Baseball season is almost here, and I have the fever! I want to start a thread in which we can post about the history, facts and figures of BASEBALL!!
Join in on this if you wish, give your opinions on the facts given, and please, all trash-talk regarding your teams can go in the MLB 05 thread....anyway, to get things started, something I found today:
Franchise Facts: The Chicago Cubs from 1876-1889 were the Chicago White Stockings. Also, the Chicago White Sox from 1901-1903 were also called the Chicago White Stockings.
Can anyone answer this question?: What franchise has been in the same city with their same nickname for the longest?

Without looking anything up I'm gonna say it has to be either the St. Louis Cardinals or Pittsburgh Pirates - something tells me the Pirates might've had a different name early on though, but I can't recall the Cardinals being anything but the St. Louis Cardinals.

Without looking anything up I'm gonna say it has to be either the St. Louis Cardinals or Pittsburgh Pirates - something tells me the Pirates might've had a different name early on though, but I can't recall the Cardinals being anything but the St. Louis Cardinals.Damn good guessing, but there is a team that has been called the same name even longer.
The St.Louis Cardinals have been around since 1900, before they were called the St. Louis Perfectos. The Pittsburg Pirates have been around since 1891, they used to be called the Pittsburg Allegheneys from 1887-1890.
You are close billy!
I cheated and looked it up!

Well, let's see - the Braves moved from Boston to Milwaukee to Atlanta, plus they had some other nicknames early on
The Dodgers moved from Brooklyn, plus they had some other nicknames early on
The Giants moved from New York and I think before that they were the original Baltimore Orioles
We've already discussed the Cubs, Cardinals and Pirates - that leaves the Reds and the Phillies.
The Phillies were called the Blue Birds or Blue Jays at some point - it might have been unofficial
The Reds have been the Red Legs and I believe originally the Red Stockings, but I'm going to go with them.

Weren't the Yankees the original Baltimore Orioles?

Weren't the Yankees the original Baltimore Orioles?Yes, in 1901 the now Yankees franchise was called the Baltimore Orioles. The now Baltimore Orioles franchise in 1901 were called: the Milwaukee Brewers.

Well, let's see - the Braves moved from Boston to Milwaukee to Atlanta, plus they had some other nicknames early on
The Dodgers moved from Brooklyn, plus they had some other nicknames early on
The Giants moved from New York and I think before that they were the original Baltimore Orioles
We've already discussed the Cubs, Cardinals and Pirates - that leaves the Reds and the Phillies.
The Phillies were called the Blue Birds or Blue Jays at some point - it might have been unofficial
The Reds have been the Red Legs and I believe originally the Red Stockings, but I'm going to go with them.It's the Phillies, been the only name for them since 1883.
How 'bout them Brooklyn Bridegrooms!!!!!:wtf:

Yes, in 1901 the now Yankees franchise was called the Baltimore Orioles. The now Baltimore Orioles franchise in 1901 were called: the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Yankees franchise came in to power in 1901. And the Pirates this year??? :wtf: I say look out for the Cubs in the National league. They're curse is about to end too I feel. As for the AL it's always too close of a call. We know for the past 3 years at least it has been at least the Yankees, Twins, and Red Sox who have gone, with Boston getting a world title, and the AL West race is always neck and neck, all 4 of the teams are as good as eachother. I think the AL will win the All Star Game (again) but I think the NL is gonna take the World Series.

I just want to go on record as saying that I love the New York Yankees. I've loved the Yanks since I was 7 years old, saw my first Yanks game at the Stadium , met Joe Di Maggio at the same game. Now that I'm in texas, I haven't seen them play at Yankee Stadium since I was 10. 24 years later, I'm going back to the stadium next month for game 3 of the opening series against the Red Sox. I love the Yankees. Not just one player, but the organization, the history, the mystique, and oh yeah, the 26 world series championships.

Here are some pretty interesting Home Run facts Babe Ruth was the 1st player in baseball history to hit at least 60 HR's in a single season....who was the first to hit 30 or more?
The first D.H. to hit a home run was Minnesota's Tony Oliva in 1973, anyone remember him?
Who was the 1st switch hitter to hit a grand slam from both sides of the plate in one game? Serious RBI's!

