![]() When I did finally speak, I told my dad, “Mom can probably see us on TV from here!” When the usher finally led us down to our seats I could do nothing but look around, mouth agape, in absolute wonderment. We were in the second row of seats right behind home plate, in Kaufman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri. ![]() I’d attended quite a few pro baseball games with my dad, most of them at Busch Stadium, but we had never sat in seats like this. I was either ten or eleven years old that summer, exactly what day, I can’t quite remember, but what happened, I will never forget. To me it would never have mattered who was playing, or where the game was being played, if the game was baseball, and my Pop was the one taking me. I did and still do bleed Cardinal red, but my dad was given tickets to a Royals game and invited me to go with him. The air was thick with the smells of smoked meats, roasted peanuts, spilled beer, and freshly raked dirt. William J.It was a Saturday afternoon game. It is sound policy to treat the employment matters of Major League Baseball players under the antitrust laws in the same way such matters are treated for athletes in other professional sports. The antitrust laws protect the public’s interest in the efficient operation of the free market system, thereby protecting consumers, and the United States has standing to sue to enjoin all violations. The Act does not in any way limit the standing of the United States to bring an antitrust action. The Act in no way codifies or extends the baseball exemption and would not affect the applicability of those laws to certain matters that, it has been argued, the exemption would legitimately protect (including franchise relocation rules and the minor leagues). The Act appropriately limits baseball’s special judicially created antitrust exemption by expressly applying the antitrust laws to certain conduct of Major League Baseball the applicability of the antitrust laws with respect to all other conduct is unchanged. ![]() His bold stand set in motion the events that culminate in the bill I have signed into law. Louis Cardinals to the Philadelphia Phillies. It was 29 years ago this month that Curt Flood refused a trade from the St. It is especially fitting that this legislation honors a courageous baseball player and individual, the late Curt Flood, whose enormous talents on the baseball diamond were matched by his courage off the field. 53, the “Curt Flood Act of 1998.” This legislation is the successful culmination of bipartisan efforts to treat employment matters with respect to Major League Baseball players under the antitrust laws in the same way such matters are treated for athletes in other professional sports. Also known as a painter with incredible talent, Curt Flood passed away on Janufrom throat cancer. and boasted 3 grandchildren and one great child. In 1970, the owners and the MLBPA agreed to the “10/5 Rule” (sometimes called the “Curt Flood Rule”), which allows players with ten years of Major League service, the last five with the same team, to veto any trade.Ĭurt finished out his playing career in 1971, with the Washington Senators.įlood was the father of Debbie, Gary, Shelly, Scott, and Curt Flood Jr. 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. He had a perfect fielding percentage of 1.000 in 1966.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. He set major league fielding records for most consecutive games without an error (226), and most consecutive chances without an error (568). 300 six times in his politically – shortened 15 year career and led the National League in hits (211) in 1964. A player of extraordinary ability and renowned for his tremendous defensive prowess, Curt led the National League in putouts four times and in fielding percentage twice, winning Gold Glove awards seven consecutive seasons from 1963 – 1969. Flood helped the Redbirds win three National League Championships and two World Series in the 1960’s. For the next twelve seasons, he became a fixture in center field for St. A part of a high school outfield that included Vada Pinson and Frank Robinson, Curt signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 1956 and made a handful of appearances for the team in 1956-57 before being traded to the Cardinals in December 1957. Shortly thereafter, his family moved to Oakland, California where he attended West Oakland’s McClymonds High. Curtis Charles Flood was born Januin Houston, Texas.
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