Curt flood made free agency possible professional#
Curt flood made free agency possible series#

Against the San Francisco Giants that year, Flood was involved in the final outs of the first back-to-back no-hitters in major league history. As team co- captain (with Tim McCarver) in 1968 he had perhaps his best year, earning his third All-Star selection and finishing fourth in the MVP balloting (won by teammate Bob Gibson) on the strength of a. In game 1, he advanced Brock to third base twice, putting him in position to score both runs in a 2–1 victory in game 3, he drove Brock in with the first run of a 5–2 win.

Curt flood made free agency possible series#

In the World Series against the Boston Red Sox, he hit a woeful. 335 average (though his other batting totals fell off from previous years), helping the Cardinals to another championship. In 1967, he had his highest batting mark with a. In that year he received the first of his seven consecutive Gold Gloves. 302 and scoring a career-high 112 runs, third-most in the NL he also had career bests in doubles (34), triples (9) and stolen bases (17) and collected 200 hits in an NL-leading 662 at bats. He continued to improve offensively in 1963, hitting. He had his breakthrough year at the plate after Johnny Keane took over as manager in 1961: he batted. Louis although he struggled at the plate from 1958 to 1960, his defensive skill was apparent. For the next 12 seasons, he became a fixture in center field for St. However, Flood was deemed expendable with future star centerfielder Vada Pinson preparing to be promoted to the majors. MLB careerįlood signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 1956 and made a handful of appearances for the team in 1956–57. Flood transferred to Oakland Technical High School, from which he graduated.

Curt flood made free agency possible professional#

All three would eventually sign professional contracts with the Cincinnati Reds. Although his legal challenge was unsuccessful, it brought about additional solidarity among players as they fought against baseball's reserve clause and sought free agency.īorn in Houston, Texas, and raised in Oakland, California, Flood played in the same outfield in West Oakland's McClymonds High School as Vada Pinson and Frank Robinson. He retired with the third most games in center field (1683) in NL history, trailing Willie Mays and Richie Ashburn.įlood became one of the pivotal figures in the sport's labor history when he refused to accept a trade following the 1969 season, ultimately appealing his case to the U.S. Flood also led the National League in putouts as center fielder four times and in fielding percentage as center fielder three times. He led the National League (NL) in hits (211) in 1964 and in singles, 1963, 1964, and 1968. Flood was a three-time All-Star, a Gold Glove winner for seven consecutive seasons, and batted over. Louis Cardinals, and Washington Senators. He was a center fielder who played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Redlegs, St.

By examining the mainstream press, the Black press, and primary sources, including Flood's autobiography, Khan exposes the complexities of what it means to be a prominent Black American athlete-in 1969 and today.September 9, 1956, for the Cincinnati RedlegsĪpril 25, 1971, for the Washington SenatorsĬurtis Charles Flood (January 18, 1938 – January 20, 1997) was an American professional baseball player and activist. Khan examines the ways in which the media constructed the case and Flood's persona. In a defiant letter to Commissioner Bowie Kuhn asking for his contractual release, Flood infamously wrote, “after twelve 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.” Most significantly, Flood appeared on national television with Howard Cosell and described himself as a “well-paid slave.” Explosive controversy ensued. At the time, all Major League Baseball players were subject to the reserve clause, which essentially bound a player to work in perpetuity for his original team, unless traded for another player or sold for cash, in which case he worked under the same reserve conditions for the next team.įlood refused the trade on a matter of principle, arguing that Major League Baseball had violated both US antitrust laws and the 13th Amendment's prohibition of involuntary servitude. In 1969, Flood was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. Curt Flood in the Media examines the public discourse surrounding Curt Flood (1938–1997), the star centerfielder for the St.