26+ Curt Flood Quotes On Freedom, Baseball And Sports

Curt Flood was an American professional baseball outfielder who played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, and Washington Senators. He is best known for challenging the reserve clause in baseball, which ultimately led to the creation of free agency in sports. Flood's lawsuit against Major League Baseball was unsuccessful, but his actions helped to revolutionize the sports industry. Following is our collection on famous quotes by Curt Flood on freedom, baseball, sports.

Top 10 Curt Flood Quotes

1. The baseball establishment is permissive about revelry.
2. There is no such thing as bragging. You're either lying or telling the truth.
3. Whatever I contributed to the unique morale of the Cardinals was part of this growth, and so, of course, was my decision to have it out in public with the owners of organized baseball.
4. Dear Mr. Kuhn, After twelve years in the major leagues, I do not feel that I am a piece of property to be bought and sold irrespective of my wishes
5. People try to make a Greek tragedy of my life, and they can't do it. I'm too happy.
6. I lost money, coaching jobs, a shot at the Hall of Fame.
7. If you destroyed the underpinnings of this great American sport, you are a hated, ugly, detestable person.
8. The funny thing about these uniforms is that you hang them in the closet and they get smaller and smaller.
9. It was so difficult for the fans to understand my problems with baseball.
10. I am pleased that God made my skin black - but I wish He had made it thicker.

Curt Flood Short Quotes

• A well-paid slave is nonetheless a slave.
• I'm a human being I'm not a piece of property. I am not a consignment of goods.
• I'd often wondered what would I do if I were ever traded, because it happened many, many times.

Curt Flood Quotes About Baseball

Everybody thinks of baseball as a sacred cow. When you have the nerve to challenge it, people look down their noses at you. There are a lot of things wrong with a lot of industries....baseball is one of them. — Curt Flood

Baseball regards us as sheep. — Curt Flood

And I'd be lying if I told you that as a black man in baseball I hadn't gone through worse times than my teammates. — Curt Flood

Baseball was socially relevant, and so was my rebellion against it. — Curt Flood

Curt Flood Famous Quotes And Sayings

I was told by the general manager that a white player had received a higher raise than me. Because white people required more money to live than black people. That is why I wasn't going to get a raise. — Curt Flood

I lost money, coaching jobs, a shot at the Hall of Fame. But when you weigh that against all the things that are really and truly important, things that are deep inside you, then I think I've succeeded. — Curt Flood

Remember when I told you about the American dream? That if you worked hard enough and tried hard enough and kicked yourself in the butt, you'd succeed? Well, I think I did, I think I did. — Curt Flood

I'll also say, yes, I think the change in black consciuosness in recent years has made me more sensitive to injustice in every area of my life. — Curt Flood

Customary though it may be to write about that institutionalized pastime as though it existed apart from the general environment, my story does not lend itself to such treatment. — Curt Flood

But I want you to know that what I'm doing here I'm doing as a ballplayer, a major league ballplayer. — Curt Flood

All the grand work was laid for people who came after me. The Supreme Court decided not to give it to me, so they gave it to two white guys. I think that's what they were waiting for. — Curt Flood

I'm a child of the sixties, I'm a man of the sixties. During that period of time this country was coming apart at the seams. We were in Southeast Asia. Good men were dying for America and for the Constitution. — Curt Flood

I was leaving probably one of the greatest organizations in hte world at that time for what was probably one of the least like, and, by God, this is America. — Curt Flood

Life Lessons by Curt Flood

1. Curt Flood's legacy serves as an important reminder of the power of standing up for what you believe in, even when the odds are stacked against you.
2. His refusal to accept a trade in 1969 sparked a legal battle that ultimately led to the abolishment of the reserve clause in Major League Baseball.
3. His courage and determination to fight for his rights set a precedent for athletes all over the world, inspiring them to fight for their rights and for fair treatment in their respective sports.