What if the players hadn't gone on strike in 1994?(Baseball)

In summer 1993, major league baseball fans set an attendance record, thanks in part to the arrival of the expansion Rockies and Marlins. Without a players strike in 1994, that momentum could have led to untold gains at the turnstile as the nation rolled into the economic boom of the late '90s. One thing is for certain--Cal Ripken's pursuit of Lou Gehrig and Mark McGwire's and Sammy Sosa's pursuit of Roger Maris wouldn't have been needed to "save" baseball. On-field milestones still would have been a boost to the sport, but the boost would have been from an already sky-high level. What if the players hadn't walked out?

What if ...

The Braves had signed Barry Bonds before the 1993 season Instead of Greg Maddux?

Bonds provides the offensive jolt the early-'90s Braves teams lack, but couple him with David Justice, who doesn't fit in with the Braves' ultra-professional clubhouse, and there is chemistry trouble. Justice is traded, meaning left fielder Ron Gant has to move to right with Bonds taking over in left. Maddux, who wants to stay in the N.L. but covets a championship, signs with the Yankees, anchoring the staff and jump-starting the team's dynasty a year or two earlier. With Bonds, the Braves become one of baseball's best all-around teams and get past the Phillies and Blue Jays to win the 1993 World Series. However, they lose the '95 Series, as they aren't able to fend off the powerful Indians without Maddux in the rotation.--Kent Babb

The Red Sox hadn't sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees?

There is no Curse of the Bambino, of course, and the Sox never become lovable losers. They remain one of the American League's elite teams in the 1920s. Ruth anchors the lineup, and other key players, such as pitchers Herb Pennock, Waite Hoyt, Joe Bush and Sam Jones, shortstop Everett Scott, third baseman Joe Dugan and catcher Wally Schang, stay in Boston instead of going to New York in money-driven trades. The Yankees still final great players--Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle--but without Ruth there's no Murderers Row, and the club doesn't win its first World Series until 1936. Because Ruth plays his home games at spacious Fenway Park---not the Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium, which are tailor-made to his lefty power swing--his season home run mark of 50 set in 1927 is bettered by five other players over the next 20 years. Nonetheless, Ruth's legend is cemented when he hits his 600th homer in his last career at-bat.--Chris Bahr, T.G.

 
           HISTORY ...                          ... REVISED 
 
1 The Expos hold the best record    1 The Expos finish the season with 
in baseball, 74-40, when players    the best record and win home-field 
strike on August 12, 1994. Eight    advantage for the newly expanded 
months later, Larry Walker leaves   playoffs. With Martinez and Walker 
as a free agent. The club trades    providing the heroics, the team 
Ken Hill, John Wetteland and        goes on to win the World Series 
Marquis Grissom for financial       over the Yankees. Buoyed by the 
reasons. After the 1996 season,     momentum of a championship, 
it loses Moises Alou as a free      Montreal approves plans for a new 
agent. In November 1997, it trades  downtown ballpark. The Expos keep  ...