A Well-Paid Slave

by Brad Snyder

  114 “We think Flood”: HC, 2/7/70, sec. 1, 10.

  114 had railed against: Gerald Early interview.

  114 “The Man Who Fights”: Thompson, “Man Who Fights Power Structure of Baseball,” Jet, 2/12/70, 1.

  114 “It will be a bit”: “Found—An Abe Lincoln of Baseball,” Ebony, 3/70, 110.

  114 “Even if you”: PC, 3/21/70, 15.

  114 Lacy had led the fight: Snyder, Beyond the Shadow of the Senators, 177-201.

  115 “Flood’s decision”: BAA, 1/6/70, 16.

  115 Rustin was relegated: D’Emilio, Lost Prophet, 475-77.

  115 “Flood stands”: PT, 2/17/70, sec. 2, 15.

  115 “Flood is fighting”: Edwards, Revolt of the Black Athlete, xix.

  115 Many of them threw: Sammons, Beyond the Ring, 206.

  116 But, as heroic as Ali; Flood, by contrast: Gerald Early interview.

  116 They wrote angry letters: TSN, 1/31/70, 4; TSN, 2/7/70, 4; TSN, 2/14/70, 4; CT, 1/21/70, C3; CT, 1/23/70, C3; CT, 2/19/70, C3; CT, 5/26/70, C3; CT, 11/9/71, C3; BRA, 1/27/70, in Miller Papers, Box 3, Folder 9.

  116 Soon after Flood’s lawsuit: Ron Jacober interview.

  116 “Once you were”; “is making it”; “I’m not trying”: SGD, 1/24-25/70, 1E.

  117 “If I had 600 players”: WP, 4/2/73, D4; LAT, 4/2/73, E2; BES, 4/5/73, D11.

  117 One of the game’s: Carl Yastrzemski interview.

  117 “That backing”: CST, 1/20/70, 80; NYT, 1/20/70, 36.

  117 On January 22, he sent: Letter from Miller to Yastrzemski, 1/22/70, Letter from Yastrzemski to Miller, 1/15/70, Miller Papers, Box 8, Folder 20; BG, 1/30/70, 21-22; TSN, 1/31/70, 36.

  117 “yo-yo”; “If Yastrzemski”: SGD, 1/30/70, C1.

  118 “As far as I’m concerned”: SPD, 1/28/70, 3E; PDN, 1/28/70, 58; TSN, 1/24/70, 35.

  118 “I can’t speak”: BG, 1/30/70, 21.

  118 A few months later, Howard signed: SPD, 3/11/70, 4E.

  118 Howard said: BG, 1/30/70, 21.

  118 Years later: Frank Howard interview.

  118 “We played”: Cal Yastrzemski interview.

  118 Ted Williams: WP, 1/23/70, B2.

  118 Joe DiMaggio; Ralph Kiner: SFE, 2/8/70, C3.

  118 Robin Roberts: TSN, 1/24/70, 38; PEB, 1/6/70, 49.

  118 Bob Feller: WP, 9/13/70, 41.

  118 Gil Hodges: PI, 6/16/70.

  119 Gaylord Perry: OT, 2/19/70, 39.

  119 Ron Santo: CT, 1/22/70, sec. 3, 2.

  119 Even Harrelson: TSN, 2/7/70, 38.

  119 Hank Aaron: “left out”: TSN, 2/7/70, 6.

  119 Soon after those comments: SPD, 2/20/70, 2C.

  119 “If Curt”: OT, 2/10/70, 34.

  120 “do-nothing”: LAT, 3/16/68, A1.

  120 With his salary approaching $150,000: From 1966 to 1969, Mays made $125,000 per season. NYT, 2/28/69, 69. The reports on Mays’s salary for 1970 vary. Mays, Say Hey, 244 (claiming he made $160,000); Einstein, Willie’s Time, 328 (putting Mays “in the $150,000 bracket” around 1972); NYT, 1/15/70, 73 (Mays as highest salary in majors); NYT, 2/14/70, 17 ($150,000); NYT, 7/19/70, 137 ($130,000 plus endorsements); WP, 3/2/71, D1 ($135,000 in 1970). The following year, Mays signed a two-year contract that paid him $155,000 to $160,000 for 1971. WP, 3/2/71, D1.

  120 “I can understand”: OT, 2/10/70, 34.

  120 “Willie Mays, Ernie Banks, and Henry Aaron”: CT, 1/22/70, sec. 3, 2.

