On April 6, 1972, the first general strike in the history of the major leagues officially begins with the cancellation of Opening Day games in both leagues. The strike will be settled seven days later when the players and owners come to agreement on pension fund payments. The two sides agree not to make up the 86 missed games.
1972 – Marvin Miller, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, completes his canvass of players on the strike issue. 663 vote in favor of a strike, ten vote against, and two players abstain.
1971 – The dismissal of Curt Flood’s suit against Major League Baseball is upheld by a three-judge U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The verdict will be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
udge Irving Cooper upholds baseball’s reserve clause in turning back the lawsuit filed by Curt Flood
On May 19, 1970, the lawsuit filed by former St. Louis Cardinals star Curt Flood against Major League Baseball begins its hearing in federal court. Judge Irving Ben Cooper presides over the case, which will result in the upholding of baseball’s reserve clause.
On January 16 1970 — Gold Glove outfielder Curt Flood files a lawsuit challenging the reserve clause, which binds major league players to teams perpetually. Flood had been traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Philadelphia Phillies on October 7, 1969, but has refused to report to the Phillies. Flood contends that the…
Curt Flood will sue Major League Baseball over the reserve clause
December 13, 1969 Curt Flood attends the Players’ Association executive board meeting to seek financial assistance in his attempt to sue major league baseball because the reserve clause violates Federal antitrust laws. Although skeptical about the suit’s outcome, the player reps vote 25-0 to support the recently traded outfielder, who refuses to report to the…
1969 – A pension plan for Major League Baseball is agreed on, with players to receive $5.45 million per year. They also get a percentage of television revenues, a reduction in the years necessary to qualify for a pension from five to four (retroactive to 1959), and a lowered minimum age for drawing a pension from 50 to 45.
major league owners and the Players Association sign the first “Basic Agreement” in the game’s history
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