Curt flood wikipedia for free#
Curt flood wikipedia windows#

Curt flood wikipedia windows#

His skill as an artist brought in a bit of spending money as a teenager by painting and designing store front windows and advertising for a local furniture store. Curt was also introduced to the world of art and drawing in Junior High School. It was managed by George Powles (whose protégés included Billy Martin, Frank Robinson, Vada Pinson, and Chris Cannizzaro, over the years in addition to Flood). After the war, both parents worked menial jobs at Fairmount Hospital.Ĭurt began playing baseball at 9 years of age in the local midget league. When Curt was still a toddler, the family moved to Oakland, California where Herman became employed in defense related industries in Oakland and Laura ran a small cafe during the war years.

Stepson, Alvin, was also employed at a hospital working as an elevator operator. They owned their home on Stonewall Street in Houston, Texas. Mother Laura was a homemaker and had completed the 5th grade. Alvin was born in Louisiana and the other children were born in Texas, according to the 1940 US Census.įather Herman was employed as a cook in a hospital. The children were Herman, Jr., born in 1931 Barbara Jane, born in 1933 Carl Edward, born 1937 and stepson Alvin Rick, born in 1917. Laura had an older daughter and son, Rickie and Alvin, born from her first marriage.

He was the youngest child and third son of 4 children born to Herman and Laura.

Curt flood wikipedia for free#

He played 13 games in the 1971 season, but decided to retire in April, realizing his game had lost a step.įlood's fight for free agency was highlighted in the Ken Burns' documentary series Baseball in 1994.Ĭurt, cited as both Charles Curtis and Curtis Charles in official records, was the son of Herman Lafayette Flood and Laura Porter Flood. He sat out the 1970 season and his contract was traded by the Phillies to the Washington Senators. Officially abolished with the establishment of the 10/5 Rule, otherwise known as the Curt Flood Rule, the door to modern free agency for major league baseball players was opened.Īfter Flood lost his case, he was essentially black listed by Baseball's management. Though he ultimately lost in court, his case helped to unite other players in the fight for their right to free agency at the end of their signed contract. That was the only way a player could become a free agent.įlood legally challenged that clause taking his case all the way to the Supreme Court. They had no freedom to change teams unless they were given an unconditional release. Players were bound to negotiate a new contract to play another year for the same team or to ask to be released or traded. The only negotiating leverage of most players was to hold out at contract time and to refuse to play unless their conditions were met. But the team could trade, reassign, sell or release the player at any time and without cause.

Players did not have the right to negotiate with or enter into a contract with another team. He stated in a letter to Bowie Kuhn, Commissioner of Baseball 'I do not feel that I am a piece of property to be bought and sold irrespective of my wishes.I believe I have the right to consider offers from other clubs before making any decisions.'Īt the time, teams held a 'reserve clause' in players contracts, that allowed teams to retain rights to the player after the contract ended. Flood refused that trade, although the Phillies had offered him a contract. At the end of the 1969 season, the Cardinal's management decided to trade Flood to the Philadelphia Phillies. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame.įlood was an important figure in modern day baseball's labor history. Louis Cardinals (1958 - 1969 seasons), and made his last appearance with the Washington Senators in April, 1971. He had a 15 year career, playing for the Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Redlegs (19 seasons), St. Curt Flood was a center fielder and activist American Baseball player.