  120 Billy Williams: Ibid., 4.

  120 “To me”: BAA, 5/12/70, 17.

  120 Oscar Robertson: BAA, 6/11/66, 27.

  121 “We hope”: PI, 1/21/70, 26.

  121 “I’m certainly”: WP, 1/21/70, D2.

  121 “It’s going to”: SGD, 1/20/70, 2C; WP, 1/21/70, D2.

  121 Hockey players: NYT, 1/21/70, 52.

  121 “You’re crazy”; “a few hundred paces”: “Curt Flood,” ESPN SportsCentury.

  121 “Guys who come”; “If he succeeds”: Speers, “Why Curt Flood Won’t Play for the Phillies,” PI Magazine, 5/17/70, 7-8.

  121 “Something had to be done”: OT, 3/8/70, 5C; TSN, 2/7/70, 38.

  121 “Flood is going to go”; “You have to understand Curt”: CPD, 3/8/70, 2-C.

  122 “Curt Flood, my hat’s”: NYDN, 3/14/70, G26; SPD, 3/13/70, 6B.

  122 “If you want to”: Thompson, “Man Who Fights Power Structure of Baseball,” Jet, 2/12/70, 53.

  122 Before the 1966 season: Leavy, Sandy Koufax, 201-12.

  122 “I have to give”: LAT, 4/11/70, C3.

  122 “We just feel”: WP, 12/30/69, D1.

  122 “We’re not interested”: NYP, 1/2/70, 72.

  122 “I think he’s right”: BAA, 1/24/70, F-19.

  122 “The way I feel”: TSN, 1/24/70, 35.

  122 Cardinals player representative: SPD, 1/27/70.

  123 “Maybe I”: NYP, 1/17/70, 63.

  123 “[a]s far as I’m concerned”: TSN, 2/21/70, 14.

  123 “I’d play in”; “I can’t understand”; “the wrong guy”: AJ, 1/20/70, 1C.

  123 “I remember Gene Mauch”: Ron Brand interview.

  123 “the Pope burning down”; “If they wipe”: TSN, 2/7/70, 45.

  123 Richards explained: AJ, 1/21/70, 1-D, 7-D; TSN, 1/24/70, 14.

  123 “Realistically”: TSN, 3/7/70, 7.

  124 “Instead of a sport”: TSN, 3/28/70, 16; SPD, 3/11/70, 1E.

  124 “We’re much better”; “How good”: PDN, 4/1/70, 47.

  124 “I can only believe”: TSN, 1/24/70, 38; PEB, 1/6/70, 49.

  124 “I’m certain that Miller”: CT, 3/26/70, F4.

  124 “I think Curt”: OT, 3/8/70, 5C.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Page

  126 Jay Topkis hoped: Jay Topkis interview.

  126 “emotionally unstable”: Cooper Nomination Hearing (Cooper Hearing), 43; NYT, 3/20/62, 1.

  126 He berated: Cooper Hearing, 102, 108, 124.

  126 In April 1955: Ibid., 202-5.

  126 “an apology”: Ibid., 205.

  127 “personal wear”; “constant anxiety, irritation”: NYT, 3/20/62, 33.

  127 “like a baby”; “a crummy”: “The Judge Takes the Stand,” Time, 8/17/62, 16.

  127 “Bellevue Ben”: Goulden, The Benchwarmers, 65.

  127 “a persecution complex”; Cooper was the most controversial: “Day in Court,” Time, 3/30/62, 16.

  128 “screamed at me”: Brill, “Benching of Bad Judges,” Esquire, 4/10/79, 22.

  128 The firm’s lead partner: Cooper Hearing, 27-28; Jay Topkis interview; NYT, 3/20/62, 33.

  128 Cooper reportedly: Brill, “Benching of Bad Judges,” Esquire, 4/10/79, 22.

  128 “We got the madman”: Lou Hoynes interview.

  128 During his own testimony: Cooper Hearing, 353-54.

  128 The vice chairman: NYT, 7/9/61, 79; NYT, 7/8/62, 56; Jay Topkis interview.

  129 In requesting an injunction: 2/3/70 Tr., 19-20, NARA, NY.

  129 “The fact that”: Ibid., 26:11-16.

  129 “counteroffer”: Ibid., 30:5-15.

  129 “The Court announces”: 2/3/70 Tr., 30:17; NYT, 2/4/70, 50.

  129 When the hearing resumed: 2/3/70 Tr., 32-35.

  129 “It is very difficult”: Ibid., 50:18-25.

