The 1994 Major League Baseball season began on April 3, but ended prematurely on August 11, 1994, with the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike. The season started despite the expiration of MLB's previous collective bargaining agreement at the end of 1993. It was the first season played under the current three-division format in each league. It was also the first with an Opening Night game involving two National League teams, which did not become permanent until 1996.
| 1994 MLB season | |
|---|---|
| League | Major League Baseball |
| Sport | Baseball |
| Duration | April 3 – August 11, 1994 |
| Games | 162 (scheduled) 112–117 (actual) |
| Teams | 28 |
| TV partners |
|
| Draft | |
| Top draft pick | Paul Wilson |
| Picked by | New York Mets |
| Regular season | |
| Season MVP | NL: Jeff Bagwell (HOU) AL: Frank Thomas (CWS) |
Sox
Jays
West Central East
West Central East
Strike
As a result of a players' strike, the MLB season ended prematurely on August 11, 1994. No postseason (including the World Series) was played. Over 260 players were scheduled to exceed $1 million in compensation in 1994. The Minor League Baseball season was played in its entirety.
Awards and honors
- Baseball Hall of Fame
- Steve Carlton
- Leo Durocher
- Phil Rizzuto
| Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| BBWAA Award | National League | American League |
| Rookie of the Year | Raúl Mondesí (LAD) | Bob Hamelin (KC) |
| Cy Young Award | Greg Maddux (ATL) | David Cone (KC) |
| Manager of the Year | Felipe Alou (MON) | Buck Showalter (NYY) |
| Most Valuable Player | Jeff Bagwell (HOU) | Frank Thomas (CWS) |
| Gold Glove Awards | ||
| Position | National League | American League |
| Pitcher | Greg Maddux (ATL) | Mark Langston (CAL) |
| Catcher | Tom Pagnozzi (STL) | Iván Rodríguez (TEX) |
| First Baseman | Jeff Bagwell (HOU) | Don Mattingly (NYY) |
| Second Baseman | Craig Biggio (HOU) | Roberto Alomar (TOR) |
| Third Baseman | Matt Williams (SF) | Wade Boggs (NYY) |
| Shortstop | Barry Larkin (CIN) | Omar Vizquel (CLE) |
| Outfielders | Barry Bonds (SF) | Kenny Lofton (CLE) |
| Darren Lewis (SF) | Devon White (TOR) | |
| Marquis Grissom (MON) | Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA) | |
| Silver Slugger Awards | ||
| Pitcher/Designated Hitter | Mark Portugal (SF) | Julio Franco (CWS) |
| Catcher | Mike Piazza (LAD) | Iván Rodríguez (TEX) |
| First Baseman | Jeff Bagwell (HOU) | Frank Thomas (CWS) |
| Second Baseman | Craig Biggio (HOU) | Carlos Baerga (CLE) |
| Third Baseman | Matt Williams (SF) | Wade Boggs (NYY) |
| Shortstop | Wil Cordero (MON) | Cal Ripken Jr. (BAL) |
| Outfielders | Barry Bonds (SF) | Albert Belle (CLE) |
| Moisés Alou (MON) | Kirby Puckett (MIN) | |
| Tony Gwynn (SD) | Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA) | |
Other awards
- Roberto Clemente Award (Humanitarian): Dave Winfield (MIN).
- Rolaids Relief Man Award: Lee Smith (BAL, American); Rod Beck (SF, National).
