Highlander #30: PUTTING "*" IN THE SEATS

It was all about the owners and MLB putting AS"*"S back in the seats!

Yes my friends that's what this is all about...MONEY!!!

Here's my story and I'm sticking to it...

In 1994 MLB went on a strike. It was the 8th work stoppage in baseball history, 4th "in-season" work stoppage in 23 years. It was a 232-day strike from Aug 12, 1994 - April 2nd, 1995. The cancellation of regular season games including the entire 1994 postseason and World Series.

The cancellation of the 1994 World Series was the 1st since 1904.

MLB became the 1st professional sport to lose its entire postseason due to a labor dispute.

...(never happened)

So here's some of the "downfall" from that strike:

- The Montreal Expos had their best season in their history. Best record in baseball 74-40 and 6 gms ahead of the Braves in the NL East.

- Frank Thomas (White Sox) won the AL & MVP awards, a career year which he was unable to complete.

- Tony Gwynn had a chance to finish the season with a .400 batting avg (ended .394)

- Matt Williams (Giants) had a chance to beat Maris' HR record of 61 (had 43) Steroids???

- Carlos Baerga (Indians) was unable to extend his record 2-yr streak of 20 HR's, 200 hits, and 100 RBI's by a 2nd baseman

- Griffey Jr (Mariners) led the AL with 40 HR's

- Donnie Baseball (Yankees) lost out on any hope to play in the post season for the 1st time in his 13 yr career.

What does this all mean?

It had an effect on all the FANS of baseball. They were upset, disappointed, outraged, but most of all WE were HURT! If you recall, the fans pretty much were boycotting baseball.

They refused to go to games. We were "locked out"!

Baseball needed something! They needed an "injection".

Something to get the *'s back in the seats.

They needed to generate revenue somehow, someway. They needed us "the fans" to spend our money so they (the owners, the union, the players) can make their money.

We pay for them to earn and entertain us. And that's exactly what happened.

1995: Enter BALCO, HGH, Steroids, performance enhancers, and whatever else was needed to bring the fans back. Get the game back on the map.

Some highlights from each year 1995-2005 (testing and strict punishment for banned substance usage began in 2005).

1995:

- Ripken breaks Gehrig's consecutive games played record

- Red Sox win 1st place AL East (Yanks end 2nd place 7 gms behind but are the wild card)

- Indians win the AL, Braves win the NL

- Braves are the CHAMPS

1996:

- Mattingly retires, Torre becomes Manager, Yankees dynasty begins

- MVP's AL Juan Gonzalez (Rangers), Ken Caminiti (Padres)- both on Mitchell Report for performance enhancing drugs

- Alex Rodriguez (Mariners) best batting avg AL .358

- McGwire (A's) led AL with 52 HR's and Galarraga (Rockies) NL with 47

- Albert Belle (Indians) 148 RBI's

- Andy Pettitte (Yanks) AL wins 21, John Smoltz (Braves) NL with 24

- Roger Clemens (Red Sox) SO's 257

1997:

- Marlins defeat the Indians in the WS (google some of the players on these rosters, you will not be surprised)

1998:

- Yankees defeat the Padres in the WS (google these rosters too)

- Expansion- welcome Arizona and Tampa Bay (30 teams)

- MVP's AL J Gonzalez (Rangers) and NL Sammy Sosa (Cubs)

1999:

- Yankees sweep Braves

- MVP's Pudge Rodriguez (Rangers) and Chipper Jones (Braves)

- McGwire ends with 65 HR's, Sosa with 63

2000:

-The year of the LONG BALL (Enough said)

- Subway Series!!! Yanks beat Mets

- MVP's Giambi (A's) and Kent (Giants)

- Rangers sign A-Rod to a record $252 mil 10 yr contract

2001:

- Sept 11th (We will never forget)

- The BalcoBacks beat the Balckees in the 7th game of WS (on a bloop base hit)

- Mariners win 116 gms

- Bonds hits 73 (seventy three) HR's IN THE REGULAR SEASON

2002:

- Angels beat the Giants in Game 7 of WS

- WS MVP Troy Glaus and NLCS MVP Benito Santiago (both on Mitchell Report)

-Giambi (Yankees) wins HR Derby

- All- Star game ends in a tie (another black eye for baseball)

- A-Rod(Rangers) 57 HR's, Sosa 49

- MVPs Bonds (Giants) and Tejada (A's)...(now their answering to Congress about steroid use)

2003: (MLB's 100th season)

- The Balco Marlins beat the Balco Yankees in 6 gms WS

- A-Rod (Rangers) 47 HR's, Thome (Phillies) 47

- NLCS MVP Pudge Rodriguez

2004:

- The curse of the Bambino ends with the Red Sox winning the WS sweeping the Cards. They beat the Yankees in the process. (I'm not going to remind you how)

- Griffey Jr 500 HR Club

- Maddux 300 Wins Club

-Playoff MVP's Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, and Albert Pujols (all 3 are probably on the "104 list")