![]() He sued baseball knowing he’d never personally benefitĪlthough his suit sought lost pay and $1 million in damages, baseball union leader Marvin Miller told Flood to expect no remuneration from the courts.Flood called Philadelphia America’s “northernmost southern city,” but it was the fact of being traded, not the location, that disturbed him. Black Hall of Famer Roy Campanella said that white Philly fans “spewed racial hate” in the 1950s, and Allen, the team’s first African-American standout, wore a helmet in the field to protect from objects thrown at him in the ’60s. ![]() A poorly run organization coming off a 99-loss season, the Phillies and their white fans had a reputation, deserved or not, for racism. He objected to a trade to Philadelphia - or anywhere elseįlood and Tim McCarver, Cardinals co-captains, were packaged with two others in an October 1969 deal for three Phillies players, including superstar Dick Allen.He was even more noted for his center field brilliance, which resulted in seven Gold Gloves. “I would venture to say that if it hadn’t been for all the stuff involved in him suing baseball … he would have had a good chance of being in the Hall of Fame.” A three-time All-Star who usually batted second, behind Lou Brock, Flood hit. Bob Gibson, Flood’s long-time road roommate, agreed. He was an outstanding hitter and fielderįlood “was a better ballplayer than everybody thought he was,” ex-manager and Hall of Famer Red Schoendienst said of the diminutive (5-9, 165) center fielder who played for the Cardinals from 1958 to ’69.Here are eight things to know about the selfless crusader who took on the baseball establishment: 16, 1970, Flood filed a lawsuit challenging baseball’s reserve clause, which allowed teams to trade players, including 10-year veterans, regardless of their wishes. Louis Cardinals fans, Curt Flood is just “that guy who refused to be traded and sued baseball.” Fifty years ago, on Jan. Louis Cardinals’ outfielder Curt Flood sacrificed wealth and health in his fight for player freedom.
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