Who was the 1st switch hitter to hit a grand slam from both sides of the plate in one game? Serious RBI's!

The Mick?

The Mick?no, try again....

Eddie Murray?

I know Bill Mueller did it... but was he the first?

I know Bill Mueller did it... but was he the first?Yeppers, we have a winner.....now, who hit 30 or more homers 1st?

I know Bill Mueller did it... but was he the first?

Yeppers, we have a winner.....

No shit, and I was at that game, too!

So what did Eddie Murray do?

Here are some pretty interesting Home Run facts Babe Ruth was the 1st player in baseball history to hit at least 60 HR's in a single season....who was the first to hit 30 or more?

Is this a trick question, BREW? I'm not 100% sure, but I believe the ML record fr HR's was 27 until The Babe hit 54 in 1920...

No shit, and I was at that game, too!

So what did Eddie Murray do?

I think he holds the record for most switch hit HR's in a game, billy. He did it 11 times.

Here's one for you...

Who gave up Sammy Sosa's first career HR?

This is interesting:

The Cubs built Wrigley Field for about $250,000.

It cost around $8 million to add the lights in 1988.

Is this a trick question, BREW? I'm not 100% sure, but I believe the ML record fr HR's was 27 until The Babe hit 54 in 1920...Yeah, a trick question. It's the Babe.
Sammy Sosa's first??? I know he only hit 1 as a rookie, but I have no idea against who.

Yeah, a trick question. It's the Babe.
Sammy Sosa's first??? I know he only hit 1 as a rookie, but I have no idea against who.

Randy Johnson is popping into my head for an answer. No clue if that is right or not though.

Randy Johnson is popping into my head for an answer. No clue if that is right or not though.

No, but good guess. I'll give you a big hint: He has more Cy Young Awards than the Unit.

I cheated and looked it up because my first guess was Randy Johnson too. But it was not. Another fireballer.

Taking a guess at Roger Clemons for Sosa's first homerun

Taking a guess at Roger Clemons for Sosa's first homerun

Yup.

Too big of a hint? :D

Thats right. I remember reading about that and thinking it was a big time picture. That's why I said Big Unit. Clemens is bigger though!

I knew it was somebody big. I remeber one day fox showed a highlight of last year or so. I knew it wasnt Randy Johnson cause he was in the NL with the expos and Sammy was in the AL. But my guess would have been Clemons anyways with or without the hints.

Last World Series Championships (last appearance in parenthesis):

Boston Red Sox - 2004 (2004)
Florida Marlins - 2003 (2003)
Anaheim Angels - 2002 (2002)
Arizona Diamondbacks - 2001 (2001)
New York Yankees - 2000 (2003)
Atlanta Braves - 1995 (1999)
Toronto Blue Jays - 1993 (1993)
Minnesota Twins - 1991 (1991)
Cincinnati Reds - 1990 (1990)
Oakland Athletics - 1989 (1990)
Los Angeles Dodgers - 1988 (1988)
New York Mets - 1986 (2000)
Kansas City Royals - 1985 (1985)
Detroit Tigers - 1984 (1984)
Baltimore Orioles - 1983 (1983)
St. Louis Cardinals - 1982 (2004)
Philadelphia Phillies - 1980 (1993)
Pittsburgh Pirates - 1979 (1979)
San Francisco (New York) Giants - 1954 (2002)
Cleveland Indians - 1948 (1997)
Chicago White Sox - 1917 (1959)
Chicago Cubs - 1908 (1945)

never won:

San Diego Padres (1998)
Milwaukee Brewers (1982)

never been:

Tampa Bay Devil Rays - est. 1998
Colorado Rockies - est. 1993
Seattle Mariners - est. 1977
Washington Nationals - est. 1969
Houston Astros - est. 1962
Texas Rangers - est. 1961

Last World Series Championships (last appearance in parenthesis):

