Time Line
1938 - Curtis Charles Flood was born on January 19th in Houston, Texas.
1956 - On September 9th, Curt made his MLB debut, with the Cincinnati Redlegs.
1969 - Flood was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals and refused to play for them.
1969 - On Christmas Eve in 1969, he sent a letter to the commissioner; Bowie Kuhn, wishing to become a free agent.
1969 - Bowie Kuhn replied to Flood denying his request to be a free agent.
1970 - Curt decided to take the commisioner to court, the trial started on May 19th.
1970 - On the 12th of August, the decision was made, the court rejected Flood.
1971 - Flood was back with the Washington Senators; he didn't do well at all that season, only playing in 13 games, he decided to end his career in the MLB.
1972 - The Final Appeal was heard on March 20th, Curt had lost the case.
1975 - Even though Curt lost the case, many more players challenged the reserve clause.
1975 - In the case of McNally-Messersmith vs. Major League Baseball, Arbitrator Peter Seitz ruled that apon playing one year for their team without a contract, that any player may become a free agent.
1978 - Flood returned back to the league as a part of the Oakland Athletics' broadcasting team.
1997 - On January 20th, Curt Flood was pronounced dead, losing the battle to throat cancer.
1956 - On September 9th, Curt made his MLB debut, with the Cincinnati Redlegs.
1969 - Flood was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals and refused to play for them.
1969 - On Christmas Eve in 1969, he sent a letter to the commissioner; Bowie Kuhn, wishing to become a free agent.
1969 - Bowie Kuhn replied to Flood denying his request to be a free agent.
1970 - Curt decided to take the commisioner to court, the trial started on May 19th.
1970 - On the 12th of August, the decision was made, the court rejected Flood.
1971 - Flood was back with the Washington Senators; he didn't do well at all that season, only playing in 13 games, he decided to end his career in the MLB.
1972 - The Final Appeal was heard on March 20th, Curt had lost the case.
1975 - Even though Curt lost the case, many more players challenged the reserve clause.
1975 - In the case of McNally-Messersmith vs. Major League Baseball, Arbitrator Peter Seitz ruled that apon playing one year for their team without a contract, that any player may become a free agent.
1978 - Flood returned back to the league as a part of the Oakland Athletics' broadcasting team.
1997 - On January 20th, Curt Flood was pronounced dead, losing the battle to throat cancer.
