Curt Flood

Curt Flood
Birthdate 01/18/1938
Death Date 01/20/1997
Debut Year 1956
Year of Induction
Teams Cardinals, Reds, Senators
Positions Center Field, Innovator

Two-time World Champ Curt Flood was an All Star and Gold Glove CFer who took baseball to the Supreme Court to challenge the reserve clause.

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All star centerfielder Curt Flood earned 7 straight Gold Glove Awards

All star centerfielder Curt Flood earned 7 straight Gold Glove Awards

Remembered primarily for his role in ushering in the free-agent era, Curt Flood was also an All Star, Gold Glover, and World Series champion. Flood broke in with the Reds as an 18-year old in 1956. He played in just 8 combined games with Cincinnati in ’56 and ’57 before being traded to S
Flood took Major League Baseball all the way to the Supreme Court

Flood took Major League Baseball all the way to the Supreme Court

On October 7, 1969 the Cardinals traded Curt Flood to Philadelphia. The centerfielder refused to report to his new team. By doing so, he stood to lose $100,000. Flood explained his actions in a Christmas Eve letter to Commissioner Bowie Kuhn a letter. “After twelve years in the major leagues,
Cardinals GM Bing Devine traded Flood to the Phillies in a 7-player deal

Cardinals GM Bing Devine traded Flood to the Phillies in a 7-player deal

Baseball fans recall that the trade of Curt Flood from the Cardinals to the Phillies that changed the game. Most don’t recall the deal’s specifics. It was a seven-player swap that originally happened on October 7, 1969. St. Louis offered Flood, Byron Browne, Joe Hoerner, and Tim McCarver
Ron Santo was the first to invoke the Curt Flood clause

Ron Santo was the first to invoke the Curt Flood clause

The St. Louis Cardinals traded Curt Flood to the Phillies in October of 1969. The outcome of the deal rocked the baseball world. Flood refused to report to his new club, sat out the entire 1970 season, and sued baseball. After spending 14 years in the bigs – twelve in St. Louis – Flood f

2 responses to “Curt Flood”

  1. Stephen says:

    12 gold gloves? His landmark challenge of the reserve clause ended his career. He came up with the reds and was traded to the cardinals because they didn’t want a trio of starting black players in the outfield (Robinson and Pinson)

  2. Alan Daggett says:

    I believe the MLB Players Union should pay a stipend each year to every descendant of Curt Flood

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"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball…"

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