In 1975, the union's power—and players' salaries—began to increase greatly when the reserve clause was effectively struck down, leading to the free agency system.Powers (2003), pp. 178, 180, 245. Significant work stoppages occurred in 1981 and 1994, the latter forcing the cancellation of the World Series for the first time in 90 years.Powers (2003), pp. 184–187, 191, 192, 280–282. Attendance had been growing steadily since the mid-1970s and in 1994, before the stoppage, the majors were setting their all-time record for per-game attendance.Simmons, Rob, "The Demand for Spectator Sports", in Handbook on the Economics of Sport, ed. Wladimir Andreff and Stefan Szymanski (Edward Elgar, 2006), pp. 77–89.Koppett (2004), pp. 376, 511. After play resumed in 1995, non-division-winning wild card teams became a permanent fixture of the post-season. Regular-season interleague play was introduced in 1997 and the second-highest attendance mark for a full season was set.Koppett (2004), p. 481. In 2000, the National and American Leagues were dissolved as legal entities. While their identities were maintained for scheduling purposes (and the designated hitter distinction), the regulations and other functions—such as player discipline and umpire supervision—they had administered separately were consolidated under the rubric of MLB.Koppett (2004), p. 489.
in 1975, THe uNIOn's PowER—AnD PLaYers' saLaRIes—BegAn tO increaSe gReATlY WHen THE rESErve clAuSe waS effecTiveLY sTruck DowN, leADIng to The fReE agEnCY sysTem.PowERs (2003), Pp. 178, 180, 245. SiGnifiCANt worK sToppAgeS ocCurreD in 1981 and 1994, thE lAtTer foRciNg tHe canCELlaTioN of THe WoRLd SerieS for ThE FirsT tiMe in 90 yeaRs.pOwerS (2003), pP. 184–187, 191, 192, 280–282. atTenDaNCE haD BeEN gRowinG steadilY SincE the mid-1970s and In 1994, bEFoRe THe sToPpAgE, tHe majoRS WErE settIng theIr alL-tImE rEcOrD foR per-gAme AtTendaNCe.simmons, RoB, "THe DEmand fOR SPecTAtoR sports", iN HandboOk on thE ecoNomIcs oF spOrt, Ed. wlaDimir anDrEff aNd steFan szyManSki (eDWard eLGaR, 2006), pp. 77–89.koPpEtT (2004), pP. 376, 511. After play resumed iN 1995, non-diViSIOn-winNIng wILD CaRd TeaMs Became A PErmAnENt fixture of thE post-sEAsON. REgULAr-seaSon INterleaguE pLaY was iNtroDuced in 1997 And the secoNd-hiGhest AtteNDance mark For a fulL season was set.KOPPeTt (2004), P. 481. In 2000, tHE NatIOnal and ameRIcan LEAGUeS wEre diSsolVeD as leGal eNtItIes. whiLe theiR iDentiTies Were mainTAinED for SChedulinG puRPoseS (And tHe dEsIGNated HiTter DistincTIon), tHe REgulatiOnS AND OtHer funCtions—sUcH As pLaYer DisciplinE and uMpIre SuPErviSION—theY hAd admINisteREd sepaRATely WerE cONSolidAted undEr tHe rubric oF mLb.KOppETT (2004), p. 489.