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1994 Major League Baseball season

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This article is about the 1994 Major League Baseball season only. For information on all of baseball, see 1994 in baseball.

The 1994 Major League Baseball season began on April 3, but ended prematurely on August 11, 1994, with the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike. The season started despite the expiration of MLB's previous collective bargaining agreement at the end of 1993. It was the first season played under the current three-division format in each league. It was also the first with an Opening Night game involving two National League teams, which did not become permanent until 1996.

1994 MLB season
LeagueMajor League Baseball
SportBaseball
DurationApril 3 – August 11, 1994
Number of games162 (scheduled)
112–117 (actual)[1]
Number of teams28
TV partner(s)
Draft
Top draft pickPaul Wilson
Picked byNew York Mets
Regular season
Season MVPNL: Jeff Bagwell (HOU)
AL: Frank Thomas (CWS)
MLB seasons
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Locations of teams for the 1994–1996 American League seasons
West   Central   East
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Locations of teams for the 1994 National League season
West   Central   East

Strike

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Main article: 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike

As a result of a players' strike, the MLB season ended prematurely on August 11, 1994. No postseason (including the World Series) was played. Over 260 players were scheduled to exceed $1 million in compensation in 1994.[2] The Minor League Baseball season was played in its entirety.

Awards and honors

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Further information: 1994 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting
Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards
BBWAA Award National League American League
Rookie of the Year Raúl Mondesí (LA) Bob Hamelin (KC)
Cy Young Award Greg Maddux (ATL) David Cone (KC)
Manager of the Year Felipe Alou (MTL) Buck Showalter (NYY)
Most Valuable Player Jeff Bagwell (HOU) Frank Thomas (CWS)
Gold Glove Awards
Position National League American League
Pitcher Greg Maddux (ATL) Mark Langston (CAL)
Catcher Tom Pagnozzi (STL) Iván Rodríguez (TEX)
First Baseman Jeff Bagwell (HOU) Don Mattingly (NYY)
Second Baseman Craig Biggio (HOU) Roberto Alomar (TOR)
Third Baseman Matt Williams (SF) Wade Boggs (NYY)
Shortstop Barry Larkin (CIN) Omar Vizquel (CLE)
Outfielders Barry Bonds (SF) Kenny Lofton (CLE)
Darren Lewis (SF) Devon White (TOR)
Marquis Grissom (MTL) Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA)
Silver Slugger Awards
Pitcher/Designated Hitter Mark Portugal (SF) Julio Franco (CWS)
Catcher Mike Piazza (LA) Iván Rodríguez (TEX)
First Baseman Jeff Bagwell (HOU) Frank Thomas (CWS)
Second Baseman Craig Biggio (HOU) Carlos Baerga (CLE)
Third Baseman Matt Williams (SF) Wade Boggs (NYY)
Shortstop Wil Cordero (MTL) Cal Ripken Jr. (BAL)
Outfielders Barry Bonds (SF) Albert Belle (CLE)
Moisés Alou (MTL) Kirby Puckett (MIN)
Tony Gwynn (SD) Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA)

Other awards

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Player of the Month

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Month American League National League
April Joe Carter Ellis Burks
May Frank Thomas Lenny Dykstra
Mike Piazza
June Albert Belle Jeff Bagwell
July Frank Thomas Jeff Bagwell

Pitcher of the Month

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Month American League National League
April Ben McDonald Bob Tewksbury
May David Cone Doug Drabek
June Cal Eldred Bobby Muñoz
July Alex Fernandez Bret Saberhagen

Statistical leaders

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Statistic American League National League
AVG Paul O'Neill NYY .359 Tony Gwynn SD .394
HR Ken Griffey Jr. SEA 40 Matt Williams SF 43
RBI Kirby Puckett MIN 112 Jeff Bagwell HOU 116
Wins Jimmy Key NYY 17 Ken Hill MTL
Greg Maddux ATL		 16
ERA Steve Ontiveros OAK 2.65 Greg Maddux ATL 1.56
SO Randy Johnson SEA 204 Andy Benes SD 189
SV Lee Smith BAL 33 John Franco NYM 30
SB Kenny Lofton CLE 60 Craig Biggio HOU 39