Boston Red Sox - 2004 (2004)
Florida Marlins - 2003 (2003)
Anaheim Angels - 2002 (2002)
Arizona Diamondbacks - 2001 (2001)
New York Yankees - 2000 (2003)
Atlanta Braves - 1995 (1999)
Toronto Blue Jays - 1993 (1993)
Minnesota Twins - 1991 (1991)
Cincinnati Reds - 1990 (1990)
Oakland Athletics - 1989 (1990)
Los Angeles Dodgers - 1988 (1988)
New York Mets - 1986 (2000)
Kansas City Royals - 1985 (1985)
Detroit Tigers - 1984 (1984)
Baltimore Orioles - 1983 (1983)
St. Louis Cardinals - 1982 (2004)
Philadelphia Phillies - 1980 (1993)
Pittsburgh Pirates - 1979 (1979)
San Francisco (New York) Giants - 1954 (2002)
Cleveland Indians - 1948 (1997)
Chicago White Sox - 1917 (1959)
Chicago Cubs - 1908 (1945)

never won:

San Diego Padres (1998)
Milwaukee Brewers (1982)

never been:

Tampa Bay Devil Rays - est. 1998
Colorado Rockies - est. 1993
Seattle Mariners - est. 1977
Washington Nationals - est. 1969
Houston Astros - est. 1962
Texas Rangers - est. 1961

Missing a few there. I know the twins won in 1987 as well. And the Nationals were established in 2004. You may be thinking about the Senators. The first Senators moved here to form the Twins, the second moved to Texas to form the Rangers.

Missing a few there. I know the twins won in 1987 as well. And the Nationals were established in 2004. You may be thinking about the Senators. The first Senators moved here to form the Twins, the second moved to Texas to form the Rangers.

The Twins last won in 1991, which is more recent than 1987
The Nationals were established in 1969 as the Montreal Expos
The second edition of the Washington Senators was formed in 1961 before moving to Texas to become the Rangers in 1972
The first edition of the Washington Senators is indeed now the Minnesota Twins!

How about the first million dollar player?

How about the first million dollar player?

That's an easy one - Nolan Ryan.

Here's some good facts for my Red Sox friends...

The Boston Red Sox were the first organization to sign a player to a $5,000,000 per year salary (Roger Clemens - 1991), a $12,000,000 per year salary (Pedro Martinez - 1997) and a $20,000,000 per year salary (Manny Ramirez - 2000).

And they call the Yankees bad for baseball. :sssh: :D

The Red Sox actually use teamwork instead of buying every player that does good. They are willing to spend money for players they need to patch up weak spots. Instead of just buying that guy that can hit 45 home runs in a season but oh we won't even start him even though he was a starter, we just want to have everyone that's good. The Yanks need to learn it's not about money completely. They're plan has failed the past few years. The reason some of these players are good, ill use Esteban Loiza as an example, is because of their team who they have known and played with for awhile, they know the team's abilities and what they need to do. Then the Yanks buy them and some of them don't do well and they wonder why. They need to raise young talent and not just buy everything. The Red Sox had good players that weren't starters, like Dave Roberts, and because the Red Sox are nice, they traded him to where he can start instead of play the bench, where as the Yanks buy top starters to play the bench, it just isn't right, and it doesen't work.

Let's see here... Bubba Crosby, Ruben Sierra, Felix Escalona, Enrique Wilson, Karim Garcia, Shane Spencer, John Flaherty, Alberto Castillo... Yeah, now there's some top tier starters that we've had on the bench for the past years! :rolleyes:

Think before you speak, kid. Hyperbole will get you nowhere.

All trash talk of your teams, all "my team is the best because" talk should go in the MLB 05 thread please. Thaaaaank You:)

Oh yes Ruben Sierra wasn't a starter oh ya that's why he was starting last year!!! There I'm done with the trash talk. I'll save the rest for the first Yanks Sox game. That'l be a good night.

Oh yes Ruben Sierra wasn't a starter oh ya that's why he was starting last year!!! There I'm done with the trash talk. I'll save the rest for the first Yanks Sox game. That'l be a good night.

Kid, Sierra didn't start last year. The Yankees' OF consists of Matsui, Williams and Sheffield.

