Flood watch over in D.C.

Curt Flood during his brief time with the Washington Senators in 1971

Two days after drawing a walk in his final plate appearance in the major leagues, the controversial and game-changing Curt Flood leaves behind the Washington Senators – and, for that matter, the United States – and bolts for Denmark 54 years ago today.

Flood has been trying to make a comeback with Washington in 1971 after sitting out the previous season in protest of the St. Louis Cardinals trading him to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Flood eventually sues Major League Baseball, challenging the so-called reserve clause that ties a player to a team until the team decides to trade him or release him.

Curt Flood with players association director Marvin Miller

His case eventually reaches the United States Supreme Court, which rules against Flood in 1972 – a year after Flood leaves the game.

Turns out, though, that Flood’s case becomes the springboard for free agency in baseball.

His story should be required reading for today’s players, most of whom probably know little or nothing about Flood – let alone understand the All-Star career Flood sacrifices to achieve the free agency he seeks but never receives.

“(Flood’s) challenging the reserve clause was essential to the blossoming sport we have today,” free-agent pitcher Gerrit Cole says in 2019 after signing a nine-year, $324 million contract with the New York Yankees.

“I just think it’s so important that players know the other sacrifices that players made in order to keep the integrity of the game where it is,” Cole says, “and so I hope everybody has that conversation about Curt Flood.”