Call to the pen
Fansided

MLB history: Lessons learned during the previous MLB lockout in 1990

By Noah Yingling

ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 1990: MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent looks on during a July 1990 Texas Rangers game at Arlington Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by A. Kaye/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 1990: MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent looks on during a July 1990 Texas Rangers game at Arlington Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by A. Kaye/Getty Images) /
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Fay Vincent, MLBPA, MLB, MLB lockout
FLORIDA – MARCH 1992: MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent and Philadelphia Phillies manager Jim Fregosi look on before a Spring Training game in March 1992 in Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Ramifications of the 1990 MLB lockout

The 1990 CBA was widely viewed as a win for the MLBPA, which is something that one of the chief negotiators for the owners in 1990, Milwaukee Brewers owner Bud Selig, and a few other owners who supported Selig, did not forget.

The owners forced Fay Vincent out of his office in 1992 and Selig himself became the Acting Commissioner until he was named the full-time Commissioner in 1998.

They didn’t forget at the next labor negotiations either, which is why they dug their heels into the flesh of the MLBPA in the 1994-1995 strike.

They never backed down on their proposals even when President Bill Clinton and federal arbitrators intervened. Eventually, future Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor ruled in favor of the MLBPA. For the next CBA put in place in 1997, it was largely viewed as another win for the MLBPA.

That’s why the start of the 2002 MLB season started without a CBA. The MLBPA imposed a deadline of August 30 until they went on strike. After Selig cried poor with the MLB owners claiming that they lost over $500 million in 2001 alone and the MLBPA fought steroid testing, they agreed upon a new CBA just a few hours before games were to start on August 30.

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