Standings

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American League

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AL East
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
New York Yankees 70 43 .619 — 33‍–‍24 37‍–‍19
Baltimore Orioles 63 49 .562 6½ 28‍–‍27 35‍–‍22
Toronto Blue Jays 55 60 .478 16 33‍–‍26 22‍–‍34
Boston Red Sox 54 61 .470 17 31‍–‍33 23‍–‍28
Detroit Tigers 53 62 .461 18 34‍–‍24 19‍–‍38
AL Central
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Chicago White Sox 67 46 .593 — 34‍–‍19 33‍–‍27
Cleveland Indians 66 47 .584 1 35‍–‍16 31‍–‍31
Kansas City Royals 64 51 .557 4 35‍–‍24 29‍–‍27
Minnesota Twins 53 60 .469 14 32‍–‍27 21‍–‍33
Milwaukee Brewers 53 62 .461 15 24‍–‍32 29‍–‍30
AL West
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Texas Rangers 52 62 .456 — 31‍–‍32 21‍–‍30
Oakland Athletics 51 63 .447 1 24‍–‍32 27‍–‍31
Seattle Mariners 49 63 .438 2 22‍–‍22 27‍–‍41
California Angels 47 68 .409 5½ 23‍–‍40 24‍–‍28

National League

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NL East
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Montreal Expos 74 40 .649 — 32‍–‍20 42‍–‍20
Atlanta Braves 68 46 .596 6 31‍–‍24 37‍–‍22
New York Mets 55 58 .487 18½ 23‍–‍30 32‍–‍28
Philadelphia Phillies 54 61 .470 20½ 34‍–‍26 20‍–‍35
Florida Marlins 51 64 .443 23½ 25‍–‍34 26‍–‍30
NL Central
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Cincinnati Reds 66 48 .579 — 37‍–‍22 29‍–‍26
Houston Astros 66 49 .574 ½ 37‍–‍22 29‍–‍27
Pittsburgh Pirates 53 61 .465 13 32‍–‍29 21‍–‍32
St. Louis Cardinals 53 61 .465 13 23‍–‍33 30‍–‍28
Chicago Cubs 49 64 .434 16½ 20‍–‍39 29‍–‍25
NL West
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Los Angeles Dodgers 58 56 .509 — 33‍–‍22 25‍–‍34
San Francisco Giants 55 60 .478 3½ 29‍–‍31 26‍–‍29
Colorado Rockies 53 64 .453 6½ 25‍–‍32 28‍–‍32
San Diego Padres 47 70 .402 12½ 26‍–‍31 21‍–‍39
  • On September 14, the remainder of the major league season was canceled by acting commissioner Bud Selig after 34 days of the players' strike.

Home field attendance and payroll

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Team name Wins %± Home attendance %± Per game Est. payroll %±
Colorado Rockies[3] 53 −20.9% 3,281,511 −26.8% 57,570 $23,887,333 130.7%
Toronto Blue Jays[4] 55 −42.1% 2,907,933 −28.3% 49,287 $43,433,668 −8.1%
Atlanta Braves[5] 68 −34.6% 2,539,240 −34.6% 46,168 $49,383,513 18.6%
Baltimore Orioles[6] 63 −25.9% 2,535,359 −30.4% 46,097 $38,849,769 33.5%
Texas Rangers[7] 52 −39.5% 2,503,198 11.5% 39,733 $32,973,597 −9.4%
Philadelphia Phillies[8] 54 −44.3% 2,290,971 −27.0% 38,183 $31,599,000 10.7%
Los Angeles Dodgers[9] 58 −28.4% 2,279,355 −28.1% 41,443 $38,000,001 −3.7%
Cleveland Indians[10] 66 −13.2% 1,995,174 −8.4% 39,121 $30,490,500 64.3%
Florida Marlins[11] 51 −20.3% 1,937,467 −36.8% 32,838 $21,633,000 11.9%
Cincinnati Reds[12] 66 −9.6% 1,897,681 −22.6% 31,628 $41,073,833 −8.5%
St. Louis Cardinals[13] 53 −39.1% 1,866,544 −34.4% 33,331 $29,275,601 25.3%
Chicago Cubs[14] 49 −41.7% 1,845,208 −30.5% 31,275 $36,287,333 −7.9%
Boston Red Sox[15] 54 −32.5% 1,775,818 −26.7% 27,747 $37,859,084 2.0%
San Francisco Giants[16] 55 −46.6% 1,704,608 −34.6% 28,410 $42,638,666 21.3%
Chicago White Sox[17] 67 −28.7% 1,697,398 −34.2% 32,026 $39,183,836 −1.3%
New York Yankees[18] 70 −20.5% 1,675,556 −30.7% 29,396 $46,040,334 7.8%
Houston Astros[19] 66 −22.4% 1,561,136 −25.1% 26,460 $33,126,000 9.7%
California Angels[20] 47 −33.8% 1,512,622 −26.5% 24,010 $25,156,218 −12.0%
Kansas City Royals[21] 64 −23.8% 1,400,494 −27.6% 23,737 $40,541,334 −2.2%
Minnesota Twins[22] 53 −25.4% 1,398,565 −31.7% 23,704 $28,438,500 0.8%
Montreal Expos[23] 74 −21.3% 1,276,250 −22.2% 24,543 $19,098,000 1.1%
Milwaukee Brewers[24] 53 −23.2% 1,268,399 −24.9% 22,650 $24,350,500 2.3%
Oakland Athletics[25] 51 −25.0% 1,242,692 −38.9% 22,191 $34,172,500 −9.6%
Pittsburgh Pirates[26] 53 −29.3% 1,222,520 −25.9% 20,041 $24,217,250 −2.4%
Detroit Tigers[27] 53 −37.6% 1,184,783 −39.9% 20,427 $41,446,501 8.6%
New York Mets[28] 55 −6.8% 1,151,471 −38.5% 21,726 $30,956,583 −20.7%
Seattle Mariners[29] 49 −40.2% 1,104,206 −46.2% 25,096 $29,228,500 −13.1%
San Diego Padres[30] 47 −23.0% 953,857 −30.7% 16,734 $14,916,333 −41.5%

