![]() The Golden Days committee is responsible for selecting worthy candidates from between 19.Ĭurt Flood was a two-time World Series champion and three-time All-Star, but his biggest impact came off the field. Then, in 2021, he was considered by the Golden Days Era, one of four Era Committees that consider players who have been retired for more than 15 seasons. He was made a candidate for the Hall thrice more - in 2003, 20 - by the Veterans Committee. The threshold for admittance is 75%.įlood was removed from the ballot in 1996 and died in 1997. I just assumed that a quarter-century after his death, the most consequential figure in the history of sports labor law and one of the best players of his generation would have been a shoo-in for the Baseball Hall of Fame.īut after appearing on the ballot for afull 15 seasons, Flood never received more than just over 15% of votes. I assumed Major League Baseball and, more importantly, the Baseball Writers' Association of America would do right by Flood. In 2019, Cole led the American League in ERA, strikeouts and colorful stories about the man he owes an unpayable professional debt. ![]() As John Buck would say, excuse my language, 'Get your f-ing book reports ready, kids. "I hope everyone has that conversation about Curt Flood on the bus. "I just think it's so important that players know the other sacrifices that players made in order to keep the integrity of the game where it is," Cole said. So, on the occasion of signing of one of the richest contracts in baseball history, a white guy from Newport Beach, California, told anyone who would listen how much he admired a Black man from Oakland. ![]() I want everybody to know, because challenging the reserve clause was one of the first stepping stones to ultimately the system we have today, which I believe brings out the most competitive - you know, genuine competitiveness - that we have in baseball."įlood is not only a man Cole has come to admire but also a historic figure to whom he owes a debt of gratitude. "'Tell me about Curt Flood! Why is he so important?' "One of his favorite things was he would call you up to the front of the bus after a few pops, and he would get in your face, and he would ask you, 'Who's Curt Flood?'" Colerecalled of Buck. 18, 2019, shortly after signing his nine-year, $324 million contract to pitch for the New York Yankees, Gerrit Cole stood at a podium at Yankee Stadium and thanked Curt Flood.Ĭole told the assembled media at his introductory news conference that he first learned who Flood was as a rookie while riding the team bus with then-Pirates teammate John Buck. Both picture and audio elements were reassembled at the intermediate (ProRes 4444) before the mp4 access file was created.Editor's note: This story is part of AP Sports' series celebrating Black History Month.
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