![]() He died young (of cancer) in 1997 at age 59.įlood’s legacy is secure, but not without continuing controversy. He struggled financially, going bankrupt at one point. His career was over.Īfter retiring from the game Flood wrote a memoir, The Way It Is, and served in a variety of positons and roles-some in baseball and others outside-never achieving the success or fame that he had found on the field. Flood signed and played, but he had only 35 at-bats in 13 games that year, hitting. In 1971 the Phillies traded him to the Senators. The trade with Philadelphia went through-even though Flood never played for the team in 1970. That decision not only paved the way for freedom to negotiate, it also escalated players’ salaries because teams now had to compete for players’ signings.īut Flood paid a supreme price-with his career. It was an historic ruling that (in effect) grated what we know today as “free agency” to Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally. Soon thereafter-in 1975 to be specific- arbitrator Peter Seitz found for the MLB Players Association (and the legendary labor leader, Marvin Miller) in another suit. The suited ended up at The Supreme Court, which found for the Defendant and against Flood.Īlthough MLB won that battle it eventually lost the war. In the suit Flood contended that The Reserve Clause violated the 13 th Amendment, which barred slavery and involuntary servitude. Kuhn rejected the request and Flood subsequently sued MLB though the MLB Players Association. And Flood was wary of playing before fans with a reputation for abusing “colored players.” So he protested to MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, requesting the right to consult about his future.įlood told Kuhn that “after 12 years in the major leagues I do not feel that I am a piece of property to be bought and sold irrespective of my wishes.” Flood felt he had “a right to consider offers from other clubs before making any decision.” The Reserve Clause was eventually replaced by Free Agency, and that move shifted the balance of power from team owners to players, democratizing baseball.įlood didn’t want to go to the Phillies, a struggling team that played in a rundown Connie Mack Stadium. ![]() And the action cost Flood his baseball career-a career with Hall of Fame numbers.īut the action that Flood took nearly a half-century ago led to the transformation of professional sports-all sports, not just baseball. Forty-five years ago he confronted Major League Baseball about the “Reverse Clause.” Peers did not join him. And Jim Brown and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar continue speaking out about problematic social and political circumstances.Īt the head of this class stands Curt Flood. ![]() John Carlos and Tommie Smith protested publicly at the ’68 Olympics. Jackie Robinson crossed baseball’s “Color Line.” Cassius Clay said ‘No!” to the military. Cutting against the grain, especially when it involves powerful institutions, carries high risk for athletes-for minority athletes in particular.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |