Because, it still didn't really work out. This is why the Montreal Expos would move to Washington DC. And, became the Washington Nationals. This is why the Yankees became a dynasty in the 90's.

[@tomf5823]

you have no idea who would have won the world series. the expos were realistically about 15-20 percent to win the world series that year. nobody is ever a massive favorite to win the ws when you have to win 3 rounds in a row.

[@MIKEDOMO]

Montreal wasn’t a World Series favorite that year. There have been a lot of good teams.

[@wvu05]

A salary cap with that many teams already above it and no corresponding floor? No wonder the players refused. It was clearly an attempt by greedy owners to pad their bottom line off the backs of the people who made their fortune in the first place.

[@Suarez05]

Talk about the NHL lockout.

[@angelusgnz5784]

😴😴😴

[@ElmerFudd16]

Which one 😂

[@Suarez05]

@@ElmerFudd16 the one in 2004.

[@jakebkilgore2086]

It's not sponsored by Blue Moon sadly

[@jeffreymerlino4613]

Neh I'm not much into Ice Soccer

[@dionr1168]

The worst part of the 94 strike was the fact that it set the stage for how the Steroid Era unfolded, and more importantly, how the MLB owners, Bud Selig, and ESPECIALLY the MLBPA chose to handle the Steroid Era.

[@enthusiastofcute]

Especially the MLBPA? If Selig and the owners really cared about the games integrity they could have banned down the likes of McGwire, Sosa, Bonds, Clemens and many others yet didn’t because they resparked interest in the league. As far as I’m concerned the owners and Selig are the ones to blame

[@wavedash101]

It is a crime the Hall of Fame allowed the executive laden commitees to put Bud Selig in. The writers would have never put him in.

[@dionr1168]

@@wavedash101 the worst part is that they did this in the same breath as blackballing the likes of McGwire, Bonds, and Clemens. Selig benefitted the most from the Steroid Era, and he's in the Hall. If he belongs in the Hall, so do the steroid users that made him rich. If the steroid users don't belong in the Hall, then neither does Selig.

[@mayitakeyourhatsir8632]

@@wavedash101 They put Selig in, but won't put Bonds in despite him literally being the best hitter baseball has ever seen. The double standard is crazy

[@Adamdidit]

Baseball has got to be the only sport who would finally ban steroids and then IMMEDIATELY call the years directly after that the Steroid Era

[@WBCHelpSaint]

Griffey Jr was also in the HR Record hunt when the season was cancelled.

[@donaldtNS]

I'd really prefer to watch a Rewinder looking back at Larry Walker hitting a walkoff homer to win the 1994 NL pennant for the Expos over Atlanta (and avoid a third start by peak Greg Maddux in game 7 of that NLCS). Sadly, this universe sucks.

[@DCPTRGF]

Totally flawless and seamless ad placement, fellas. Really beautiful. 😮

[@Twink5]

As a 22 year old born in 2001. Been waiting for someone to explain this to me

[@MichelleM15]

Yeah same me being born in 2002 ( 21 years old)

[@HammerJammer81]

For those of us Fans who were old enough to remember this, it was basically over Greed, as the Fan signs say. Owners wanted a Salary Cap and the players did not. As you can tell with today's contracts, the greed never went away. It was where the term Millionares fighting with Billionaires came from if Im not mistaken?. At the end of the day, the Fans were forgotten about by both sides, so the REAL fight became how to bring the fans back to the ballpark. If you watch footage of baseball parks previous to the strike vs post strike, you will notice a considerable drop in attendance as the fans didnt return right away. To this day some teams still have issues drawing large crowds which still has ties to the 94 strike. (Im sure someone else can chime in with some info I may have left out or forgotten)

[@187btokes]

​@@HammerJammer81 yep baseball was honestly forever ruined by this strike. It never stopped once the train got on the tracks. Have you seen the movie Baseketball by the creators of South Park? Pretty much sums it up; baseball used to be about larger than life personas, mythical achievements, and the love of the game. Ironic that the strike happened while a few players were chasing, and on their way to passing, Roger Maris' 61, because money ruined everything. Tony G was doing what many thought to be a relic of the past; hit for . 400 and overall just a lot of could have been childhood memories that would live on forever died that year. Luckily I was still very young, so while I remember this, I was 6, I was still a teen when the Red Sox finally won in 2004, so at least I have those memories of Pedro's 97/98 bwing the best pitching seasons ever arguably during steroid ball, the yanks getting embarrassed after going up 3-0, and all those early Patriots win (I know I know it's football)... Still would have been nice to say I saw Williams or someone else hit 62+ when I was 6

[@HammerJammer81]

@@187btokes Im very pro salary cap. The game is a pass time that every American/Canadian/Whoever should be able to enjoy live, and the salaries only drive ticket prices up. I honestly dont see the need for $300 Mill contracts, no need for it at all.

