On December 24, 1969, Curt Flood, the center fielder of the St. Louis Cardinals, wrote to Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn. He had been traded to Philadelphia. “After twelve years in the Major Leagues, I do not feel that I am a piece of property to be bought and sold irrespective of my wishes,” he wrote. “I believe I have the right to consider offers from other clubs before making any decisions.”
Baseball’s reserve clause restricted the right of players to switch teams. Flood challenged it in court and lost in 1972. On December 23, 1975, the arbitrator Peter Seitz ruled for the pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally. He found “no contractual bond” between them and their clubs. The two pitchers became free agents.