Television coverage

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This was the first season of The Baseball Network, the joint venture between MLB, ABC, and NBC. Meanwhile, ESPN renewed its contract for Sunday Night Baseball and Wednesday Night Baseball.

Under The Baseball Network's original plan, the All-Star Game would alternate between NBC in even-numbered years and ABC in odd-numbered years. After the All-Star Game was complete,[31] ABC took over coverage with what was to be their weekly slate of games under the Baseball Night in America banner.[32] ABC was scheduled to televise six[33] regular season games on Saturdays[34] or Mondays[35] in prime time. NBC[36][37] would then pick up where ABC left off by televising six more regular season Friday night[38][39][40] games. Every Baseball Night in America game was scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (or 8 p.m. Pacific Time if the game occurred on the West Coast[41]). A single starting time gave the networks the opportunity to broadcast one game and then, simultaneously, cut to another game when there was a break in action.

The networks had exclusive rights for the twelve regular season dates, in that no regional or national cable service (such as ESPN or superstations like Chicago's WGN-TV[42] or Atlanta's WTBS) or over-the-air[43] broadcaster was allowed[44] to telecast a Major League Baseball game on those dates. Baseball Night in America[45] (which premiered[46] on July 16, 1994) usually aired up to fourteen games[47] based on the viewers' region (affiliates chose games of local interest to carry) as opposed to a traditional coast-to-coast format.[48] Normally, announcers who represented each of the teams playing in the respective games were paired with each other. More specifically, on regional Saturday night broadcasts and all non-"national" broadcasts, TBN let the two lead announcers from the opposing teams call the games involving their teams together.

Postseason coverage would have also alternated between the two networks. In even-numbered years, NBC would have the rights to the All-Star Game and both League Championship Series while ABC would have the World Series[49] and newly created Division Series.[50][51]

When the player's strike began on August 12, ABC had only aired games on four of its six scheduled dates,[52][53] while NBC's slate was supposed to begin on August 26.[54][55][56]

Network Day of week Announcers
ABC Saturday nights
Monday nights 		Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver
See also: The Baseball Network announcers
NBC Friday nights[n1 1] Bob Costas, Joe Morgan, Bob Uecker
ESPN Sunday nights
Wednesday nights 		Jon Miller, Joe Morgan
See also: List of ESPN Major League Baseball broadcasters

Events

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Movies

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The following are baseball movies released in 1994:

Deaths

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  • January 8 – Harvey Haddix, 68, All-Star pitcher best remembered for a 1959 game with the Pirates in which he threw 12 perfect innings before losing in the 13th; won 20 games for 1953 Cardinals and earned three Gold Gloves. Member of 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates, who won the World Series.
  • January 9 – Johnny Temple, 66, All-Star second baseman, primarily for the Cincinnati Reds, who batted .300 three times
  • January 10 – Chub Feeney, 72, National League president from 1970 to 1986; previously an executive and broadcaster with the Giants
  • February 12 – Ray Dandridge, 80, Hall of Fame third baseman of the Negro leagues who often batted over .350
  • March 16 – Eric Show, 37, pitcher who won 100 games for the San Diego Padres and surrendered Pete Rose's record 4,192nd hit
  • May 9 – Ralph Brickner, 69, pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in the 1950s
  • June 12 – Jim Brock, 57, coach at Arizona State since 1972 who led the Sun Devils to two College World Series titles (1977, 1981)
  • June 23 – Marv Throneberry, 62, first baseman for the Yankees, Orioles, Mets, and Kansas City A's
  • July 14 – César Tovar, 54, outfielder for the Minnesota Twins who in 1968 became the second major leaguer to play all nine positions in a game; had his team's only hit on five occasions
  • September 5 – Hank Aguirre, 63, All-Star pitcher who led AL in ERA in 1962 with the Detroit Tigers
  • December 26 – Allie Reynolds, 77, 6-time All-Star pitcher, mainly with the Yankees, who led AL in ERA in 1952 and in strikeouts and shutouts twice; in 1951 was first AL pitcher to throw two no-hitters in same year, and was MVP runner-up in 1952; career .630 winning percentage