[@Flashfm3000]

To baseball fans, the '94 strike is a lot like the American Civil War: in many ways, it's still being fought today. And that means as time goes on and our memories fade, the most reductive ("Millionaires fighting with billionaires") and hyperbolic takes ("It ruined baseball!") dominate the conversation. It's important to note that there had already been seven MLB labor disputes - strikes or lockouts - between 1972 and 1993, and in these two decades the MLBPA was FAR more successful at negotiating concessions than the owners. 1994 was a desperate last stand for the owners under the game's old economic framework, fueled by years of inadequacy at the bargaining table. And say what you want about the lack of a salary cap in MLB - the bottom line is it ain't any cheaper to attend NBA or NFL games these days either.

[@wizardoferror9942]

As much as Rob Manfred is incompetent as our current commissioner, what with the Astros scandal, the All-Star game Atlanta situation, the Athletics, and the lockout season, *at least* he’s trying to keep baseball matches honest and crisp with the challenge system, fixing the schedule, pitch clock, shift ban and bigger bases.

[@mcmann7149]

I remember reading a lot about this during the 2022 lockout. It felt like neither side had learned a lesson from this strike. I highly doubt anything is going to change in the future either.

[@marcusmcgraw3519]

I don’t expect it to either. Both sides refuse to compromise for fear of being seen as weak. The players are the ones who are the worst in all of this. They overplay their hands and force the owners to play hard ball

[@meharinationsportspodcast2582]

It was pretty much the same issues as it was in 1994.

[@AaaAaaa-zo3qy]

blaming anything on the players is so wrong the owners have all the power and the billionaires just wanted to save a few bucks on the expense of normal people

[@felipecouto1102]

Yeah, dont know about that. Only one side of it are billionaires wanting to get richer paying less.

[@denistuohy2535]

@@marcusmcgraw3519 don’t have owners who try to cut corners, and this wouldn’t have happened to begin with. Imagine being a MLB player and seeing the new commissioner is the same guy who was at the debater of a massive collusion scandal. But yeah, it’s the players right?

[@JohnSmith-zw8vp]

I was 14-15 years old at the time (FWIW) and I didn't get it at all. I mean surely both sides knew the fans would revolt against this strike and really, I and I guess most fans thought...what's the big deal about a salary cap and was it really worth throwing the rest of the season away for? I mean they already made six-seven figures a year, and they get to be on baseball cards! Perhaps the main problem (though I didn't find out about this until much later) was the owners colluding a few years prior to keep free agency offers for the players down, so this made the players that much less willing to give the owners the benefit of the doubt?

[@MrSpeed-lt8gr]

I haven’t felt the same about baseball since this one. I loathed both Bud Selig and Donald Fehr. Matt Williams and the Expos were both robbed.

[@edenhazardfan1232]

Day 7 : Can you pls do The 2005 CL final deserves a deep rewind and you should also do one on Troy Deeney's last minute goal against Leicester in the semi-finals of the Championship Play-offs in 2013

[@foreversevenfold1666]

Really do love how unexceptional the "moment in history" was without all the context surrounding it. Great vid!

[@Cramhead43]

Magnificent as always guys, thanks again!

[@joshuapatrick682]

If Bud Selig is in the HOF then all the players who made his tenure as commissioner so successful by taking steroids (which weren't prohibited until 2005 btw) should be too....

[@sugarbear522]

You forgot about the Chicago WHITE SOX! They were in first place in 1994 and if season have concluded and the playoffs held, we would have won our first American League Pennant since 1959. And….dare I say it, our first world championship since 1917.

[@charliem27]

Sparky is such a legend. Love that he defended his players always

[@samuelmoulds1016]

yeah, I talked to 'Spanky'! (I would call him 'Sparky', but he believed in discipline)!

[@dpenelton]

The strike completely lost me as a fan in 1994, especially when football and basketball are so much more watchable and exciting as sports in general. I realized as a youngster at the time that there were way too many inconsequential games to care about baseball in the regular season. Plus doing that to the Expos was just cruel.

[@cooperwolfe5478]

I completely agree with you. Honestly I feel that when the league canceled the 94 World Series is when football became America’s most popular sport

[@teen_laqueefa]

@@cooperwolfe5478 easily was the first tear in my love of the game. Sad that I was so in love with the Reds and the 90 World Series was my last devoted season of fandom

[@hmhm856]

8:14 Oh wow, I never realized that, in that if MLB started with replacement players in 1995, that would have ended Cal Ripken Jr chance to catch Lou Gehrig all-time-consecutive-play record. WOW. Cal later broke the record in 1995 ironically.

[@joshuapatrick682]

seeing the Royals and Red's as two of the larger payrolls in MLB is kind of jarring..

[@Tubewings]

It wasn't Miami Gardens yet. That wasn't incorporated until 2003. The stadium had a Miami address until then.

