Curt Flood Auction Offers Pieces Of History

R.B. FALLSTROM

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Earlier this year, Bob Gibson auctioned off his Hall of Fame ring. This month, there's a price tag on the base Lou Brock touched to break the stolen base record.

Those two have nothing on another St. Louis Cardinals star of the 1960s. Beyond the Gold Gloves, signed balls, gloves and the like, Curt Flood's estate is offering bidders an opportunity this weekend to purchase true history.

Gibson and Brock are in the Hall of Fame. Flood is remembered most not for .293 batting average or his seven Gold Gloves but as the player who 40 years ago failed in his lawsuit attempting to gain free agency. His auction includes several artifacts from that crusade.

"He changed the way they do business in the world of sports," said Flood's widow, Judy Pace Flood, in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "He challenged the rules. He is the father of free agency.

"I think every professional athlete should thank God for Curt Flood and I think every sports agent should have a little shrine that says 'Curt Flood, thank you.'"