Play Ball? Navigating the 1994-95 MLB Strike

---

Sam Chernoff (He/Him) is a junior at Emory majoring in Public Policy & Analysis. He previously attended Emory's Oxford Campus, where he was first exposed to Model UN through EIRA's Oxford branch, OIRA. Outside of Model UN, Sam is a passionate musician, avid hiker, and of course, a die hard sports fan. At MUNE, Sam is excited to combine the worlds of policy and sports to create a unique and memorable crisis experience. He is looking forward to a weekend of spirited debate, uniquely structured directives, and observing how the choices delegates will shape the future of baseball. Sam is excited to crisis direct a "home run" of a committee and can't wait to see the unique perspectives each delegate brings to the world of baseball during committee.    

Diya Nair

This crisis committee will see delegates take the role of  baseball players, owners, managers, and everyone else caught in the crossfire of the 1994-95 MLB Players Strike. The strike, now approaching its 30th anniversary, was one of the most significant labor stoppages in modern sports history and even led to the cancellation of the 1994 World Series. Delegates will begin debate in the aftermath of this historic event when tensions between owners and players were at their peak. Key issues that will be addressed during committee include responding to the owners' proposed salary cap, deciding the future structure of free agency and player contracts, and avoiding the impending reality of a season with replacement players. Of course, these issues are just the beginning of the pile of problems larger than Fenway Park’s famous Green Monster facing the game of baseball. Fans are furious that America’s pastime has no return date in sight, merchandise sales are on a steep decline, and television production is in a state of pure chaos. Even the United States government has threatened to take action to restart America’s Pastime! Will delegates be able to hit a grand slam and return MLB to its former glory or is it one, two, three strikes you’re out for the game of baseball as we know it?