We are approaching the anniversary of pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally being granted free agency. Union president Marvin Miller had been working with all players to try to abolish baseball's reserve clause. Curt Flood added to the battle when he refused to report to the Philadelphia Phillies after he was traded by the St Louis Cardinals after the 1969 season. Flood's lawsuit went all the way to the US Supreme Court and brought great attention to the fact that baseball players were, in fact, treated like a piece of property. Flood, however, lost the case in court and was ordered to return to the Phillies. The Phillies, no longer wanting to deal with this distraction, traded Flood to the Washington Senators for two players (plus one player who was traded back to the Senators as the "player to be named later").
In the CBA agreed to in 1970, MLB players were given 10-5 rights, the right to veto any trade as long as the player had ten years of service including the last five with the same team. But, players were still property of the owners and were signed to one year contracts. These contracts included a one year option for the next season. But since the players were given a new contract each season (sometimes for less money because the owner wanted it to be that way), the option was just a formality that was never used. The players never had their options picked up because the owners would offer them a new contract, making the option non-existent. Miller and the players had thought of a way to try to get around that system. They figured out if a player could play a year without a contract, the unpaid season would in essence become the "option" year. After the option year was played out, Miller argued that the particular player should have the rights to play for whatever team they wanted since they finished the obligations of the contract.
However, Miller had a difficult time finding a player willing to pitch a season without a contract. Some players elected to do so, but owners would eventually offer the player a contract, many times for a little more money. The owners were aware of what the players were trying to do, so the investment of the extra money made it so they could retain control of the player for the following season. 1975 was the year Miller finally got a player to play without a contract. Messersmith was at odds with Dodgers GM Al Campanis and it hit a point where Messersmith would not negotiate with anybody that was under team president Peter O'Malley.
This would result in Messersmith pitching the 1975 season without a contract. So did Expos LHP Dave McNally, however, McNally was just about ready to hang up his career. He chose not to sign a contract with the understanding he may not finish the season. McNally would miss the rest of the season due to injury and intended to retire. But, because he had pitched in 1975 without a contract, Miller convinced him to be part of the grievance with Messersmith.
Arbitrator Peter Seitz ruled in favor of the players, and was immediately fired by the owners after the trial. Messersmith was granted free agency after the season and so was McNally, though the latter stuck to his promise to retire. This brought about the new agreement regarding MLB free agency, which stated a player with six years of continuous service in the majors could be eligible for free agency. However, Catfish Hunter was declared a free agent after the 1974 season, after being unable to reach agreement with owner Charley Finley. Of course, he signed with the Yankees.
However, Miller had a difficult time finding a player willing to pitch a season without a contract. Some players elected to do so, but owners would eventually offer the player a contract, many times for a little more money. The owners were aware of what the players were trying to do, so the investment of the extra money made it so they could retain control of the player for the following season. 1975 was the year Miller finally got a player to play without a contract. Messersmith was at odds with Dodgers GM Al Campanis and it hit a point where Messersmith would not negotiate with anybody that was under team president Peter O'Malley.
This would result in Messersmith pitching the 1975 season without a contract. So did Expos LHP Dave McNally, however, McNally was just about ready to hang up his career. He chose not to sign a contract with the understanding he may not finish the season. McNally would miss the rest of the season due to injury and intended to retire. But, because he had pitched in 1975 without a contract, Miller convinced him to be part of the grievance with Messersmith.
Arbitrator Peter Seitz ruled in favor of the players, and was immediately fired by the owners after the trial. Messersmith was granted free agency after the season and so was McNally, though the latter stuck to his promise to retire. This brought about the new agreement regarding MLB free agency, which stated a player with six years of continuous service in the majors could be eligible for free agency. However, Catfish Hunter was declared a free agent after the 1974 season, after being unable to reach agreement with owner Charley Finley. Of course, he signed with the Yankees.
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