Across the last 40 years of collective bargaining negotiations, games have only been missed during seasons that began without a Basic Agreement in place.

1981

While a preliminary CBA had been agreed to in 1980 following an eight-day strike, the most contentious issue of free-agent compensation was left unresolved. Both sides agreed to form a joint committee that would revisit the issue and reopen negotiations following the 1980 season. After this committee failed to find a solution, the MLBPA went on a 50-day strike in the middle of the 1981 season.
• Games missed: 713

1990

After the Basic Agreement expired on Dec. 31, 1989, MLB did not open Spring Training camps. After a 32-day work stoppage, a new Basic Agreement was agreed upon, and Opening Day was delayed by just one week.
• Games missed: 0

1994

After the CBA expired on Dec. 31, 1993, the 1994 season began without a Basic Agreement in place. The MLBPA went on strike Aug. 11, ending the season, and for the first time in American sports history, an entire postseason was cancelled due to a labor dispute.
• Games missed: 948 and the entire 1994 postseason

2000

On Aug. 28, 2000, the MLBPA exercised its option to extend the current CBA an additional year to ensure labor peace through the end of the 2001 season.
• Games missed: 0

2002

Following the one-year extension, a new agreement could not be reached before Opening Day of the 2002 season. After playing for months without an agreement, the MLBPA set Aug. 30 as the deadline for a strike. With only hours to go before the first scheduled game that day and the season on the brink, a new four-year agreement was reached.
• Games missed: 0

2007

A new agreement was reached on Oct. 23, two months before the previous CBA was set to expire.
• Games missed: 0

2012

A new agreement was reached on Nov. 22, a month before the previous CBA was set to expire.
• Games missed: 0

2017

A new agreement was reached on Nov. 30, two days before the previous CBA was set to expire.
• Games missed: 0

Total Games Missed In Seasons That Started Play Without A Basic Agreement: 1,661

Total Games Missed In Years With Offseason Lockout: 0