MLB owners and the Players Association just can’t agree on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), so there is no guarantee the 2022 season starts on time.
In reality, there is no guarantee there will be a baseball season.
However, we choose to remain optimistic and believe the two sides will eventually find common ground.
With no free agency, trades, or even quality player-related content in the league’s social media channels and outlets, there is currently no fun for fans.
Here are some ideas on what they can do to stay busy during the offseason.
Trading Cards
Trading cards are older than the game itself.
That’s obviously a hyperbole, but fans have been acquiring cards for a very long time now, and there is no reason to stop.
There is just no way to put the rush of opening a new pack of cards into words.
It’s an exciting feeling.
Tigers rookie Akil Baddoo said he got into baseball because his dad collected @Topps trading cards.
We opened up some packs, and Baddoo was ALL about it.@Tigers | @AkilBaddoo | @WXYZDetroit pic.twitter.com/KHnE1gCJy6
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) April 22, 2021
Baseball cards not only have cool pictures, but they also have useful information, stats, or records about a player, team, or stadium.
Their production probably peaked in the eighties and early nineties, but it currently remains a growing business.
Some of them are very valuable, too.
For example, a T206 Honus Wagner was sold for $6.606 million last year.
Video Games: Try Dynasty Mode
Baseball video games represents the most fun a fan can have during the lockout.
Dynasty or career mode, in particular, is a blast: you can be the general manager and build your team from scratch.
MLB The Show and Out of the Park Baseball are perhaps the two most popular games at the moment.
However, if you are feeling frisky and want to go old-school, you can try two personal favorites: Ken Griffey Jr.’s series and MVP Baseball.
MVP Baseball 2005 was released 14 years ago today 👏
Is this the best baseball video game of all time? pic.twitter.com/NSlmqqbkTv
— SportsNation (@SportsNation) February 22, 2019
In any case, you can have some fun with video games, and you can play with a friend, too.
Watch Old Games: It Never Fails!
We don’t know how long the lockout will be.
For all we know, both parties could agree on a new CBA deal in a week, just as they can do it in May or June.
In the meantime, if you really miss baseball (we all do!), you can just find some old games to see.
Postseason classics are becoming popular these days: fans can reminisce some of their fondest memories involving a team or a specific player.
Here is a fun list of the best World Series games of all time, including a modern classic: Game 7 of the 2016 World Series.
You can also watch 2011’s Game 6, 1960’s Game 7, or 2001’s Game 7.
Baseball Movies
If you don’t want to watch any games, perhaps baseball movies will do the trick for you.
There is nothing like a good baseball story to keep us engaged to the game we love.
The film industry has released countless of baseball movies: some of them are good and worth seeing 100 times; while others are not so good.
Here is a list of the 35 best baseball movies of all time by Rotten Tomatoes, and a small list of recommended films:
- Field of Dreams
- Moneyball
- Bull Durham
- 42
- The Sandlot
- A League of their Own
- Million Dollar Arm
- Fever Pitch
- 61*
- Major League
- The Pride of the Yankees
- The Bad News Bears