Some famous firsts from the "modern era": Did you know that George Brett was the first player ever to win batting titles in 3 different decades? What a stud with ROIDS...Hemmeroids that is!
Take a guess with these famous firsts of the modern era:
Who was the 1st 2nd baseman to hit 30 homeruns in 2 consecutive seasons?
Who was the 1st team ever to have FOUR 30 homerun hitters in the same season?
Who was the 1st player to play for FOUR different divisions in the same season in only 2 different states?

That's an easy one - Nolan Ryan.

one thats probably even easier... who was the 1st $100 million dollar player?

Take a guess with these famous firsts of the modern era:
Who was the 1st 2nd baseman to hit 30 homeruns in 2 consecutive seasons?
Who was the 1st team ever to have FOUR 30 homerun hitters in the same season?
Who was the 1st player to play for FOUR different divisions in the same season in only 2 different states?

Joe Morgan?
Braves (Atlanta, I think)?
Didn't catch this one, but I've been ruminating the possibilities.

Joe Morgan?
Braves (Atlanta, I think)?
Didn't catch this one, but I've been ruminating the possibilities.Not even close Billy! hehe.....Wray...any guesses?

Some famous firsts from the "modern era":
Take a guess with these famous firsts of the modern era:
Who was the 1st 2nd baseman to hit 30 homeruns in 2 consecutive seasons?
Who was the 1st team ever to have FOUR 30 homerun hitters in the same season?
Who was the 1st player to play for FOUR different divisions in the same season in only 2 different states?

1) Ryno or Jeff Kent
2) Yankees
3) Uhhhh.... someone who probably sucked.

Not even close Billy! hehe.....Wray...any guesses?

Maybe the Braves were the first team with 3 players to hit 30 home runs, then? I know (much like Eddie Murray) that they did something! Maybe it was the Red Sox with 4, then (though not at a game I was at!) - that sounds familiar...

Not even close Billy! hehe.....Wray...any guesses?

Ryne Sandberg
A Yankees team?
Don't have a clue.

2nd Baseman: Sandberg
1st Team with four 30 homer dudes: 1977 Dodgers
Dave Kingman played for the Mets, Padres, Angels and Yankees in 1977.

Damn, I was thinking Dodgers and I was also thinking Kong, but I couldn't remember all the teams he played for in his illustrious career! (Also thought Sandberg would be a good guess, too!)

Kid, Sierra didn't start last year. The Yankees' OF consists of Matsui, Williams and Sheffield.

He started a lot of time as DH, at least the games I saw, and the one I went to.

Damn, I was thinking Dodgers and I was also thinking Kong, but I couldn't remember all the teams he played for in his illustrious career! (Also thought Sandberg would be a good guess, too!)I'm gonna dig out an old Kingman baseball card this weekend and check out his 1977 stats...should be interesting! It still blows me away: FOUR teams, FOUR different divisions in ONE year!

He started a lot of time as DH, at least the games I saw, and the one I went to.

On rotation out of necessity when Giambi went out.

The LA Dodgers were the first to have 4 players with 30 Homeruns in 1 season, who was the 1st American League team to do it?

April 9th 2000 the Twins vs. Royals marked the first time that each team had back to back to back homeruns. For the Twins: Coomer, Jaques Jones and Matt Lecroy...for the Royals: Beltran, Jermaine Dye and Mike Sweeney. I would like to see if Chris Berman did the "highlights" on Sportscenter for that game!!!
"BACK TO BACK TO BACK THEN BACK TO BACK TO BACK"

The LA Dodgers were the first to have 4 players with 30 Homeruns in 1 season, who was the 1st American League team to do it?

April 9th 2000 the Twins vs. Royals marked the first time that each team had back to back to back homeruns. For the Twins: Coomer, Jaques Jones and Matt Lecroy...for the Royals: Beltran, Jermaine Dye and Mike Sweeney. I would like to see if Chris Berman did the "highlights" on Sportscenter for that game!!!
"BACK TO BACK TO BACK THEN BACK TO BACK TO BACK"

I don't know if they were the first, but I'm pretty sure the Angels did it a few years ago in Mo Vaughn's only productive season. I want to say Vaughn, Glaus, G. Anderson, and Tim Salmon??

