Baseball Lawsuits - A Look Back in History
The recent news that baseball legend Curt Flood put his World Series ring and Gold Glove award up for auction is noteworthy because it comes on the eve of the latest round of free agency (as we discussed in the blog a few days ago).
For those who don't remember, Flood is credited with essentially being the father of baseball free agency. Before he filed his famous baseball lawsuit, which went to the United States Supreme Court, baseball players were extremely limited in where they could play; they essentially had no choice. Flood fought the owners, and the result was the most powerful union in sports, and the best free agency scheme in any of the major pro sports.
Here is a quote which sums up Flood's influence. Few could disagree with Flood's influence on the game of baseball and his role in shaping the game into what we know today:
"Needless to say, the significance of Curt Flood in baseball history is pretty well versed," said David Hunt the president of Hunt Auctions. "Whether people agree with his stance or not, he changed the way baseball operated. His effect on history shouldn't be understated."
