Curt Flood lays the groundwork for the dissolution of the reserve clause and the advent of free agency

Curt Flood’s challenge to baseball’s reserve clause begins in December 1969 when he sends a letter to commissioner Bowie Kuhn informing him that he will not accept a trade from the Cardinals to the Phillies. Flood loses his Supreme Court case three years later, but Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally pick up the mantle and are declared free agents in a 1975 decision by independent arbitrator Peter Seitz.