A Catfish Hunter Yankeeography states that Ken Harrelson (A's to Red Sox) was "technically the first free agent in 1967", as well as that Catfish Hunter was the player who virtually "paved the way for future fortunes."
However, a book (Pennants and Pinstripes) about the Yankees from 1903-2002 mentions the Indians letting go of Tommy Henrich with permission from Commissioner Landis, and signed with the Yankees as a free agent.
2006-11-05 05:46:44 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
Jim "Catfish" Hunter was made a free agent when Oakland A's owner Charlie Finley did not make payments for an insurance policy that was written into Hunter's contract. That made it a breach-of-contract and Hunter then became a free agent when his contract was voided.
Ken Harrelson was cut in mid-season 1967, again by Charlie Finley of the then Kansas City A's. Harrelson made Finley mad so he cut him. Harrelson signed with the Boston Red Sox in their 1967 Miracle season going to the World Series with them. He basically replaced Tony Conigliaro after he was hit in the eye by a pitch.
Tommy Heinrich was made a free agent because his contract was voided as illegal by Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis. The New York Yankees offered the best deal so Heinrich signed with them.
The current free agency is when a player lets his contract expire and signs with a new team for the next season. The first two players to play out the option were Andy Messersmith of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dave McNally of the Montreal Expos. It was called playing out the option because the players were help by the teams forever until released; the teams maintained an "option" on all players and kept them until they were released.
Only Messersmith actually took a chance with his career as McNally was already injured and planning on retiring however the lawsuit turned out.
When Messersmith and McNally won the lawsuit to stop the teams from keeping them forever and ever until released, the teams set up a free agent re-entry draft. A team had to draft a player, making it known to all teams that they were interested in signing the free agent player. That rule has since fallen away, any team can sign any free agent at any time.
When the free agency started it hurt the Oakland A's the most; Charlie Finley was well known for not paying well and generally treating his players poorly. After winning the division 5 consiecutive years from 1971 to 1975, and winning 3 consecutive World Series from 1972 to 1974, they lost Gene Tenace, Bert Campanaris, Sal Bando, Joe Rudi, Rollie Fingers as well as Catfish Hunter to free agency. The A's also had to trade Reggie Jackson, Vida Blue, and Ken Holtzman once Finley realized he was going to lose the players anyways.
Edit- Curt Flood tried to become a free agent. He went all the way to the Supreme Court but he lost. He did not want to be traded to the Philadelphia Phillies and refused to report. Even though he refused to report, the Phillies kept the rights to his contract; later trading his rights to the Washington Senators. He played for the Washington Senators for a short time, ending his career in 1971 after sitting out the 1970 season protesting.
Bottom Line- Curt Flood was never a Major League free agent, first, last or otherwise. See the link below for the list of transactions for Curt Flood.
The first players that played out their options and became free agents were Andy Messersmith who moved from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Atlanta Braves and Dave McNally who retired rather than signing with a new team.
2006-11-05 06:33:45 · answer #1 · answered by jpbofohio 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
If you know this, who's the first free agent in baseball: Tommy Henrich, Ken Harrelson, or Catfish Hunter?
A Catfish Hunter Yankeeography states that Ken Harrelson (A's to Red Sox) was "technically the first free agent in 1967", as well as that Catfish Hunter was the player who virtually "paved the way for future fortunes."
However, a book (Pennants and Pinstripes) about the...
2015-08-06 06:36:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First Free Agent In Baseball
2016-11-04 23:55:00 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first true what we call today a free agent was Catfish Hunter.
2006-11-05 05:54:46 · answer #4 · answered by notaxpert 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
December 31, 1974... Jim "Catfish" hunter signs "free agent" contract with New York Yankees
2015-03-27 11:02:53 · answer #5 · answered by gregski968 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first free agent was Curt Flood for the definitions we use today.
Despite his outstanding playing career, Flood's principal legacy developed off the field. He believed that Major League Baseball's decades-old reserve clause was unfair in that it kept players beholden to the team with whom they originally signed for life, even when they had satisfied the terms and conditions of those contracts.
On October 7, 1969, the Cardinals traded Flood, catcher Tim McCarver, outfielder Byron Browne, and left-handed pitcher Joe Hoerner to the Philadelphia Phillies for first baseman Dick Allen, second baseman Cookie Rojas, and right-handed pitcher Jerry Johnson. However, Flood refused to report to the moribund Phillies, citing the team's poor record and the fact that they played in dilapidated Connie Mack Stadium before belligerent – and, Flood believed, racist – fans; he was also irritated that he had learned of the trade from a reporter. He forfeited a relatively lucrative $100,000 contract by his refusal to be traded, and consulted with players' union head Marvin Miller. He also met with Phillies general manager John Quinn, who left the meeting with the belief that he had convinced Flood to report to the team. But after being advised that the union was prepared to pay the costs of the lawsuit, he chose to proceed.
In a letter to Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, Flood demanded that the commissioner declare him a free agent:
December 24, 1969
After twelve years in the major leagues, I do not feel I am a piece of property to be bought and sold irrespective of my wishes. I believe that any system which produces that result violates my basic rights as a citizen and is inconsistent with the laws of the United States and of the several States.
It is my desire to play baseball in 1970, and I am capable of playing. I have received a contract offer from the Philadelphia club, but I believe I have the right to consider offers from other clubs before making any decision. I, therefore, request that you make known to all Major League clubs my feelings in this matter, and advise them of my availability for the 1970 season.
2006-11-05 08:53:48 · answer #6 · answered by Colin L 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It appears to me that the first free agents were McNally and Messersmith.
2006-11-05 07:04:21 · answer #7 · answered by smitty 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The dude is right. The 1st "true" free agent was Curt Flood. He was one of the most important players of all-time, and no one (including the millionaire players who owe him credit for their crazy paychecks) seems to remember him.
2006-11-05 09:32:29 · answer #8 · answered by cantthinkofanygoodnames 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Colin L. is 100% correct
2006-11-06 12:02:58 · answer #9 · answered by ncisle 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/av0eZ
yes!!! "he gone!!" :) aww f*** man!!! don't even joke about that! you easily just made me the happiest person on earth right there :P
2016-04-10 12:46:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