What the hell, I guess an answer and nobody bothers to respond?? :drunk:

What the hell, I guess an answer and nobody bothers to respond?? :drunk:

I guess you killed the mood for this topic. :D

What the hell, I guess an answer and nobody bothers to respond?? :drunk:You are correct with the Angels....sorry I didn't respond sooner.

How many pitchers in 2004 had a 4 strikeout inning? Yes, that is 4 strikeouts in one inning for one pitcher....it happens more than you may think.

How many pitchers in 2004 had a 4 strikeout inning? Yes, that is 4 strikeouts in one inning for one pitcher....it happens more than you may think.

Three

ThreeVery close!! Actually it is 2...Brad Lidge of the Astros, and Mike Stanton of the Mets did it last year.
The first pitcher in history was Ed Crane on 10-04-88, that's 1888;)

Very close!! Actually it is 2...Brad Lidge of the Astros, and Mike Stanton of the Mets did it last year.
The first pitcher in history was Ed Crane on 10-04-88, that's 1888;)

I just pulled that out of my ass!

The most current MLB players to have hit 2 grand slams in one game are:
Nomar Garciaparra, Bill Mueller and Fernando Tatis. Of course we already discussed that Mueller hit his from both sides of the plate...now which of the 3 hit his in one inning?;)

Well, it's a fifty-fifty guess, I'm going to say Tatis.

It's definitely Tatis.

Tatis it is...did his team win the game?

Expansion:

The Major Leagues have added 14 teams since 1961 (Los Angeles (now Anaheim) Angels & Washington Senators (now Texas Rangers) in 1961; Houston Colt .45s (now Astros) & New York Mets in 1962; Kansas City Royals, Montreal Expos (now Washington Nationals), San Diego Padres & Seattle Pilots (now Milwaukee Brewers) in 1969; Seattle Mariners & Toronto Blue Jays in 1977; Colorado Rockies & Florida Marlins in 1993 & Arizona Diamondbacks & Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1998)

Which team had the worst record in their first year?
Which team had the best?
Which team was the quickest to have "success" (winning a division or wild card)?
Which team took the longest to have "success"?

Jim Bottomley was the 1st MLB player to have 6 hits in one game, the 2nd MLB player to have 6 was Doc Cramer...they did it in the 20's and 30's and they just happened to do it TWICE!! They had a hot streak!!!
Who are the most recent MLB players to have 6 hits in one game? Let's do: American League and National League players.

Expansion:

The Major Leagues have added 14 teams since 1961 (Los Angeles (now Anaheim) Angels & Washington Senators (now Texas Rangers) in 1961; Houston Colt .45s (now Astros) & New York Mets in 1962; Kansas City Royals, Montreal Expos (now Washington Nationals), San Diego Padres & Seattle Pilots (now Milwaukee Brewers) in 1969; Seattle Mariners & Toronto Blue Jays in 1977; Colorado Rockies & Florida Marlins in 1993 & Arizona Diamondbacks & Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1998)

Which team had the worst record in their first year?
Which team had the best?
Which team was the quickest to have "success" (winning a division or wild card)?
Which team took the longest to have "success"?My guesses in order of the questions: Mets, Rockies, Marlins, Astros

Mets did have the worst record for a first-year team - 40-120 for a whopping .250 "winning" percentage! Next worse were San Diego and Montreal in 1969 with identical 52-110 records - good for a .321 winning percentage. Amazin' indeed!

The rest of your answers were, however, incorrect! Anyone else gonna take a stab?

Mets did have the worst record for a first-year team - 40-120 for a whopping .250 "winning" percentage! Next worse were San Diego and Montreal in 1969 with identical 52-110 records - good for a .321 winning percentage. Amazin' indeed!

