Curt Flood
Curtis Charles Flood (January 18, 1938 – January 20, 1997) was a Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career as a center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. A defensive standout, he led the National League in putouts four times and in fielding percentage twice, winning Gold Glove Awards in his last seven full seasons from 1963 to 1969. He also batted over .300 six times and led the NL in hits (211) in 1964. He retired with the third most games in center field (1683) in NL history, trailing only Willie Mays and Richie Ashburn.
Flood became one of the pivotal figures in the sport's labor history when he refused to accept a trade following the 1969 season, ultimately appealing his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Although his legal challenge was unsuccessful, it brought about additional solidarity among players as they fought against baseball's reserve clause and sought free agency.
Read more about Curt Flood: Playing Career, Challenge of The Reserve Clause, Flood V. Kuhn, Aftermath and Post-baseball Life, Death, Legacy
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Carried her whom I called my life away;
Me he disdains, and mocks me from her eyes!”
—Petrarch (1304–1374)
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—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)