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NO STAT IS SAFE. NO ERA IS FORGOTTEN.
VOL. 1, NO. 51 · FEBRUARY 15, 2027 · EVERY MONDAY
ISSUE #051 · MODERN
The 1994 Strike — The Year
Baseball Lost Its Audience
On August 12, 1994, Major League Baseball players went on strike. The World Series was cancelled for the
📅 THIS DATE IN
BASEBALL first time in 90 years.
THE STAT THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST 01
BASEBALL CANCELLED THE WORLD SERIES. THE AUDIENCE NEVER FULLY CAME BACK.
232 Days. 948 Games Cancelled. No World Series.
The Only Year Without A Champion Since 1904.
DAYS OF STRIKE GAMES CANCELLED LAST WS CANCELLATION
.394 43 -20%
GWYNN BA AT STRIKE MATT WILLIAMS HR AT STRIKE MLB ATTENDANCE DECLINE
The 1994 players' strike began on August 12 and lasted 232 days. 948 games were cancelled including
the entire 1994 postseason and World Series — the first cancellation since 1904. Multiple historic
achievements were interrupted: Tony Gwynn was hitting .394 (closest to .400 since Williams), Matt
Williams had 43 HR in August (on pace for 61), and Greg Maddux was 16-6 with a 1.56 ERA.
THE GAME YOU FORGOT 02
VS N/A AUGUST 11, 1994
Aug 11, 1994
Apr 25, 1995 Yes — first since 1904
LAST GAME DATE RESUME DATE WS CANCELLED
948 No World Series
GAMES CANCELLED RESULT
The Strike
THE LAST GAME BEFORE BASEBALL STOPPED FOR 232 DAYS
On August 11, 1994, baseball stopped. The players walked out over a salary cap dispute. The rest of the 1994
season, the entire postseason, and the World Series were cancelled. The Montreal Expos had the best
record in baseball (74-40) and never got to play for a championship. They have since relocated to
Washington. The strike ended in April 1995 under a court injunction, not a negotiated settlement. Baseball
attendance declined 20% in 1995 and didn't fully recover for years.
ERA VS ERA 03
Did The 1994 Strike Permanently Damage Baseball?
YES — THE DAMAGE WAS PERMANENT NO — BASEBALL RECOVERED
TV RATINGS DECLINE 1998 HR CHASE
Baseball lost its #1 sport status Brought fans back
ATTENDANCE DROP VS REVENUE RECOVERY
-20% in 1995 By 2000, revenues exceeded 1994
YOUTH AUDIENCE CURRENT VALUATIONS
Lost a generation of fans Franchises worth billions
Both are true. Baseball recovered its revenue but never recovered its cultural position. Before 1994, baseball
was arguably America's most popular sport. After 1994, it was clearly third behind the NFL and NBA. The 1998
home run chase masked the damage temporarily. The underlying decline was permanent.
Did the 1994 strike permanently damage baseball?
YES — BASEBALL LOST ITS #1 STATUS FOREVER NO — REVENUE IS HIGHER THAN EVER
PARTIALLY — CULTURAL RELEVANCE VS REVENUE ARE DIFFERENT
THE DAMAGE WAS INEVITABLE REGARDLESS OF THE STRIKE
THE COLDEST MOMENT 04
1994 · THE EXPOS — BASEBALL'S GREATEST WHAT-IF
The Montreal Expos Had The Best Record In
Baseball. They Never Got To Play For A
Championship. They No Longer Exist.
The 1994 Montreal Expos were 74-40 with the best record in baseball when the strike hit. They
had Pedro Martinez, Larry Walker, and Moises Alou. They were favorites to win the World Series.
They never got the chance. Attendance in Montreal cratered after the strike. The franchise was
relocated to Washington D.C. in 2005 and became the Nationals. The 1994 Expos are the
greatest championship team that never was.
We had the best team in baseball. Then they told us to go home.
— FELIPE ALOU, EXPOS MANAGER, 1994
THE STAT VAULT 05
DAYS THE STRIKE LASTED GAMES CANCELLED
From August 12, 1994 to April 2, 1995. The Including the entire postseason and World
longest work stoppage in MLB history. Series. No champion was crowned.
TONY GWYNN'S BA AT THE STRIKE MATT WILLIAMS HR AT THE STRIKE
.394 Closest anyone has come to .400 since 43 He was on pace for 61 — which would
Ted Williams in 1941. Interrupted by the have tied Maris's record 4 years before
strike. McGwire broke it.
2005 YEAR THE EXPOS BECAME THE NATIONALS
The 1994 strike destroyed the Montreal franchise. They relocated to Washington D.C.
THE FORGOTTEN MAN 06
OVERLOOKED · UNDERRATED · DESERVES MORE
Matt Williams
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS · 1987-2003
.268 BA · 378 HR · 4 ALL-STARS · 4 GOLD GLOVES
43 HR In August 1994. On Pace For 61 — Maris's Record. The Strike Stole It.
Matt Williams had 43 HR through August 11, 1994 — on pace for 61, which would have tied Roger Maris's
record. The strike ended the season. Four years later, McGwire and Sosa both broke Maris's record while
Williams' pace was forgotten. He finished his career with 378 HR and is mentioned approximately never.
THE CONNECTION:
Williams was on pace to break Maris's record in 1994. McGwire did it in 1998. Sosa did it in 1998. The
strike stole Williams' moment four years before anyone else's arrived. Same record, stolen
opportunity, zero recognition.
COMING NEXT MONDAY
Next Monday: Issue #52 — The Legacy Issue. 150 years of baseball. Every era. Every debate. The final word.
Who's Your Forgotten Man?
Reply with a player from any era who deserves more credit. Best answer gets featured next Monday.
All Eras. All Stats. No Debate.
Every Monday. No exceptions.