The rest of your answers were, however, incorrect! Anyone else gonna take a stab?LOL! my "winning percentage" for your questions was the same as the Mets record.....OUCH!!!:)

LOL! my "winning percentage" for your questions was the same as the Mets record.....OUCH!!!:)

That explains why you like the Brewers! Both of your winning percentages are the same! :D

Okay, about those expansion teams -

We already know that the worst first season ever belongs to the New York Mets, and it was a doozy. Still have to wonder how the Devil Rays' first 7 seasons stack up against any of the others?

The team that had the best first season is, believe it or don't - The Los Angeles Angels who went 70-91 in their first season (1961) for a .435 winning percentage. They didn't build on that good start however as they went 18 years before winning their first division title! They did get good at changing their name, however, becoming the California Angels, and then the Anaheim Angels and now currently desiring to be called the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim". Maybe when Disney sold them they left Goofy behind? Second best start goes to the Kansas City Royals who in 1969 posted a 69-93 record, a .426 winning percentage, and they did get better, winning their first division title after only 7 years.

The team that achieved the quickest success, however, was the Arizona Diamondbacks, who won over 100 games and the division title in 1999, only their second season in the league. Also won the World Series the quickest, doing that in their 4th season (beating the Marlins by one year). The Colorado Rockies were the next quickest to achieve success by winning the Wild Card in their third year.

The team that took the longest to find success? The Washington Senators/Texas Rangers, who started play in 1961 and didn't win anything until they won their division in 1996, their 36th year of play (though they were leading the American League West with a stellar 52-62 record when the strike hit in 1994)! Next would be a three way tie between the Los Angeles/California Angels (1961-1979), Houston Colt 45's/Astros (1962-1980) and the Seattle Mariners (1977-1995) who each won the division in their 19th year in the league. So the D-Rays have a way to go, yet!

That explains why you like the Brewers! Both of your winning percentages are the same! :Dhaha!! LOL!;) .361 is the Brewers worst ever. I know, I know, it is great to be a Brewers fan, but I am DIE-HARD and ready for baseball either way!!!!:thumb:

haha!! LOL!;) .361 is the Brewers worst ever. I know, I know, it is great to be a Brewers fan, but I am DIE-HARD and ready for baseball either way!!!!:thumb:

It's all good! :thumb:

MY favorite baseball trivia question:

Who did Babe Ruth replace in the outfield for the Yankees?

Sorry if this has been asked already but....

WHO IS THE ONLY PLAYER IN THE 500 HR CLUB THAT NEVER LEAD HIS LEAGUE IN HOMERUNS???

Raffy "no roids" Palmeiro :D

This from an article on www.espn.com on the Nationals:

"The longest any ballpark has gone between playing host to a major league game is 12 years. The longest span between regularly scheduled games is five years. RFK's gap will be 34 years..."

Without looking it up, I'm guessing the 12 years refers to Milwaukee - between the Braves leaving and the Brewers arriving. I can't figure out where the "five years" comes from and how "the longest span between regularly scheduled games" differs from the "longest any ballpark has gone between playing host to a major league game". Anybody got any ideas?

Also, what team currently has a five-year streak of winning on opening day, currently the longest?

This from an article on www.espn.com (http://www.espn.com/) on the Nationals:

"The longest any ballpark has gone between playing host to a major league game is 12 years. The longest span between regularly scheduled games is five years. RFK's gap will be 34 years..."

Without looking it up, I'm guessing the 12 years refers to Milwaukee - between the Braves leaving and the Brewers arriving. I can't figure out where the "five years" comes from and how "the longest span between regularly scheduled games" differs from the "longest any ballpark has gone between playing host to a major league game". Anybody got any ideas?

Also, what team currently has a five-year streak of winning on opening day, currently the longest?I'll have to do some checking, but I think the 5 years is referring to Milwaukee...1965-1970. The 12 years is going to be tough to figure out....maybe we should e-mail the writer:confused:
I thought the longest current streak for opening day wins is 3 by a few teams.

I'll have to do some checking, but I think the 5 years is referring to Milwaukee...1965-1970. The 12 years is going to be tough to figure out....maybe we should e-mail the writer:confused:
I thought the longest current streak for opening day wins is 3 by a few teams.

