#CURT FLOOD MADE FREE POSSIBLE PRO SERIES#

No one besides Curt Flood was willing to risk his baseball career. While Flood had an excellent legal team, they could not find a single active player to testify for him. In 1970, his case began in United States District Court in Manhattan. Flood called himself “a well-paid slave.” He wanted his freedom from the reserve clause and to become a free agent. Soon enough, Flood decided to sue Major League Baseball. He earned over $90,000 in 1969, which was a high salary in those days. He didn’t want to play for Philadelphia, one of the worst franchises in baseball history, but the trade meant that he was essentially the property of the Phillies.įlood was a star player in the 1960s and he was one of the better paid stars of the time. Under the reserve clause, Flood had few options. The same was also true for players in the NBA and NFL. Players had almost no control over how much they were paid or what team they played for. In those days, Major League Baseball was governed what was called the “reserve clause.” This allowed baseball teams to keep players they developed out of high school into major league talent for as long as the team wished. After the 1969 season, the Cards traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies. He also won 7 Gold Glove Awards for his outstanding defense.

#CURT FLOOD MADE FREE POSSIBLE PRO SERIES#

He played in three World Series for the Cardinals and appeared in three All-Star Games.

You will not see Curt Flood in the playoffs or the World Series (He retired almost 50 years ago and died about 20 years ago), but his impact on all of the major sports is enormous.įlood played for the St. You may not be a baseball fan, but if you are a sports fan at all, one name you absolutely need to know is Curt Flood.

Curt flood made free possible pro