A Well-Paid Slave: Curt Flood's Fight for Free Agency in Professional Sports by Brad Snyder
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Book Reviews of A Well-Paid Slave: Curt Flood's Fight for Free Agency in Professional Sports
Book Review: Riveting
Summary: 5 Stars
I couldn't put this book down. Brad Snyder is a gifted biographer. If you love baseball, read this book! His breakdown of the Supreme Court decision was actually interesting and suspenseful to see what went on behind the scenes. It was like 2 books in one. i'm buying his other book on the Homestead Grays today.Book Review: A Well-Paid Slave?
Summary: 4 Stars
Mr. Snyder has written a widely-researched and richly detailed account of Curt Flood's battle against baseball's reserve system, and his problems after losing in federal district court and eventually the Supreme Court. His central thesis is that Flood was a civil rights activist whose model was Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, and that he sacrificed his career in the fight to free players from baseball's reserve system.
Snyder makes a reasonable, if not totally satisfying case for Flood as a civil rights activist. But in part because of his non-linear format, in part because of his civil rights thesis, and in part because he does not examine Flood's temperament and personal life before his lawsuit, he does not actually show a cause-effect relationship between Flood's activism and his decision to sue. In essence, for all its rich detail and a very successful effort to humanize Flood, an alcoholic who treated woman as objects, Snyder's book simply enhances the well known story of Flood's fight for free agency; he does not examine "the man behind the myth."
Book Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
A Well-Paid Slave is an excellent book providing tremendous insight into Curt Flood's struggles. Brad Snyder, once again, comes through. I can't wait for his next boook.Book Review: Just excellent -- baseball, law & bio
Summary: 5 Stars
As a Cardinal fan first, a lawyer and a St. Louis native, this book is a home run. Snyder gets it right. It could be used in a law school class, it should be. But it is NOT boring. Snyder respects the great Cardinal team of the 60's. Snyder obviously respects Flood but doesnt pull any punches about his flaws. This is a great read!Book Review: Powerful Book on a Powerful Man
Summary: 4 Stars
Growing up I had a vague understanding of who Curt Flood was- though often I heard of him as the guy who screwed up baseball. Later, of course, I learned more about his real impact on the game and his strong stand but I still never did get the whole story until I read Brad Snyder's wonderful book. The book really makes its mark as one of the finest baseball books I have read in some time but also as a terrific story of a fascinating legal case as well. Curt Flood took his case to the Supreme Court and the process his case goes through is well documented by Snyder. Baseball fans and fans of the legal system will both enjoy this book. Flood is cast in a sympathetic light but his flaws are also documented by Snyder and the reader is allowed to get a real look at the man and not just the guy on the baseball card. His failed relationships, his fight with addiction, all of it is laid out in the book. It was disappointing for me to learn how some of the best players of the day failed to stand by Flood during this battle he was waging for all players and Snyder does a nice job of talking to those players and getting them to explain their actions. This book would be a nice addition to any baseball fan's library or to anyone who enjoys to see a fascinating legal decision broken down and examined. It is an important historical record of an event that changed the face of baseball forever.