[@danceyrselfkleen]

Literally no one cares

[@muhammadwahyuhidayat21498]

And Now,Loan Depot Park Stadium for Miami Marlins still to this day.

[@DavidBaruffi]

You should do an episode on the 1996 Olympics, the Women's Gymnastics Team FInals

[@Thor-Orion]

8:00 I grew up an O’s fan. Always respected Peter for his stand here.

[@Law0086]

This could've been a 3 hour documentary.

[@iamnotthrowingawaymyshot5043]

I simulated the remainder of the 1994 MLB Season on Whatifsports here is the results American League AL East 1 y-Yankees 100-62 2 x-Orioles 95-67 3 e-Red Sox 81-81 4 e-Tigers 75-87 5 e-Blue Jays 72-90 AL Central 1 y-Indians 98-64 2 e-White Sox 94-68 3 e-Royals 88-74 4 e-Twins 69-93 5 e-Brewers 68-94 AL West 1 y-Mariners 80-82 2 e-Athletics 76-86 3 e-Angels 72-90 4 e-Rangers 67-95 Wild Card 1 x-Orioles 95-67 2 e-White Sox 94-68 3 e-Royals 88-74 4 e-Red Sox 81-81 5 e-Athletics 76-86 6 e-Tigers 75-87 7 e-Blue Jays 72-90 8 e-Angels 72-90 9 e-Twins 69-93 10 e-Brewers 68-94 11 e-Rangers 67-95 National League NL East 1 y-Braves 107-56 1 x-Expos 106-57 3 e-Mets 88-74 4 e-Phillies 78-84 5 e-Marlins 70-92 NL Central 1 y-Reds 91-71 2 e-Astros 85-77 3 e-Pirates 74-88 4 e-Cardinals 69-93 5 e-Cubs 67-95 NL West 1 y-Dodgers 83-79 2 e-Giants 81-81 3 e-Padres 71-91 4 e-Rockies 67-95 Wild Card 1 x-Expos 106-57 2 e-Mets 88-74 3 e-Astros 85-77 4 e-Giants 81-81 5 e-Phillies 78-84 6 e-Pirates 74-88 7 e-Padres 71-91 8 e-Marlins 70-92 9 e-Cardinals 69-93 10 e-Rockies 67-95 11 e-Cubs 67-95 ALDS Yankees: 0 Mariners: 3 Orioles: 1 Indians: 3 NLDS Expos: 1 Reds: 3 Dodgers: 0 Braves: 3 ALCS Mariners: 4 Indians: 3 NLCS Braves: 4 Reds: 2 World Series Mariners: 2 Braves: 4

[@noobmaster-wj3qm]

Do one of these for the 2004-05 or 2012-13 NHL Lockout

[@DocSpengler]

Nah

[@9Greentiger]

Not as good of a story when the players lose

[@rishishard4742]

Theres a lot of criticism to give Manfred, but he has also done a ton of good. Preventing a work stoppage in 2022, which was a massive fear before the season. Also the new rules like the pitch clock and pitchers must face three batters rule has been a net good for the game

[@letsgoOs1002]

Cal definitely helped to end the strike, mlb really wanted that record.

[@JayTemple]

4:27 By contrast, no organization was helped more than the Braves, who have gotten away with calling their 1993 and 1995 division titles "consecutive."

[@luisguillermojg]

There's a typo in "Flordia" at the beginning.

[@SWBF2PS2]

0:15 "Flordia"

[@kevinkuenn5733]

Sung to the tune of "Gloria" by Laura Branigan

[@Melmelbaton]

Flori-Flordia!

[@mjdryden]

RIP Expos.

[@MIKEDOMO]

That was my first season watching MLB, awful, when greedy owners can’t resolve labor disputes with greedy players. For all five great sports (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL & MLS) without fans are doom.

[@usa5439]

How are they greedy. They fund the team

[@mnm1273]

@@usa5439 Owners get paid by the fans. They don't fund the team, they invest in a sports based regional monopoly.

[@wanderlustwarrior]

Wasn't expecting Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to show up in this one.

[@rogerszmodis]

Didn’t the players union tell Ripken he could cross the picket line with no repercussions if it came down to replacements being fielded?

[@adamcoe]

The same day this video dropped, Pedro Martinez threw out the first pitch at the Jays game (to his godson, Vlad, also a baseball player you may know), and came up to the booth during the game to talk with Dan Shulman and Buck Martinez. It came up briefly about the Expos and 94, and he mentioned how disappointed he was that they didn't play out the season. Secret Base constantly amazes me.

[@MarloSoBalJr]

He also wore that sick Montreal blue uni

[@scizorbullet8185]

The worst part for me about 94 having no finish is the AL West pennsnt race you had a 52-62 Rangers in first place 😂 with 51 win Ais and 49 win mariners right behind em

[@jonathangasana]

Wow I’ve been waiting for this one for awhile. Not sure why ESPN never did a 30 for 30 on this.

