Former Oakland A’s left fielder and Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson (left) and the author Amaury Pi Gonzalez (right) take time out for a photo at the Oakland Coliseum (photo from Amaury Pi Gonzalez Oakland A’s Spanish radio)

From My Notebook 1981 Players Strike

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

A lockout following the 2026 MLB season is considered “almost guaranteed” 90% chance by union officials,

 The current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires Dec. 1, 2026, with major disputes expected over a potential salary cap, team revenue sharing, and escalating contract numbers. 

History of Work stoppages: (Nine (9) Four lockouts and Five strikes. Mostly focused on free agency, salary arbitration, pension funds, and revenue sharing.

There have been nine major work stoppages in Major League Baseball (MLB) history between owners and the players’ union, consisting of four lockouts and five strikes. These labor disputes have primarily focused on free agency, salary arbitration, revenue sharing, and pension funds, with the 1994-95 strike and 2021-22 lockout being among the most severe.

However, the one I mostly remember was the very interesting 1981 season work stoppage. A 50-day strike from June 12 to July 31, 1981. It was the second strike in MLB history, and 712 games were cancelled, which is more than one-third of the season. Billy Martin was the A’s manager, and it was known as “Billy Ball”

The A’s won the American League West first-half title as they swept the Kansas City Royals 3-0 in the Division Series and later were swept by the New York Yankees 3-0. The A’s played both teams on the road at KC and at NY. Julio González was my broadcast and traveling partner during this very unusual season.

Rickey Henderson was having a very good year. He told me he was not happy with the labor dispute, but he was having a good season, and the labor dispute did not distract him from his play on the field. Was he right?

Well, in 1981, Rickey Henderson became a big star, which eventually led to his induction into the Hall of Fame years later. Rickey finished second in AL MVP voting, led the AL in hits with 135, runs with 89, and steals with 56, while hitting .319, fourth best in the American League.

 Rickey Henderson was Billy Martin’s favorite player; Rickey exemplifies the type of hustle that Billy always admired. As a player, Billy Martin was a hard-nosed, scrappy type of player; he loved players who hustled on the field, and Ricky Henderson was that type of player.

Note: Oakland A’s Andy Dolich’s creative marketing campaigns, which included the now-famous ‘BillyBall’ radio and television ads. Andy was the best executive the A’s ever had inside their marketing department. Oakland A’s fans can’t forget the song “Billy-Ball, the lyrics were a parody song in the tune of Charlie Brown by The Coasters. His work on the Oakland A’s “BillyBall” was a big hit. 

Andy Dolich won a Clio Award for his work on the Oakland A’s “BillyBall” campaign during his time as a marketing executive with the team in the 1980s.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

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