Player of the Month
| Month | American League | National League |
|---|---|---|
| April | Joe Carter | Ellis Burks |
| May | Frank Thomas | Lenny Dykstra Mike Piazza |
| June | Albert Belle | Jeff Bagwell |
| July | Frank Thomas | Jeff Bagwell |
Pitcher of the Month
| Month | American League | National League |
|---|---|---|
| April | Ben McDonald | Bob Tewksbury |
| May | David Cone | Doug Drabek |
| June | Cal Eldred | Bobby Muñoz |
| July | Alex Fernandez | Bret Saberhagen |
Statistical leaders
| Statistic | American League | National League | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVG | Paul O'Neill NYY | .359 | Tony Gwynn SD | .394 |
| HR | Ken Griffey Jr. SEA | 40 | Matt Williams SF | 43 |
| RBI | Kirby Puckett MIN | 112 | Jeff Bagwell HOU | 116 |
| Wins | Jimmy Key NYY | 17 | Ken Hill MON Greg Maddux ATL | 16 |
| ERA | Steve Ontiveros OAK | 2.65 | Greg Maddux ATL | 1.56 |
| SO | Randy Johnson SEA | 204 | Andy Benes SD | 189 |
| SV | Lee Smith BAL | 33 | John Franco NYM | 30 |
| SB | Kenny Lofton CLE | 60 | Craig Biggio HOU | 39 |
Standings
American League
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Yankees | 70 | 43 | .619 | — | 33–24 | 37–19 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 63 | 49 | .562 | 6½ | 28–27 | 35–22 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 55 | 60 | .478 | 16 | 33–26 | 22–34 |
| Boston Red Sox | 54 | 61 | .470 | 17 | 31–33 | 23–28 |
| Detroit Tigers | 53 | 62 | .461 | 18 | 34–24 | 19–38 |
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago White Sox | 67 | 46 | .593 | — | 34–19 | 33–27 |
| Cleveland Indians | 66 | 47 | .584 | 1 | 35–16 | 31–31 |
| Kansas City Royals | 64 | 51 | .557 | 4 | 35–24 | 29–27 |
| Minnesota Twins | 53 | 60 | .469 | 14 | 32–27 | 21–33 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 53 | 62 | .461 | 15 | 24–32 | 29–30 |
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Rangers | 52 | 62 | .456 | — | 31–32 | 21–30 |
| Oakland Athletics | 51 | 63 | .447 | 1 | 24–32 | 27–31 |
| Seattle Mariners | 49 | 63 | .438 | 2 | 22–22 | 27–41 |
| California Angels | 47 | 68 | .409 | 5½ | 23–40 | 24–28 |
National League
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Expos | 74 | 40 | .649 | — | 32–20 | 42–20 |
| Atlanta Braves | 68 | 46 | .596 | 6 | 31–24 | 37–22 |
| New York Mets | 55 | 58 | .487 | 18½ | 23–30 | 32–28 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 54 | 61 | .470 | 20½ | 34–26 | 20–35 |
| Florida Marlins | 51 | 64 | .443 | 23½ | 25–34 | 26–30 |
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds | 66 | 48 | .579 | — | 37–22 | 29–26 |
| Houston Astros | 66 | 49 | .574 | ½ | 37–22 | 29–27 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 53 | 61 | .465 | 13 | 32–29 | 21–32 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 53 | 61 | .465 | 13 | 23–33 | 30–28 |
| Chicago Cubs | 49 | 64 | .434 | 16½ | 20–39 | 29–25 |
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 58 | 56 | .509 | — | 33–22 | 25–34 |
| San Francisco Giants | 55 | 60 | .478 | 3½ | 29–31 | 26–29 |
| Colorado Rockies | 53 | 64 | .453 | 6½ | 25–32 | 28–32 |
| San Diego Padres | 47 | 70 | .402 | 12½ | 26–31 | 21–39 |
- On September 14, the remainder of the major league season was canceled by acting commissioner Bud Selig after 34 days of the players' strike.
