Center fielder Curt Flood during his time with the St. Louis Cardinals.

And finally, every time I cover a Baseball Hall of Fame Ceremony, the spirit of one Curt Charles Flood resonates in my brain. I grew up watching him man centerfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals championship teams of 1964 and 1967. Flood, with a lifetime batting average of .293 was a seven-time Gold Glove winner for his fielding excellence. But he is best remembered for his courageous stand against ‘the powers’ of baseball by challenging the infamous reserve clause which gave baseball owners power to dictate the careers of baseball players. Flood challenged the reserve clause, got his case heard in the United States Supreme Court and won by a 5-4 ruling. His case would pave the way for free agency, which allows baseball players freedom of movement and the right to make the humungous salaries they make today.

Curt Flood passed from this life on January 20, 1997, from throat cancer. He died a heartbroken man. He gave up his life’s work, along with his entire fortune from baseball and as an artist for what he believed in, and history proved him correct!

In 1998, Major League Baseball established the Curt Flood Award, given annually to a Major League Baseball Player who exemplifies Flood’s courage, tenacity and devotion to the game. It is clearly not enough for a man who gave up everything for what he knew was right!