2001 Major League Baseball contraction plan

Common card · No. 395662

On November 6, 2001, the owners of the 30 teams in Major League Baseball (MLB) voted to contract, or eliminate, two teams for the 2002 season. According to Commissioner Bud Selig, the decision was made due to economic reasons, as the teams targeted for contraction, reportedly the Minnesota Twins and the Montreal Expos, had "a long record of failing to generate enough revenues to operate a viable major league franchise." Also factored into the contraction plan was the two teams' inability to fund the construction of new ballparks to replace the outdated Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and Olympic Stadium. The contraction plan fell through due to a court injunction compelling the Twins to honor their lease with the Metrodome, as well as challenges by the players' labor union, the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). The Expos were later purchased by Major League Baseball. The Twins eventually secured funding for a new stadium that opened in 2010, while the Expos relocated to Washington...

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