[@benjaminmeister6506]

yeah also this one should have been better longer deeper for all the story lines interupted but it wasn't... i wonder how much material they cut

[@illusioNery]

If they did, it would be a series like the OJ Simpson and Lakers v Celtics documentaries because of all the storylines that were happening at the same time

[@zachdirects]

Royals we’re having a great season in 1994 likely to be in the hunt for first place. What that season cost was a curse of 30 years of losing baseball.

[@samuraibeastwarrior2886]

at least yal won a world series in 2015

[@Flashfm3000]

More like 20 years, but who's counting 😂

[@mattbrichacek8978]

You need to do a video about Game 2 of the 2007 ALDS between the Yankees and Indians!

[@dyne313]

Anybody who blames the players in ANY WAY is just a simp for the wealthy owners. Solidarity with all workers.

[@SmoothCriminal12]

Exactly. Some people will call the players selfish, yet ignore that most, if not all the owners are billionaires.

[@RANDOMZBOSSMAN1]

You can make the argument it gives lowkey slave owner vibes

[@dyne313]

@@SmoothCriminal12 Not to mention, without baseball players, there would be no game. But without Baseball owners, things would probably be better.

[@FoxxyBrown1111]

I blamed and blame the players AND owners. And anybody who solely blames the owners is just a simp for the weahlthy players. They give a damn about winning, fans, tradition, fairness... Now you again.

[@jaboinky5349]

@@FoxxyBrown1111 lmao you actually think the owners care about tradition and fairness

[@About37Hobos]

Milan v Liverpool 2005 UCL final, it NEEDS a rewind, maybe the best final of any sports competition ever, it would be an incredible episode.

[@camicawber]

I'm pretty sure the last game before the strike was A's-Mariners, not Rockies-Braves. Yeah, it's a nitpick, but I remember watching the game and hoping that somehow it wouldn't be the last game I got to see that year.

[@markjackson6431]

Eric Lindros vs Flyers Organization

[@guadalupev30]

NFL says thank you for handing us no. 1 spot in US sports.

[@MultiBluedog123]

Nfl was definitely already king by 1994, the turnaround happened closer to the late 70s, but this definitely put the nail in the coffin for any potential baseball comeback.

[@randalkidd]

Uh you guys misspelt Florida in the opening minutes, heads up (0:18)

[@LocalManMakesMusic]

No sport likes to shoot itself in the foot more than Major League Baseball.

[@superadam2112]

1994 was the original Montréal Screwjob

[@LanceyJoe]

Showing us Blue Moon commercials when we're already paying for KZbin premium is worse than a salary cap

[@jacobbyers7914]

Please do a rewind of Hideo Nomo's Coors no-no.

[@gm2723]

Finally a baseball episode.

[@greencm7142]

They've done a few. But, yeah....it's been a while.

[@stevencooke6451]

After the "Flordia" error this was a fantastic short analysis of this stupid stupid lockout.

[@davidlaush180]

"This clash between the players association and the owners of Major Leagur Baseball was one for the history books. But first, let's rewind back to the instigator of modern labor movements: the National Labor Relations Act"

[@mattcox3373]

About time y’all give us some baseball content

[@joshuapatrick682]

also seeing the Pirates, Expos(nats) and Marlins in there brings me back to reality.

[@jamesball9608]

Never thought about it but labor negotiations are the ultimate beef. You’ll have owners fighting owners and players fighting players before fighting one another

[@shifty1927]

Clinton in the Os uniform 🔥🔥🔥

[@FoxxyBrown1111]

I was a huge fan back in the 80s and early 90s... Never watched a game again after 1994. Never bought another Made-in-China-Game-Shirt for 100 $ plus, never invested a single coin into MLB again... Millionaires strking against billionaires was not a slap into the face of normal people and/or fans. No, it was peeing onto them. Literally. They still laugh about us up today. Not even Ohtani would bring me back. These greedy guys went to far. Both sides. It was, is, and will be disgusting... I still love anecdotal baseball stories like this vid for free though. I still love the game of baseball. But no time or money to them greedy MLB people. Never ever again... Thanks for the vid. It helps to upheld my boycott of this rotten to the core organisation.

[@jimc.goodfellas]

Ah yes, the great "What might have been" season...guys were having huge seasons, it was shaping up to be a great season, and we lost it. Griffey and Matt Williams et al chance at Maris, Tony Gwynn's chance at .400, everything

[@Meepmoop23]

6:23 as a 23 year young Red Sox fan, it is incredible that the ironic choice of the Sox vs the Cubs almost flew right over my head.

[@griffinhays2053]

The thought of fans buying tickets for games so they could go tell the teams and players how greedy they are is pretty ironic