  130 “business may fail”: Flood Affidavit, para. 9 (on file with author), NARA, NY.

  130 “fledgling business”: 2/3/70 Tr., 54:14-21.

  130 Hughes also read: Ibid., 55; Devine Affidavit, para. 4 and Exh. A, NARA, NY.

  130 “if this system”: 2/3/70 Tr., 56:13-17; NYP, 2/4/70, 100.

  130 Porter briefly added: 2/3/70 Tr., 58-63.

  130 “You have thrown”: Ibid., 67:25-68:2.

  130 “You do”: Ibid., 68:5-11.

  131 “having second thoughts”: TSN, 2/14/70, 14.

  131 Flood’s world: Flood, The Way It Is, 200-203.

  131 “Why I Am”: Flood, “Why I Am Challenging Baseball,” Sport, 3/70, 10, in Thorn, ed., The Armchair Book of Baseball, 130.

  131 Dave Olipha
nt: Dave Oliphant interview; Flood, The Way It Is, 199-200.

  131 In late February: Dave Oliphant interview; Flood, The Way It Is, 202-3.

  132 “I read them”; “The book’s gone”; That same afternoon; “Curt was addicted”; “I really thought”: Dave Oliphant interview.

  132 Baseball’s status: Flood v. Kuhn, 309 F. Supp. 793, 797 (S.D.N.Y. 1970).

  133 “[f]or years”: Ibid., 809.

  133 Flood called Zerman: Allan Zerman interview.

  133 “The failure”: NYT, 3/5/70, 49.

  133 Flood told Jorgensen: Flood, The Way It Is, 200-201.

  133 “I’m a baseball player”; He decided: Ibid., 201.

  134 “It’s my life”; “Let’s face it”; “And besides”: SGD, 3/6/70, 2B.

  134 “I’m not a millionaire”; “It’s just”: Ibid.; SPD, 3/6/70, 2C.

  134 Flood felt better: Flood, The Way It Is, 202.

  134 The day after Judge Cooper’s decision: NYT, 3/4/70, 1; NYT, 3/6/70, 22.

  135 New York Post columnist Pete Hamill: NYP, 12/8/69, 49.

  135 “I don’t want”; “How can you”: NYT, 3/6/70, 22.

  135 “Meanwhile, goddamnit”: Village Voice, 3/12/70, 13 (emphasis in original).

  135 At least one newspaper columnist: Hudson (N.J.) Dispatch, 1/19/70, Goldberg Papers, Box II-81, Folder 6; TSN, 2/7/70, 4.

  135 Miller called Goldberg: Phone log, Goldberg Papers, Box I-135, Folder 4.

  135 He did not have: Marvin Miller interview.

  136 Topkis had played a major: “1969 Report,” Goldberg Papers, Box I-76, Folder 3.

  136 “Topkis will do”: William Sloane Coffin Jr. interview.

  136 Goldberg’s decision to run: Jay Topkis interview.

  136 As a Yale law student: Jay Topkis interview.

  136 “Monopoly in Professional Sports”: 58 Yale L.J. 691 (1949).

  136 “It is of great importance”: 3/24/70 Tr. 15:12-14, NARA, NY.

  136 “We are ready”: Ibid., 20:24-25, 21:2-3.

  137 Carroll said the Phillies: Ibid., 26:23-24.

  137 “Mr. Flood”: Ibid., 27:17-18.

  137 “But I can tell”: Ibid., 28:16-17.

  137 “Because speaking”: Ibid., 29:2-6.

  137 “Flood is a mature man”: Ibid., 30:13-21.

  137 A week later in Cooper’s chambers: 3/31/70 Tr., 26:22-27:6, Hagley Museum, Accession 1352, Box 9.

  138 The owners wanted: Ibid., 29:19-20.

  138 But, realizing: Ibid., 29:24-30:6, 36:3.

  138 “what the rush is”: Ibid., 43:9-10.

  138 “Mr. Flood has waited”: Ibid., 48:9-11.

  138 Goldberg wanted: Ibid., 33:3-4.

  138 “The rush is”: Ibid., 45:13-15.

  138 “Our posture”: Ibid., 47:23-48:4.

  138 “I was told”: Ibid., 39:7-14.

  138 The next day at Grossinger’s: NYT, 4/2/70, 1, 32; WP, 4/2/70, A1, A6.

  139 At Hughes’s request: Letter from Cooper to Hughes, 4/1/70, Letter from Hughes to Cooper, 4/1/70, NARA, NY, SDNY.

  139 “I think it would”: 3/31/70 Tr. 51:11-12.

