reinstate the reserve clause

[hpgermany]

do you think there will ever come a time when baseball would consider reinstating the reserve clause? would it help control soaring salaries?

[BtownJay]

Welcome hpg!

I have never heard of this clause... care to explain a bit?

[JGAC]

The reserve clause contained in all standard player contracts stated that upon the contract's expiration, the rights to the player were retained by the team with which he had been signed; in other words although both the player's obligation to play for the team and the team's obligation to pay the player for playing for them were terminated, the player was not free to enter into another contract to play for another team, but was bound either to negotiate a new contract to play another year for the same team or to ask to be released.

Maybe for renegotiations but initial salaries that are paid huge, no. There will always be the higher paid players.

[Rusty27]

Things come to mind about this....you know....things.

[BaldBil]

The reserve clause was ruled illegal by federal courts in back in the early 70's. Curt Flood was basically blackballed from baseball because he was one who brought suit.