Home field attendance and payroll
| Team name | Wins | %± | Home attendance | %± | Per game | Est. payroll | %± |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Rockies | 53 | −20.9% | 3,281,511 | −26.8% | 57,570 | $23,887,333 | 130.7% |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 55 | −42.1% | 2,907,933 | −28.3% | 49,287 | $43,433,668 | −8.1% |
| Atlanta Braves | 68 | −34.6% | 2,539,240 | −34.6% | 46,168 | $49,383,513 | 18.6% |
| Baltimore Orioles | 63 | −25.9% | 2,535,359 | −30.4% | 46,097 | $38,849,769 | 33.5% |
| Texas Rangers | 52 | −39.5% | 2,503,198 | 11.5% | 39,733 | $32,973,597 | −9.4% |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 54 | −44.3% | 2,290,971 | −27.0% | 38,183 | $31,599,000 | 10.7% |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 58 | −28.4% | 2,279,355 | −28.1% | 41,443 | $38,000,001 | −3.7% |
| Cleveland Indians | 66 | −13.2% | 1,995,174 | −8.4% | 39,121 | $30,490,500 | 64.3% |
| Florida Marlins | 51 | −20.3% | 1,937,467 | −36.8% | 32,838 | $21,633,000 | 11.9% |
| Cincinnati Reds | 66 | −9.6% | 1,897,681 | −22.6% | 31,628 | $41,073,833 | −8.5% |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 53 | −39.1% | 1,866,544 | −34.4% | 33,331 | $29,275,601 | 25.3% |
| Chicago Cubs | 49 | −41.7% | 1,845,208 | −30.5% | 31,275 | $36,287,333 | −7.9% |
| Boston Red Sox | 54 | −32.5% | 1,775,818 | −26.7% | 27,747 | $37,859,084 | 2.0% |
| San Francisco Giants | 55 | −46.6% | 1,704,608 | −34.6% | 28,410 | $42,638,666 | 21.3% |
| Chicago White Sox | 67 | −28.7% | 1,697,398 | −34.2% | 32,026 | $39,183,836 | −1.3% |
| New York Yankees | 70 | −20.5% | 1,675,556 | −30.7% | 29,396 | $46,040,334 | 7.8% |
| Houston Astros | 66 | −22.4% | 1,561,136 | −25.1% | 26,460 | $33,126,000 | 9.7% |
| California Angels | 47 | −33.8% | 1,512,622 | −26.5% | 24,010 | $25,156,218 | −12.0% |
| Kansas City Royals | 64 | −23.8% | 1,400,494 | −27.6% | 23,737 | $40,541,334 | −2.2% |
| Minnesota Twins | 53 | −25.4% | 1,398,565 | −31.7% | 23,704 | $28,438,500 | 0.8% |
| Montreal Expos | 74 | −21.3% | 1,276,250 | −22.2% | 24,543 | $19,098,000 | 1.1% |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 53 | −23.2% | 1,268,399 | −24.9% | 22,650 | $24,350,500 | 2.3% |
| Oakland Athletics | 51 | −25.0% | 1,242,692 | −38.9% | 22,191 | $34,172,500 | −9.6% |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 53 | −29.3% | 1,222,520 | −25.9% | 20,041 | $24,217,250 | −2.4% |
| Detroit Tigers | 53 | −37.6% | 1,184,783 | −39.9% | 20,427 | $41,446,501 | 8.6% |
| New York Mets | 55 | −6.8% | 1,151,471 | −38.5% | 21,726 | $30,956,583 | −20.7% |
| Seattle Mariners | 49 | −40.2% | 1,104,206 | −46.2% | 25,096 | $29,228,500 | −13.1% |
| San Diego Padres | 47 | −23.0% | 953,857 | −30.7% | 16,734 | $14,916,333 | −41.5% |
Television coverage
This was the first season of The Baseball Network, the joint venture between MLB, ABC, and NBC. Meanwhile, ESPN renewed its contract for Sunday Night Baseball and Wednesday Night Baseball.
Under The Baseball Network's original plan, the All-Star Game would alternate between NBC in even-numbered years and ABC in odd-numbered years. After the All-Star Game was complete, ABC took over coverage with what was to be their weekly slate of games under the Baseball Night in America banner. ABC was scheduled to televise six regular season games on Saturdays or Mondays in prime time. NBC would then pick up where ABC left off by televising six more regular season Friday night games. Every Baseball Night in America game was scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (or 8 p.m. Pacific Time if the game occurred on the West Coast). A single starting time gave the networks the opportunity to broadcast one game and then, simultaneously, cut to another game when there was a break in action.
The networks had exclusive rights for the twelve regular season dates, in that no regional or national cable service (such as ESPN or superstations like Chicago's WGN-TV or Atlanta's WTBS) or over-the-air broadcaster was allowed to telecast a Major League Baseball game on those dates. Baseball Night in America (which premiered on July 16, 1994) usually aired up to fourteen games based on the viewers' region (affiliates chose games of local interest to carry) as opposed to a traditional coast-to-coast format. Normally, announcers who represented each of the teams playing in the respective games were paired with each other. More specifically, on regional Saturday night broadcasts and all non-"national" broadcasts, TBN let the two lead announcers from the opposing teams call the games involving their teams together.
