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grasp his historical importance, I missed an opportunity to meet retired
baseball player Curt Flood. Mr. Flood died way too young in 1997 at
the age of 59 and I never got another chance. He was of course forever
linked with labor leader Marvin Miller in their fight for major league ball
players’ right to earn free agency, and while they lost their first battle,
they of course won the war. So when it was announced in January of
2011 that Mr. Miller would be doing a baseball meet and sign event,
maybe his only one ever, I did not miss that time. He was articulate,
introspective and genuinely kind, and I am forever glad for a personal
conversation where I had the joy and privilege of his company.
To those who debate if he did more harm than good for baseball,
and resent millionaire ball players, I would suggest they consider the
attitude of billionaire owners who would have kept these men in
contractual servitude indefinitely if they’d been allowed to. Mr. Miller
never lived to see himself inducted in the Baseball hall of Fame, but
ironically got to witness the admission of George Steinbrenner who
as much as any owner ever, employed Mr. Miller’s breakthroughs in
financing his championships. But as to the question as to whether he
helped make baseball better or worse, he without doubt made things
better for baseball players and the rights of people employed in other
sports and venues as well. His legacy is that he outlived the archaic
attitudes of most of his opponents, and the breakthroughs he achieved
will outlive us all.
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