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Setting A Precedent-1994

 

Setting a Precedent -1994

By:  The Powdered Wig

 

Wild card mania is officially upon us as the major league baseball season reaches its sixth and final month of play.  In the American League, the Angels and Yankees are tied with the Indians only a game behind in the wild card standings.  Over in the National, the Phillies currently hold a tenuous lead over the Marlins, Mets, and Astros.  So Bud’s big experiment is working nicely as teams battle for the final playoff spot in each league.

 

But back in 1994, Selig was the object of constant scorn and skepticism as he had overseen a movement to turn the 4 major league divisions into 6 segments with separate champions in each.  In order to balance the postseason, a wild card was added from each league (the team with the best record who was not a division winner).  Purists moaned and complained that the postseason would be watered down with the addition of these wild card teams and some less-than-stellar division champions (see 2005 San Diego Padres). 

 

Just as the arguments were reaching a fever pitch in August, 1994 (Texas led the AL West with a 52-62 record), a bomb was dropped on the whole season.  Players and owners were not able to succeed in creating a new collective bargaining agreement that would satisfy both sides.  Thus, the players walked out on strike at midnight, August 11.  Play would not resume until the following April.

 

Here is a look back at what was happening in baseball in the first year of 6 divisional play in 1994…

 

1994 Award Winners

 

NL MVP –  Jeff Bagwell, 1b, Houston Astros  (.368, 39 hr, 116 rbi, 104 r)

AL MVP –  Frank Thomas, 1b, Chicago White Sox (.353, 38 hr, 101 rbi, 106 r)

NL Cy Young – Greg Maddux, sp, Atlanta Braves (16-6, 1.56 era, 10 cg)

AL Cy Young – David Cone, sp, Kansas City Royals (16-5, 2.94 era, 3 sho)

NL Rookie of the Year – Raul Mondesi, of, L.A. Dodgers (.306, 16 hr, 56 rbi)

AL Rookie of the Year – Bob Hamelin, dh, K.C. Royals (.282, 24 hr, 65 rbi)

NL Manager of the Year –  Felipe Alou, Montreal Expos (74-40, 1^st place)

AL Manager of the Year –  Buck Showalter, N.Y. Yankees (70-43, 1^st place)

 

FINAL STANDINGS (Stats courtesy The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball)

 

American League East

Team                        Wins      Losses       Pct.         GB       Manager

NY Yankees	70	43	.619	--	Buck Showalter
Baltimore	63	49	.563	6.5	Johnny Oates
Toronto	55	60	.478	16	Cito Gaston
Boston	54	61	.470	17	Butch Hobson
Detroit	53	62	.461	18	Sparky Anderson

 

American League Central

Team                        Wins      Losses       Pct.         GB       Manager

CHI White Sox	67	46	.593	--	Gene Lamont
Cleveland	66	47	.584	1	Mike Hargrove
Kansas City	64	51	.557	4	Hal McRae
Minnesota	53	60	.469	14	Tom Kelly
Milwaukee	53	62	.461	15	Phil Garner

 

American League West

Team                        Wins      Losses       Pct.         GB       Manager

Texas	52	62	.456	--	Kevin Kennedy
Oakland	51	63	.447	1	Tony LaRussa
Seattle	49	63	.438	2	Lou Piniella
California	47	68	.395	5.5	B. Rodgers/M. Lachemann

 

American League Wild Card

Team                        Wins      Losses       Pct.         GB      

Cleveland	66	47	.584	--
Baltimore	63	49	.563	2.5
Kansas City	64	51	.557	3

 

National League East

Team                        Wins      Losses       Pct.         GB       Manager

Montreal	74	40	.649	--	Felipe Alou
Atlanta	68	46	.596	6	Bobby Cox
NY Mets	55	58	.487	18.5	Dallas Green
Philadelphia	54	61	.470	20.5	Jim Fregosi
Florida	51	64	.443	23.5	Rene Lachemann

 

National League Central

Team                        Wins      Losses       Pct.         GB       Manager

Cincinnati	66	48	.579	--	Davey Johnson
Houston	66	49	.574	0.5	Terry Collins
Pittsburgh	53	61	.465	13	Jim Leyland
St. Louis	53	61	.465	13	Joe Torre
CHI Cubs	49	64	.434	16.5	Tom Trebelhorn

 

National League West

Team                        Wins      Losses       Pct.         GB       Manager

Los Angeles	58	56	.509	--	Tommy Lasorda
San Francisco	55	60	.478	3.5	Dusty Baker
Colorado	53	64	.453	6.5	Don Baylor
San Diego	47	70	.402	12.5	Jim Riggleman

 

National League Wild Card

Team                        Wins      Losses       Pct.         GB      

Atlanta	68	46	.596	--
Houston	66	49	.574	2.5

 

 

 

1994 POST SEASON RESULTS

 

No Postseason due to MLB Players Association Strike beginning August 11, 1994.

Regular Season and Postseason were cancelled on September 14, 1994.

 

 

 

Don’t miss the 1994 League Leaders, Gold Glove winners, and information on the 1994 All-Star game on Page 2...Don’t believe that  Ricky Bones, Scott Cooper, Carlos Garcia, and John Hudek were ever All-Star selections?  Click here to find out...

 

 

Contact The Powdered Wig at powderedwig@thehighcourtofsports.com.

 

 

From the High Court Hall of Fame…

 

Outfield of Dreams, Part 1...Will Barry Bonds be a lock in High Court voting?  Join The Powdered Wig as he takes you through the first half of The High Court’s outfield balloting.

 

Infield of Dreams...Join The Powdered Wig as he explores which stars of the infield (at 2B, SS, and 3B) can expect a plaque in Cooperstown.

 

First-Sack Sluggers...Bagwell?  Palmeiro?  Giambi?  Join The Powdered Wig to see which veteran first basemen get a ticket to the Hall of Fame.

 

The Lion King...The Chief Justice presents the Hall of Fame case of Ted Simmons, one of the best hitting catchers in the history of the game.

 

Squatters Rights...The Powdered Wig examines the careers of catchers and designated hitters with a chance at Cooperstown.  Find out who The High Court voted in.

What might have been:  With Alou at the helm and Pedro on the mound, the Montreal Expos may have been the best team in baseball in 1994.  With countless young stars (Moises Alou, Marquis Grissom, Larry Walker, Ken Hill, John Wetteland, and Pedro to name a few), could Montreal have replaced Atlanta as the NL East’s dynasty?  (mlb.com)