CFBL 1994, Year #5

Lock-out Ends CFBL Season Before a Champion Is Crowned

The 1994 CFBL season was abbreviated - on purpose - in order to avoid playing into mid and late September (when benchings affect player productivity) and to have adequate time for best-of-three playoffs.  Little did the league know that that was the only way a full regular season would get played, a player strike cutting the post-season short.

The strike cost CFBL a champion and ruined a breakthrough season for the lowly Clubbers, who had had a combined 16-45 record over their first three years in the league.  It also stopped short an outstanding Cactus Scouts season, although it didn't stop Scout team owners from arguing - unsuccessfully - their claim to the championship because of their 12-2 regular season record. 


team (owners) bonus pick

     Clubbers:  McGriff (Gonzalez)

     Young Guns:  Belle

     River Rats:  Carter (Bonds)

     Homeboys:  Thomas

     Foul Polls:  Juan Gonzalez ($31)

     Spin Doctors (Jeff & Scott Raimundo):  Matt Williams

     The Casuals:  Bonds ($46.60)

     Cactus Scouts:  Griffey

New Rules: Owners were allowed a silent bid on Bonus Round pick-ups, rather than a luck draw; bids were subtracted from the season salary cap.  A 14-week season (payoffs for each half, but playoffs for top 4 overall teams only) was instituted.  Trades were changed to no-approval, limited to the 1st half of the season, a key in keeping the commissioner's sanity.

Season: The Clubbers, the surprise team of the year, never fell below 2nd place.  But the Cactus Scouts were the best team, finishing the regular season with a 12-2 record, the best w-l percentage ever in FBL.  The River Rats tied the Scouts for the 1st half title, but then faded and were barely able to hold onto a playoff spot.  The Young Guns spent the 1st half in the 2nd division, but a strong 2nd half (5-2) gave them a 2nd place tie with the Rats and Clubbers.  All three finished a game ahead of The Casuals. 
  


Regular Season Standings:

     Cactus Scouts (12-2)

     Clubbers (8-6)

     River Rats (8-6)

     Young Guns (8-6)

     Casuals (7-7)

     Foul Polls (5-9)

     Homeboys (4-10)

     Spin Doctors (3-11)


The Playoffs: The post-season was played under the cloud of a players' strike, with no telling when the season might be stopped for a short or long period.  The Scouts tested their favored status against the rival Rats and easily won the best 2-of-3 in two weeks.  The Gun-Clubber playoff was far closer.  The Guns squeaked by the Clubs in the first game by 3.  The 2nd game was even closer as the two teams battled to a 123-123 tie; the Clubbers won the tie-breaker by one.  The third game stayed close the entire week, with the Clubs pulling away on the last day for a 12-point win.

The players' strike abruptly ended the FBL post-season.  Although the Cactus Scouts put up a good argument for being named the champions, FBL history showed that the favorite had never won the title, so the season ended without a champion being crowned.

U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago White Sox