References

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  1. ^ Due to the strike, NBC wasn't able to broadcast their slate of games for The Baseball Network, which was supposed to begin on August 26.
  1. ^ "The 1994 Season". Retrosheet. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  2. ^ "Baseball's millionaires". Toledo Blade. Associated Press. August 14, 1994. p. B-5.
  3. ^ "Colorado Rockies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  4. ^ "Toronto Blue Jays Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  5. ^ "Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  6. ^ "Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  7. ^ "Texas Rangers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  8. ^ "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  9. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  10. ^ "Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  11. ^ "Florida Marlins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  12. ^ "Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  13. ^ "St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  14. ^ "Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  15. ^ "Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  16. ^ "San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  17. ^ "Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  18. ^ "New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  19. ^ "Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  20. ^ "Los Angeles Angels Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  21. ^ "Kansas City Royals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  22. ^ "Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  23. ^ "Washington Nationals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  24. ^ "Milwaukee Brewers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  25. ^ "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  26. ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  27. ^ "Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  28. ^ "New York Mets Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  29. ^ "Seattle Mariners Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  30. ^ "San Diego Padres Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  31. ^ "Two stations forming new baseball network". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. March 31, 1994.
  32. ^ Jim Baker (July 16, 1995). "Michaels will carry on till baseball's last inning". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  33. ^ Fang, Ken (October 25, 2016). "Does the MLB on TBS package really benefit fans and viewers?". Awful Announcing.
  34. ^ "ABC 'Baseball Night' takes ratings beating". USA Today. July 19, 1995. Retrieved May 31, 2011.[dead link‍]
  35. ^ Larry, Stewart (July 21, 1995). "ABC Getting a Major Chance With British Open Coverage". Los Angeles Times.
  36. ^ "Abc No. 1". Sun Sentinel. September 8, 1995. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  37. ^ "List of Week's TV Ratings". Associated Press News. September 19, 1995.
  38. ^ Shapario, Leonard (October 18, 1995). "CBS DENIES REPORT OF BROADCAST DEAL". The Washington Post.
  39. ^ "'Blockbuster' Deal Ensures ACC TV Coverage in Every Sport". The State. August 26, 1995. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  40. ^ "Former Raiders Great Says Team Belongs in Oakland". The Roanoke Times. July 15, 1995. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  41. ^ "'Baseball Night in America' Means No Day Games Today". San Jose Mercury News. July 16, 1994. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  42. ^ Nidetz, Steve (August 23, 1995). "Cubs Viewers Thrown A Curve By Tbn Blackout". Chicago Tribune.
  43. ^ Jack Craig (August 11, 1995). "Sox get new player tomorrow -- Ch. 68". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  44. ^ Prentis Rogers (August 25, 1995). "Baseball Network package tunes out Braves-Cubs today". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  45. ^ Robert Koehler (July 10, 1994). "Networking the Ballparks : ABC and NBC Take Separate Turns at Bat to Drive Home Regular and Post-Season Play". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  46. ^ KAPP 35 ABC Commercials July 13, 1994 on YouTube
  47. ^ "The Baseball Network May Strike Out on 1st Pitch". The Roanoke Times. June 11, 1994. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  48. ^ Jayson Stark (April 2, 1994). "Baseball on Tv Won't Be The Baseball That You're Used to the Picture Tube Will Still Be The Same Shape (probably). Very Little Else Will Be Familiar, However". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  49. ^ "More tales of The Baseball Network". SIU Daily Egyptian. July 26, 1995. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2015. ABC lost the 1994 World Series; this was supposed to be NBC's year. Instead, they split the spoils. Who got the better of the deal? Let's see. The networks each get 6 percent of the advertising revenues; baseball gets 88 percent. Call it a draw.
  50. ^ Fritz Quindt (July 15, 1994). "Once a week, The Baseball Network will wield control over all but the inevitable". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved May 31, 2011.[dead link‍]
  51. ^ "Baseball players unlikely to endorse new playoffs". The Daily Reporter. August 24, 1993.
  52. ^ Terry Armour (July 15, 1994). "Abc Hopes There's No Baseball Strike, But Just in Case . . ". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  53. ^ "Networks bracing for baseball strike". Gainesville Sun. July 30, 1994.
  54. ^ Lammer, Patrick (December 31, 1994). "Simpson saga 1994 Lammys story of the year". Ocala Star-Banner.
  55. ^ Larry Stewart (July 9, 1994). "Baseball gets a late start on network television". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  56. ^ Felts, Jerry (July 9, 1994). "Network good news for fans". Times Daily.
  57. ^ "Baseball in B.C. Place: a thing of the past?". Vancouver Courier. August 18, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
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