Curt Flood, after twelve years with the St. Louis Cardinals was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. On December 24, 1969 Curt Flood, requested to the commissioner, to be declared a free agent. Later writing that he (Flood) after twelve years in the major leagues did not feel that he was a piece of property to be bought and sold irrespective of his wishes. He further wrote,"I believe any system that produces that result violates my basic right as a citizen and inconsistent with the laws of the United States.

In 1969 there was no free agency. Players were bound to their contract with their original team. This was known as the reserve clause. Flood decided to sue rather than take the trade to Philadelphia. A lifetime average of .293 earned one of the best centerfielders of all-time unemployment from the game he loved so much in 1970. Flood would return the following year with Washington, but after tremendous rejection in the clubhouse he would quit after 18 games never to play major league baseball again.

On June 19, 1972 the Supreme Court ruled 5 to 3 against Curt Flood's suit. However, as is the case in many Supreme Court decision's it takes someone to stand up to system and take a loss as Flood did, so others may benefit. Just over four years after Flood's courtroom loss, Bill Campbell, a pitcher for the Minnesota Twins was able to make his own deal and move to the Boston Red Sox during the 1976 off season.

Through Curt Flood's actions players such as Eddie Murry, Paul Molitor, and Dave Winfield were able to elongated their careers and reach the 3,000 hit mark. A goal Curt Flood did not have the opportunity to achieve.