My initial guess on the 12 year span is with the Polo Grounds, between the Giants (or was it Dodgers?) leaving and the Mets arriving, but I don't think that was a 12 year gap. I think that was less then 5 years.

Or - What about the Washington Pilots moving to Milwaukee and the Mariners being formed? Did they play in the same stadium initially?

Was it only 5 years between the time the Braves left Milwaukee and the Brewers arrived? Guess so.

No, the Seattle Pilots played in Sicks Stadium, the Mariners initially played in the Kingdome.

I'm pretty sure the Giants left New York in '58 or '59, so only would've been a couple of years 'til the Mets showed up.

The team that took the longest to find success? The Washington Senators/Texas Rangers, who started play in 1961 and didn't win anything until they won their division in 1996, their 36th year of play (though they were leading the American League West with a stellar 52-62 record when the strike hit in 1994)! Next would be a three way tie between the Los Angeles/California Angels (1961-1979), Houston Colt 45's/Astros (1962-1980) and the Seattle Mariners (1977-1995) who each won the division in their 19th year in the league. So the D-Rays have a way to go, yet!

I remember 1994. The fact that the Rangers were LEADING the AL West at 10 games under .500 is amazing. The Mariners were making a run at them at the time. 1994 was also the year the Kingdome's roof collapsed, sending the M's on a marathon road trip. They'd won 9 of their last 10 and were two games behind Texas when the strike hit. If it hadn't been for the strike though, it would have been one of baseball's most embarassing moments. The AL West was really, really, really bad that year -- pretty much the inverse of the last five or so years where it's been really, really, really good.

Looking back at it, 1994 was really a wacky year. Ken Griffey Jr and Matt Williams were making runs at Maris' 61 HR record. Griffey had 40 HRs and Williams 43 when the strike started. Williams was on pace for 60 and Junior (because of less games played by the M's) for 58.

The Montreal Expos were also the best team in baseball in 1994! It's interesting to wonder what a postseason appearance and/or World Series could have done for that town.

Anyways, just a few more reasons why that strike was a damned shame.

I think every stadium should have "1994" emblazoned in black on their outfield walls - if the owners and players don't realize how much damage that one strike caused and learn from it, then they need to be reminded.

1994 could've been a great year - Guitar Shark already mentioned a couple of things. The sport was soaring at the time, thriving like never before. After the strike/lockout though, it was on life support. There never would've been any thought of contraction had 1994 not happened, in my opinion. I think the sport's doing okay today - it's getting back, but they have to get past some hurdles still - get this steroid business out of the news, make sure next time there's a labor agreement to be reached, that it's reached without a lot of acrimony and certainly no threat of strike or lockout. Baseball is still the greatest game in this country, and with all of these new stadiums out there, and prices still reasonable there's no reason for it not to be "America's Pastime" still. But there can never be another 1994, at least not for a good while.

I thought I would start up some questions again to hold us over till Opening Day.

Let's talk 2005 for a bit:

Can anyone name the top 3 teams that had the highest attendance in each league? Regular season only.

I thought I would start up some questions again to hold us over till Opening Day.

Let's talk 2005 for a bit:

Can anyone name the top 3 teams that had the highest attendance in each league? Regular season only.

Psh, I can only name one: The Chicago Cubs! Didnt they crack three million again?

Psh, I can only name one: The Chicago Cubs! Didnt they crack three million again?Surprisingly no. BUT, the Cubs have been consistently above the MLB average forever. Yes they did crack 3 million, but they are not in the top 3.

Blue Jays, Yankees and Dodgers? Or is it the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (c'mon opening day...)?

Billy you have 3 right, I am looking for the top 3 in each league. AL and NL.
LAD and NYY are the top and Anaheim is 2nd in the AL.

Well, since we know the Yankees and Angels are 2 of the three....my 3rd team would have to be Boston..
As for the National league: Dodgers, St. Louis, and Giants?

Well, since we know the Yankees and Angels are 2 of the three....my 3rd team would have to be Boston..
As for the National league: Dodgers, St. Louis, and Giants?
Yup!