By the late 1960s Flood was rendering three to four portraits every two weeks, at a price tag of $250 to $300 per painting. His artistic sideline really took off after he did a painting of August Busch, Jr., the Cardinals owner, which Busch displayed in his yacht. After taking some art training in the late 1950s, he honed his artistic talent into a marketable skill as a portrait painter that earned him the nickname of “Rembrandt ” among his fellow players. ”įlood had demonstrated some talent in drawing as a child, and he had worked in an engraving firm in his home town of Oakland, California. I know I do but I can only speak for Number 21. “We aren ’t organized so we don ’t stand for any position on an issue. Selected awards: Set record for consecutive fielding chances without an error (568) received Rawlings Gold Clove Awards for fielding excellence, 1963 –69 led National League in runs (112), 1963 led National League in hits (211), 1964 named to National League All-Star team three times.Īddresses: Office -c/o United Baseball League, 575 Madison Ave., 3rd FI, New York, NY 10022.Įbony in 1968. Author, with Richard Carter, of The Way It Is, Trident Press, 1970. 293, 1971 became radio broadcaster for Oakland Athletics, 1979 served as commissioner of the Fantasy Major League Slo-Pitch Softball League, Florissant, MO, late 1980s became vice president of the United Baseball League, early 1990s. Louis Cardinals, 1956 studied commercial painting, 1959 –1961 led National League in at bats, 1963, 1964 played in World Series, 1964,1967, 1968 became accomplished portrait artist set up own photographic art business sued major league baseball over reserve clause, 1970 sat out entire baseball season, 1970 played briefly for Washington Senators, 1971 retired from baseball with a career batting average of. Signed first major league contract with the Cincinnati Reds traded to St. Education: Attended College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, CA. “Few of us black ballplayers have time to be actively militant, ” he said in the June issue of At a Glance …īorn Curtis Flood, January 18, 1938, in Houston, TX five children. In 1968 Flood ’s status as a player was well publicized by his appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated, which declared him the best center fielder in the major leagues.Īlthough Flood did not become actively involved in the rising black militancy in sports in the late 1960s, he supported the trend. During those seasons, Flood finished fourth and fifth in batting in the league, with averages of. The Cardinals won the pennant again in 19, and beat the Boston Red Sox in the 1967 World Series. During one stretch he set a major league record by playing 223 consecutive games without an error, for a total of 568 flawless fielding chances in a row. Helping to maintain the Cardinals as a contender during the 1960s, Flood generated exemplary statistics as a fielder. Armed with other high-quality players such as pitcher Bob Gibson and outfielder Lou Brock, the Cardinals won the National League pennant that year and defeated the New York Yankees in the World Series. By 1964 he was considered by many to be one of the best center fielders in the major leagues. Louis Cardinals in 1956, Flood improved steadily to become one of the mainstays of the team. “I used to break into tears as soon as I reached the safety of my room, ” he said of this era in The Hard Road to Glory. While playing in the South, Flood was denied entry into gas station restrooms and faced other indignities because of his race due to Jim Crow laws. After entering the minor league system of the Cincinnati Reds, he faced discrimination as the only black on his team in the Carolina League. Flood ’s suit against major league baseball over the rights of players to determine their own value on the open market opened the door to greater player rights in the decades that followed.įlood came into baseball in the mid-1950s during an era when blacks were still relatively uncommon in the major league ranks. Louis Cardinals, Curt Flood is known more today for his precedent-setting challenge of major league baseball ’s reserve clause in 1970. Retired professional baseball player, executiveĪlthough he amassed an impressive record as an outfielder and hitter while playing for the St.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |