December 23, 1975
The Messersmith–McNally Arbitration
Marvin Miller had two pitchers play an entire season without signing new contracts — on purpose. When the season ended, he argued their old deals' one-year renewal clause had already been used up. The arbitrator agreed. No valid contract, no reserve right. Modern free agency wasn't born from a lawsuit. It was born from a technicality nobody else had thought to exploit.
Why it still matters
The single most consequential reading of a contract clause in American sports. Free agency exists because of how one sentence was parsed.
Sources
Historical summaries prepared from published opinions and secondary sources. Commentary and analysis, not legal advice.
Contract