The Cincinnati Reds were World Series contenders the last time there was an MLB work stoppage.

So at 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, MLB’s CBA expired and baseball soon after began its first work stoppage in 26 years. Here’s what you need to know. Why might there be an MLB lockout?

The 1994-95 stoppage ended only when a federal judge - future Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor - issued an injunction forcing owners to restore the work rules of the expired labor contract.

That stoppage ended only when a federal judge -- future Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor -- issued an injunction forcing owners to restore the work rules of the expired labor contract.

That stoppage ended only when a federal judge — future Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor — issued an injunction forcing owners to restore the work rules of the expired labor contract.

MLB locked out its players just after midnight ET Thursday, triggering the league’s first work stoppage since the 1994 strike that canceled the World Series. It is a long expected, but still ...

MLB locked out its players just after midnight ET Thursday, triggering the league’s first work stoppage since the 1994 strike that canceled the World Series.

That stoppage ended only when a federal judge — future Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor — issued an injunction forcing owners to restore the work rules of the expired labor contract.

MLB locked out its players just after midnight ET Thursday, triggering the league’s first work stoppage since the 1994 strike that canceled the World Series. It is a long expected, but still ...

That stoppage ended only when a federal judge — future Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor — issued an injunction forcing owners to restore the work rules of the expired labor contract.

MLB is on the verge of its first work stoppage since a strike canceled the 1994 World Series, which could put a pause on all offseason activities.

Historically MLB and the players’ association have avoided work stoppages for a long, long time, longer than any other professional sport. So let’s hope that that continues through next year.” ...