Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site floyd.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!security!genrad!decvax!harpo!gummo!whuxlb!floyd!6227jdt
From: 6227jdt@floyd.UUCP (Joe Twicken)
Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball
Subject: Curt Flood
Message-ID: <1864@floyd.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 28-Jul-83 11:03:22 EDT
Article-I.D.: floyd.1864
Posted: Thu Jul 28 11:03:22 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 29-Jul-83 02:21:23 EDT
Organization: Bell Labs, Whippany, NJ
Lines: 13


One contributor claims that free-agency began with Catfish Hunter,
while another informs us that it began with Andy Messersmith. I am only
23 but vaguely remember Curt Flood of the St. Louis Cardinals. It seems
to me that he challenged that ballplayers were not the "property" of
baseball clubs and should be free to negotiate with any and all teams.
Though he was not the first free agent (it my well have been Messersmith),
can Curt Flood be regarded as the "Father of Free Agency"?


					Joseph Twicken
					Bell Labs
					Whippany, NJ