1994 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED #V81 #8 – CGC 9.0 VF/NM – BASEBALL STRIKE ‘94 – OH WHAT A FINISH

1994 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED #V81 #8 – CGC 9.0 VF/NM – BASEBALL STRIKE ‘94 – OH WHAT A FINISH

CGC – GRADED 9.0 VERY FINE/NEAR MINT

UNIVERSAL GRADE – BLUE

CERTIFICATION NUMBER – 4359455005

AUGUST 22, 1994 – NEWSSTAND VARIANT – NO LABEL

COVER – BASEBALL ’94 – OH WHAT A FINISH

The Sports Illustrated issue from August 22, 1994 (Vol. 81, No. 8) focused heavily on the Major League Baseball strike, which had just begun on August 12, 1994. The cover story was titled “Baseball ’94: Oh, What a Finish!”—ironically highlighting the season’s dramatic momentum cut short by labor conflict. The issue also included features on the strike’s impact, Dream Team II basketball, and golfer Nick Price.

Baseball Strike – The lead article examined the sudden halt of the 1994 MLB season due to the players’ strike. It reflected on what had been shaping up to be one of the most exciting finishes in baseball history, with stars like Tony Gwynn chasing a .400 batting average and Matt Williams pursuing the home run record. The piece captured the frustration of fans and the uncertainty surrounding the future of the season.

Dream Team II – Coverage of the U.S. men’s basketball team competing at the 1994 FIBA World Championship. This was the successor to the original 1992 Olympic “Dream Team,” featuring NBA stars like Shaquille O’Neal and Reggie Miller.

Nick Price Feature – A profile on golfer Nick Price, who was dominating the PGA Tour at the time. Price had just won the British Open and PGA Championship in 1994, cementing his place as the world’s top golfer.

CONTEXT OF THE BASEBALL STRIKE – The strike began on August 12, 1994, and led to the cancellation of the remainder of the season, including the World Series—the first time since 1904 that no World Series was played.

The issue captured the immediate shock and disappointment, with SI emphasizing how the strike robbed fans of potentially historic achievements.

The cover line “Oh, What a Finish!” was deliberately ironic, underscoring the abrupt end to what could have been a legendary season.

This issue is considered a historic magazine issue because it documented the start of one of the most infamous labor disputes in American sports.

Collectors value it not only for the baseball strike coverage but also for its snapshot of mid-1990s sports culture, including basketball’s global expansion and golf’s rising stars.

PUBLISHER – TIME, INC

CONTRIBUTORS – RICHARD HOFFER, PETER KING, RICK REILLY, PHIL TAYLOR, KELLY WHITESIDE, FRANK DEFORD

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