This is the man who allowed “free agents” to become a thing in Major League Baseball. Re
This is the man who allowed “free agents” to become a thing in Major League Baseball. Refusing to let the Cardinals trade him at the end of the 1969 season, Flood challenged the MLB about the reserve clause, which stipulated that a team owns a player for life until their release or trade. Flood was fully aware of the repercussions for his career, but knew the case would benefit other athletes. He lost the case in the Supreme Court in 1972. But his actions allowed those that came after him to have greater power over their own careers – in 1976, through collective bargaining, two pitchers became free agents when they agreed to play one season with no contract. Flood overcame a rough post-baseball life of alcoholism, debt and a failed marriage to receive the NAACP Jackie Robinson Award in 1992. And I’m sad to say I didn’t know his name. -- source link
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