On strike Fans holding up signs in protest of a baseball strike during a game between the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on August 10, 1994. The Major League Baseball strike began two days later, forcing the cancellation of the rest of the season and the World Series. Players voted on March 29, 1995, to return to work. (more) What’s the Difference Between a Lockout and a Strike? A look at the history of labor disputes in pro sports Written by Tracy Grant Tracy Grant is a senior editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. She previously served as editor in chief, the first woman to hold that title. Tracy Grant Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated May 19, 2026 •History Professional athletes are among the most highly paid workers on the planet. The owners of professional sports teams are one of the few groups richer than the athletes who work for them. As such, they seem unlikely to be at the center of high-profile, protracted work stoppages. After all, wasn’t the American labor movement born out of the need to address the most egregiously cruel working conditions? And while work stoppages can win improvements in...

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