Reese Kaplan -- It's Not the First Season Without Baseball

So life without baseball calls to mind the strike years when the players and the owners couldn’t get together regarding the proper way to compensate the ones who are actually on the field making the games happen.  In 1994-1995 there were 948 games missed as a result of the work stoppage.  

I remember that period very well as I was finally out of college, working, earning a decent if not sensational living, and was looking forward to having the time and interest in going out to Shea Stadium on weekdays after work in Manhattan or on weekends on drives from New Jersey over to the LaGuardia Airport vicinity.  

The main issue at the time was a proposed salary cap for players which they were ill equipped to dispute without an official commissioner in place once the owners put Fay Vincent out to pasture.  They didn’t like the fact that he was holding the owners accountable for the free agency collusion headed by Bud Selig and Jerry Reinsdorf. Donald Fehr wouldn’t allow the owners to foist the salary cap onto the players and after the collective bargaining agreement ran out the players went on strike.  

At the time the 1994 Mets had an unimpressive 55-58 record under poorly regarded manager Dallas Green who operated his club like a drill sergeant without the corresponding results.  In the off-season perhaps the biggest transaction was sending ill-suited outfielder Vince Coleman out to the land of barbecue in exchange for a second time around with Kevin McReynolds.  While the Mets were glad to be rid of the firecracker clown, he did steal 50 bases for the Royals and lasted another few productive years running.  

Also during this off-season the Mets traded my future El Paso hometown hero, Alan Zinter, from their minor league organization to the Detroit Tigers for hard hitting but poor health prospect Rico Brogna.  In parts of three seasons with the Mets Brogna hit .291 with 36 HRs and 126 RBIs. Unfortunately, his ankylosing spondylitis (spinal arthritis) terminated his career early and it was concern about this health condition that led the Mets to trade him to the Phillies for a few no-name players after his productive stay in New York.  He was out of baseball at age 31, his last full time play taking place at age 29.  

1995 wasn’t any better.  Once again under the forceful but unproductive helm of Dallas Green the Mets fashioned a losing record of 69-75.  The most interesting acquisition by the Mets in the off-season was pitching prospect Dave Mlicki who turned out to be surprisingly productive.  He pitched to an unremarkable 4.15 ERA over his four years with the Mets, but at that time as bad as the club was, it was considered effective.  

This time around the Mets are a much more competitive team wasting away on the sidelines due to health concerns.  Whether they start up with no fans in the stands, limited audience available or regular full stands, it’s going to be most welcome to have the games return.