With the courage to stand
Under his own command
And do battle for what he felt right
All alone in the land
Taking matters in hand
Curt Flood started a principled fight
Although he was maligned
By the timid who whined
And complained he was "rocking the boat"
As he summoned the strength
To do battle at length
Curt Flood vowed all he had he'd devote
To abolishing laws
Like baseball's "reserved clause"
Which kept major league players enslaved
He made freedom his cause
Without fanfare or pause
Curt Flood knew of the danger he braved
Yet he seemed not to fear
For his brilliant career
As a major league champion, All Starred
His cause he would pursue
Though if he lost he knew
Curt Flood then from baseball would be barred
He confronted the pow'r
Of rich men of the hour
Owners of baseball teams and much more
Heroism the same
As made his playing fame
Curt Flood stepped up determined to score
He took baseball to court
For the good of all sport
Challenged the "reserve clause" on its face
He delivered the blow
That let all athletes go
Curt Flood, though, did not win in this case
Heroism like his
Americans dismiss
How dare any slave rise and attack
That deserves no reward
And is better ignored
Curt Flood made his case, but Curt was black
Still, he didn't do bad
His Supreme Court case had
Consequences no justice foresaw
His attack was so fierce
By and by it appears
Curt Flood actually had changed the law
His career at an end
He was never to spend
The high salaries he helped to create
He received nothing owed
From the fortunes that flowed
Overwhelmingly, through Curt's flood gate
But he hardly complained
And seemed not all that pained
By the difficult hand life had dealt
Not for fortune nor fame
Had he staked his free claim
Curt Flood simply fought for what he felt
Yet, as long as they pay
The best athletes to play
And as long as their agency’s free
A grand tribute is paid
To the great difference made
By the free man, Curt Flood fought to be
From now on all our young
Should hear his praises sung
Upon entering life's lonesome parade
And on entering the bank
All free agents should thank
Curt Flood for the foundation he laid
(In this poem, Oscar Brown, Jr is speaking about the heroism of his own Brother in Law- OBJ married Jean Pace, the sister of Hollywood actress, Judy Pace Flood, who was married to Curt Flood until his passing in 1997; Thus making OBJ and Curt Flood In-Laws. OBJ told us he even attended court, in California with Curt, during this landmark case impacting the free agency of athletes in Major League sports).
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