  139 As the commissioner: PI, 2/24/70, 19; BMS, 4/5/70, A-1.

  139 “farce”; “The ‘Alice in Wonderland’ ”: Axthelm, “Slap on the Wrist,” Newsweek, 4/13/70, 48.

  139 He thought he could: Kuhn, Hardball, 85.

  140 “I don’t owe”; “Jackie was great”: Monte Irvin interview.

  140 Irvin called: Flood, The Way It Is, 203; Irvin, Nice Guys Finish First, 198.

  140 The commissioner offered: Kuhn, Hardball, 85.

  140 Irvin promised: Monte Irvin interview.

  140 “Damnit, Monte”; “He’d”: Flood, The Way It Is, 203.

  140-41 “Listen, Curt”; “I don’t have”; “I think”; “disgusted”: Monte Irvin interview.

  141 “a feather”: Irvin, Nice Guys Finish First, 198.

  141 “I thought”; “was in love”: Monte Irvin interview.

  141 “The commissioner”; “Oh, come on”; “He’s a very”: Flood, The Way It Is, 203-4.

  141 League lawyers: Lou Hoynes interview.

  141 AM DISAPPOINTED: Kuhn, Hardball, 85; Flood, The Way It Is, 204.

  142 As the commissioner and a fan: TT, 667:7-13 (Kuhn).

  142 Kuhn spoke with: PDN, 3/12/70, 61; PDN, 3/17/70, 72.

  142 Even owners Gussie Busch and Bob Carpenter: PI, 3/20/70, 27; PDN, 3/28/70, 30.

  142 Mike Shannon: Mike Shannon interview; TSN, 4/4/70, 21.

  142 not a single major leaguer: PDN, 3/23/70, 60; PI, 3/20/70, 27.

  143 On March 4: TT, 128:19-129:22 (Flood).

  143 This prevented: SPD, 4/8/70, 2C; WP, 4/8/70, D4.

  143 Part of the reason: TT, 667:7-13 (Kuhn).

  143 “[a] player on the Restricted List”: Rule 15(a), 1969 Baseball Blue Book, Ex. A, NARA, NY, SDNY.

  143 Although Flood or the Phillies: Rules 18(a) and (b), ibid.

  143 Danny Gardella; George Toolson: NYT, 6/6/49, 24; Toolson v. New York Yan-kees, 101 F. Supp. 93, 93 (S.D. Cal. 1951).

  143 On April 23, Cooper issued: Flood v. Kuhn, 312 F. Supp. 404 (S.D.N.Y. 1970); TT, 108A-126A.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Page

  145 He received; Flood and his trial team: TSN, 6/6/70, 4.

  145 Kuhn sat: NYP, 5/20/70, 100.

  145 The court clerk: TSN, 6/6/70, 4.

  145 Members of the press: TSN, 6/6/70, 4.

  146 “Howard Cosell’s big beak”: Douglas Robinson interview.

  146 “A great day”: Bill Iverson interview.

  146 “We are not ready”: TT, 3:8-10 (Hughes).

  147 “Then I told”: Reeves, “This Is the Battle of the Titans?” NYTM, 11/1/70, 224.

  147 He insisted: Richard Reeves interview.

  147 “I spent a month”: “Mr. Goldberg Runs for Office,” New Yorker, 6/13/70, 28.

  147 Topkis, Bill Iverson: Phone Logs, 5/6/70, 5/14/70, Goldberg Papers, Box I- 135, Folder 4.

  147 Goldberg’s schedule; The morning of Flood’s trial: Campaign Schedules, Goldberg Papers, Box I-65, Folder 1.

  147 “I would like to”: TT, 8:23 (Goldberg).

  148 “Mr. Justice Goldberg”: TT, 8:24 (Hughes).

  148 Cooper refused: TT, 9:10.

  148 “Very well”; “Mr. Curtis”: TT, 10:15-16 (Goldberg).

  148 “I’ve really got”: CST, 5/18/70, 91.

  148 Gibson, off to a slow: NYT, 5/19/70, 50.

  148 On April 29: SPD, 4/29/70, 25A.

  148 He did not know: Flood, “The Legacy of Curt Flood,” Sport, 11/77, 39.

  148 The day before Flood’s trial: Allan Zerman interview.

  149 it seemed huge: Whitford, “Curt Flood,” Sport, 12/86, 106.

