Who is the man: Curt Flood was waiting for his lawsuit against Major League Baseball to go to court when this card was issued. Flood, who refused to report to the Phillies after being traded to the team in October 1969, didn't play a single game in 1970.
Can ya dig it: Flood was traded from the Phillies to the Senators in November 1970. He's actually wearing a Cardinals cap in this photo despite the half-hearted airbrushing attempt to show a "W" on his hat.
Right on: This is Flood's final card from his playing career and a pretty sad one. Cardinals teammate Bob Gibson estimated that Flood received 4 or 5 death threats a day while he sat out the 1970 season.
You see that cat Flood is a bad mother: Flood won seven straight Gold Gloves between 1963-69.
Shut your mouth: When Flood challenged baseball's reserve clause, NL president Charles Feeney said it would "destroy the game."
No one understands him but his woman: Players Association leader Marvin Miller told Flood that he didn't have a chance of winning his suit and that he'd never have a job in baseball again, even if he won the case (he didn't). Miller said Flood merely asked whether players would benefit by his lawsuit and Miller told him they would and so would those that followed. "That's good enough for me," Flood said.
"You're a union leader's dream," Miller told him.
(A word about the back): There you see 13 zeroes where the 1970 season should be, without a word of explanation. It's almost spooky.
A tip of the cap to Curt. It took a lot of guts to challenge the reserve clause in 1969-70.
ReplyDeletePlayers Today, All owe Thanks to Curt Flood. He Changed the Game for Better or Worst? RIP #21
ReplyDeleteHe changed the game for the better for players, but for the worse for fans. Baseball was much more affordable when the owners had the upper hand. And there were things such as scheduled doubleheaders. Remember them?
DeleteWhen the Reserve Clause was in effect, most teams were not simply farm clubs for the Yankees. Taxpayers were not subsidizing millionaires. MLB has lost popularity since free agency took over.
DeleteWell...the KC A’s were the Yankees top farm club for years!
DeleteEvery baseball player, indeed every athlete in the four major NA sports leagues should thank Flood for his sacrifices to challenge the baseball reserve clause and usher in free agency which ultimately affected basketball, football and hockey.
ReplyDelete