Postseason coverage would have also alternated between the two networks. In even-numbered years, NBC would have the rights to the All-Star Game and both League Championship Series while ABC would have the World Series and newly created Division Series.
When the player's strike began on August 12, ABC had only aired games on four of its six scheduled dates, while NBC's slate was supposed to begin on August 26.
| Network | Day of week | Announcers |
|---|---|---|
| ABC | Saturday nights Monday nights | Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver |
| NBC | Friday nights | Bob Costas, Joe Morgan, Bob Uecker |
| ESPN | Sunday nights Wednesday nights | Jon Miller, Joe Morgan |
Events
- January 12 – Steve Carlton is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, receiving almost 96% of the vote. Orlando Cepeda falls seven votes short of the 75% required for election.
- February 7 – Basketball superstar Michael Jordan signs a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. He is invited to spring training with the team as a non-roster player.
- February 25 – The Veterans Committee elects Phil Rizzuto and Leo Durocher to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- April 1–3 – BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, hosted an exhibition tournament with the Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Montreal Expos participating.
- April 4 – At Wrigley Field, Chicago Cubs outfielder Tuffy Rhodes blasts three home runs on Opening Day, defeating New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden. Rhodes becomes the first player in major league history to hit home runs in his first three at-bats of the season. In spite of Rhodes' unexpected home run barrage, the Cubs lose the game, 12–8.
- April 8 – Kent Mercker of the Atlanta Braves pitches a 6–0 no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, striking out 10 in the process. For Mercker, it is his first complete game in the Major Leagues.
- July 12 – Moisés Alou's walk-off double in the 10th inning gives the National League an 8–7 victory over the American League in the All-Star Game. The NL is now a perfect 9–0 in extra-inning contests. John Hudek of the Houston Astros becomes the first pitcher in major league history to appear in an All-Star Game before recording a major league victory. Fred McGriff, whose two-run home run in the 9th inning tied the score, takes MVP honors.
- July 28 – Kenny Rogers of the Texas Rangers throws the fourteenth perfect game in Major League history.
- August 11 – The final games of the Major League season are played on this date. The next day, the players' strike begins. Minor League Baseball games are not affected.
- September 14 – The remainder of the Major League season (along with the postseason) is canceled by acting commissioner Bud Selig after 34 days of the players' strike. There would be no World Series for the first time since 1904.
Movies
The following are baseball movies released in 1994:
- Major League II
- Little Big League
- Angels in the Outfield
- Baseball: A Film by Ken Burns (TV documentary)
- The Scout
- Cobb
Deaths
- January 8 – Harvey Haddix, 68, All-Star pitcher best remembered for a 1959 game with the Pirates in which he threw 12 perfect innings before losing in the 13th; won 20 games for 1953 Cardinals and earned three Gold Gloves. Member of 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates, who won the World Series.
- January 9 – Johnny Temple, 66, All-Star second baseman, primarily for the Cincinnati Reds, who batted .300 three times
- January 10 – Chub Feeney, 72, National League president from 1970 to 1986; previously an executive and broadcaster with the Giants
- February 12 – Ray Dandridge, 80, Hall of Fame third baseman of the Negro leagues who often batted over .350
- March 16 – Eric Show, 37, pitcher who won 100 games for the San Diego Padres and surrendered Pete Rose's record 4,192nd hit
- May 9 – Ralph Brickner, 69, pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in the 1950s
- June 12 – Jim Brock, 57, coach at Arizona State since 1972 who led the Sun Devils to two College World Series titles (1977, 1981)
- June 23 – Marv Throneberry, 62, first baseman for the Yankees, Orioles, Mets, and Kansas City A's
- July 14 – César Tovar, 54, outfielder for the Minnesota Twins who in 1968 became the second major leaguer to play all nine positions in a game; had his team's only hit on five occasions
- September 5 – Hank Aguirre, 63, All-Star pitcher who led AL in ERA in 1962 with the Detroit Tigers
- December 26 – Allie Reynolds, 77, 6-time All-Star pitcher, mainly with the Yankees, who led AL in ERA in 1952 and in strikeouts and shutouts twice; in 1951 was first AL pitcher to throw two no-hitters in same year, and was MVP runner-up in 1952; career .630 winning percentage
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