Curt Flood

From SoSH

Contents 1 Overall Career 2 Free Agency 2.1 Reserve Clause 2.2 Flood v. Kuhn 3 Transactions 4 External Links

Overall Career

Curtis Charles Flood (January 18, 1938 - January 20, 1997) was a weak hitting, slick fielding center fielder that played the majority of his career for the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League. Flood anchored the Cardinals outfield from 1958 until 1969 winning Gold Gloves in each season from 1963 until his final full season on 1969. In 1966, Flood made 391 putouts without recording a single error, further displaying his defensive prowess.

During Flood's 15 year career with the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, and Washington Senators, Flood lead the NL in hits once (211 in 1964) and singles three times (1963, 64, 68), while batting over .300 six times. Curt Flood's impact on the diamond is respectable; however, it pales in comparison to his contributions off the field.

Free Agency

Reserve Clause

At the time Curt Flood was traded, Major League Baseball teams operated under what was referred to as the reserve clause. What this meant is that the team had to renew a player’s contract following every season if they wished. Only the team that the player competed for held the right to renew this contract. With this in place there was no competition for player’s salaries and this allowed the owners to keep salaries where they wanted them and allowed them to sign players well below market price. The owners believed that they could do this in perpetuity.

In the 1950's and 1960's television came of age and began to infuse baseball with new revenues, however, salaries stayed fixed and owners reaped the benefits. The players took notice and unrest began. Unrest always leads to change.

Flood v. Kuhn

On October 7, 1969, after the season had ended, the St. Louis Cardinals attempted to trade Curt Flood, among others to the Philadelphia Phillies. The trade was supposed to send Byron Browne, Joe Hoerner, and Tim McCarver, along with Flood, to the Phillies for Jerry Johnson, Dick Allen, and Cookie Rojas. Flood put a snare in the deal when he refused to report to the Phillies. The Phillies had just finished the 1969 season second to last in the National League East with a 63-99 record and Flood felt that this was unfair. Flood did not believe that the teams could treat the players like pieces of property. He felt that, although he had received a contract offer from the Phillies, he should be able to seek a contract with other teams. Flood requested the right from the Commissioner of Baseball at the time, Bowie Kuhn. Kuhn rejected this plea and Flood took the case all the way up to the Supreme Court. The case Flood v. Kuhn was decided in 1972 and the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the owners, just as the district courts had.

Although Flood did not win the case, he put in motion what was to develop into free agency in 1975. Flood was the one man who stood up to the owners and put in motion free agency, a system which completely changed the economics of baseball forever.

Transactions

• Before 1956 Season: Signed by the Cincinnati Redlegs as an amateur free agent.
• December 5, 1957: Traded by the Cincinnati Redlegs with Joe Taylor to the St. Louis Cardinals for Marty Kutyna, Ted Wieand, and Willard Schmidt.
• October 7, 1969: Traded by the St. Louis Cardinals with Byron Browne, Joe Hoerner, and Tim McCarver to the Philadelphia Phillies for Jerry Johnson, Dick Allen, and Cookie Rojas. Curt Flood refused to report to his new team. The St. Louis Cardinals sent Willie Montanez (April 8, 1970) and Bob Browning (minors) (August 30, 1970) to the Philadelphia Phillies to complete the trade.
• November 3, 1970: Traded by the Philadelphia Phillies with a player to be named later to the Washington Senators for Greg Goossen, Jeff Terpko, and Gene Martin. The Philadelphia Phillies sent Jeff Terpko (April 10, 1971) to the Washington Senators to complete the trade.

External Links

• Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis
• Flood v. Kuhn Background - Courtesy of Baseballreliquary.org
• Reserve Clause Info