  149 The benches: TSN, 6/6/70, 4.

  149 First, he said: TT, 12:15-21, 13:11-16 (Flood).

  149 He sat hunched: NYP, 5/20/70, 104; NYDN, 5/20/70, 118; WP, 5/20/70, D1; “Curt Flood’s Complaint,” Newsweek, 6/1/70, 85.

  149 Goldberg gently: TT, 25:10-14, 21-23 (Flood).

  149 he was so afraid: Whitford, “Curt Flood,” Sport, 12/86, 106.

  149-50 Bill Iverson; “because he”: Bill Iverson interview.

  150 “What are you”; “A baseball card”: TT, 25:21-24 (Flood).

  150 Flood used: TT, 25:17-26:17, 35:17-36:13 (Flood).

  150 Goldberg asked: TT, 30-33 (Goldberg).

  150 “I state”; “I would state”: TT, 30:18 (Flood).

  150 “Now, Mr. Flood”; “No sir”: TT, 33:5-7 (Cooper and Flood).

  150 “I want you”: TT, 33:8-10 (Cooper).

  151 “I guess that they”: Whitford, “Curt Flood,” Sport, 12/86, 106.

  151 Flood used the baseball card: TT, 35:23-25 (Flood).

  151 Goldberg read: TT, 37-38; NYT, 5/21/70, 48.

  152 receiving $500: TT, 40:17-23, 41:8-14, 23-25 (Flood).

  152 “Why did you”; “I didn’t think”: TT, 63:9-11 (Flood).

  152 “[i]f I had”: TT, 64:8-9 (Flood).

  152
“could play another”: TT, 64:10 (Flood).

  152 Mark Hughes began by: TT, 107:12-108:14 (Flood).

  152 “The trial is”: TT, 114:8-15 (Cooper).

  153 “[W]e, in conversation”; “I’m sorry”; “That is”: TT, 115:20-25 (Flood).

  153 “I think some”: TT, 118:18 (Flood).

  153-54 “Well, which is”; “I would like”: TT, 118:19-23 (Flood).

  154 “Any revision”: TT, 122:17-19 (Flood).

  154 “Well, I feel”: TT, 121:9-10 (Flood).

  154 “Mr. Flood”: TT, 125:11-13 (Flood).

  154 Goldberg objected: TT, 125:14-17 (Goldberg).

  154 “I think”: TT, 126:9-10 (Flood).

  154 “Do you want”; “No, I like”: TT, 126:12-14 (Cooper and Goldberg). *

  154 “Engraved”: This answer was not recorded on the transcript, but picked up by the press. NYP, 5/20/70, 100, and PDN, 5/20/70, 60 (attributing it to one of Goldberg’s associates); BES, 5/20/70, D1 (attributing it to Goldberg). Topkis, however, referenced his earlier line in a colloquy with Judge Cooper later in the trial. TT, 1318:11-12 (Topkis) (“As I said before, your Honor, engraved in gold”).

  155 Miller also detailed: TT, 183:22-184:10 (Miller).

  155 Cooper granted: TT, 187a (Cooper).

  155 Flood was done: TT, 187 (Cooper).

  155 “On the surface”: NYP, 5/20/70, 100.

  155 “trailed on several”: PDN, 5/20/70, 60.

  156 “Lindsay for Mayor”: NYT, 5/21/70, 1.

  156 Every time Kramer hopped; “Some of that”: Douglas Robinson interview.

  156 one former player: Jay Topkis interview; Bill Iverson interview.

  156 “If ever there”: Bill Iverson interview.

  156 In response to questions: Study of Monopoly Power, Pt. 6, Organized Base-ball, 82d Cong., 1st Sess., 10/16/51, 601-2.

  157 The Associated Press: SPD, 5/20/70, 26.

  157 Iverson called; “None of them”: Bill Iverson interview.

  157 The media: WP, 5/21/70, G3.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Page

  158 He had suffered: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 429; Kahn, Boys of Summer, 398-99.

  158 His doctor: Rampersad, Jackie Robinson, 441.

  158 Robinson walked: Burns, Baseball documentary, vol. 9 (Flood); Burns/Flood interview, 11.

  158 He shook; Tears welled: Flood, The Way It Is, 204-5; Flood, “The Legacy of Curt Flood,” Sport, 11/77, 38-39.

  158 A hush fell: Burns, Baseball documentary, vol. 9 (Flood); Burns/Flood interview, 11.