Books and articles about Andy Messersmith

Messersmith was a good pitcher who spent more than a decade in the majors, but his mound performances will forever be overshadowed by the role he played in the advent of free agency. Both he and Dave McNally tested the reserve clause by playing the 1975 season without contracts in their option years. The players' contention was that this freed them from their contracts; the reserve clause would bind them beyond their contracts for the option year and no further. The owners insisted that the reserve clause was automatically and perpetually renewed. Arbitrator Peter Seitz ruled for the players, and a new era in baseball's labor relations was inaugurated.

RELATED LINKS » 1969: Team Uses 27 Players in Nine-Inning Game Submissions » The 1971 Swap Meet: The Trades That Weren't by Bruce Markusen

When he made his decision to challenge the reserve clause, Messersmith was coming off a strong 1974 season. He was 20-6 with a 2.59 ERA, leading the NL in winning percentage and tying for first in wins for a pennant-winning Dodger team. He won Game Two of the LCS 5-2 but lost the World Series opener 3-2 and also failed in Game Five, 5-2. He made himself attractive in his contractless 1975 season by leading the NL in starts (40), complete games (19), innings (322), shutouts (7), and fewest hits per nine innings (6.8). He went 19-14 with a 2.29 ERA to finish third in wins and second in ERA, and his 213 strikeouts ranked third. He made the All-Star team and won the Gold Glove Award both years.

He was not the first free agent (Catfish Hunter had been released from his contract by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn the year before, after owner Charlie Finley refused to honor a bonus in the contract), but Messersmith's precedent was more important. He was signed by the Braves for an estimated $1.75 million after owner Ted Turner won a furious month-long bidding war. Signed on April 10, Messersmith missed spring training and proved to be the first in another category: the disappointing free agent. He pitched well enough, going 11-11 with a 3.04 ERA for last-place Atlanta. He was even named to the All-Star team for the third straight season (although he was replaced due to injury), but more was expected of the newly minted baseball millionaire. He lost most of 1977 to injuries and was sold to the Yankees for 1978. He made the rotation with an impressive spring training, but he hurt his shoulder a week before the season started when he stumbled while covering first base. He made only six appearances that year and failed in a comeback in 1979 with the Dodgers.

Before becoming a baseball pioneer, Messersmith spent five seasons as Anaheim's hometown hero with the Angels. He pitched well for mediocre teams, never posting an ERA higher than 3.00, and went 20-13 in 1971 for the sub-.500 Angels, making the All-Star team for the first time. He joined the Dodgers for 1973 with Ken McMullen as part of the blockbuster deal that sent Frank Robinson, Bill Singer, Mike Strahler, Bobby Valentine, and Billy Grabarkewitz to the Angels. (SFS)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 23, 1969: Mickey Lolich sets a Detroit record with 16 strikeouts while defeating Andy Messersmith and the Angels 6–3. Mickey Stanley's grand slam is the difference. Lolich's mark breaks the record of 15 set by Paul Foytack in 1956. » September 10, 1969: Using a major-league record 27 players in one game, the Royals lose 11–4 at California. Andy Messersmith faces 20 different batters in the complete game win, while KC uses six pitchers. Bubba Morton plays just three innings but drives in five runs. » November 28, 1971: In a blockbuster interstate trade good for both teams, the Dodgers send Frank Robinson, Bill Singer, Mike Strahler, Bobby Valentine and Bill Grabarkewitz to the Angels in exchange for Andy Messersmith, and Ken McMullen, who returns to the team that signed him. The 37-year-old Robinson will play 147 games, hitting 30 homers and driving in 97 runs in '73, and Singer will combine with Nolan Ryan in 1973 to strike out 674 batters, a 20th Century major-league record for two teammates. Messersmith will win 39 games in the next two seasons for the Dodgers and finish 2nd in the Cy Young voting in 1974. » November 28, 1972: The Dodgers trade OF Frank Robinson, P Bill Singer, and three others to the Angels for P Andy Messersmith and 3B Ken McMullen. » May 8, 1973: For the second time in his career, Pirate Willie Stargell poles one out of Dodger Stadium. His blast off Andy Messersmith hits the RF pavilion roof 470 feet away. His first home run, a 506-foot shot, came off Alan Foster on August 5, 1969. No other player has hit one out of the stadium. LA wins, 7–4. » May 28, 1973: At Chavez Ravine, the Dodgers' Andy Messersmith strikes out the 1st six Phillies' batters. The Phils still win 5–1. » October 12, 1974: Oakland slugging star Reggie Jackson connects for a homer off Andy Messersmith to start the scoring, and pitcher Ken Holtzman scores the 2nd run in the 5th on a suicide squeeze. The A's win the World Series opener 3–2 as the Dodgers strand 12 base runners » April 25, 1975: The Dodgers Andy Messersmith beats the Giants 6–5 and ties a ML batting record for pitchers with three doubles in one game. » May 31, 1975: Andy Messersmith gets a loss and a save for the Dodgers in Chicago. In a game continued from the previous day, he saves a 3–1 win for Don Sutton, then loses 2–1 to the Cubs on two solo home runs. » August 2, 1975: In Los Angeles, George Foster's home run off Andy Messersmith is the only score as the Reds win, 1–0. The unrelated Carrolls -- Tom Carroll and Clay Carroll -— combine for the Reds. » October 7, 1975: Dick Moss, attorney for the Players' Association, files a suit in behalf of Dodgers P Andy Messersmith, contending that Messersmith, having completed his renewal year, now qualifies as a free agent. The All-Star pitcher will finally sign with the Braves after furious bidding. » October 24, 1975: Club owners, through the Player Relations Committee, respond to the October 7th Andy Messersmith suit, contending that "claims made by the [Players'] Association are not within the scope of the arbitration panel." » December 23, 1975: Arbitrator Peter Seitz announces a landmark decision in favor of the Players' Association, making pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally free agents. Seitz is immediately fired by John Gaherin, chairman of the owners' Player Relations Committee. McNally, who retired June 8th, will not return to the ML, finishing with a 184-119 career record. » February 4, 1976: Federal Judge John W. Oliver upholds Peter Seitz's decision in the Andy Messersmith free agency case. » April 10, 1976: The Braves sign free agent Andy Messersmith to a "lifetime contract" worth $1 million. » June 4, 1976: Pepe Mangual's 9th-inning single is the only hit against the Andy Messersmith, as the Braves down the Expos, 2–0. » November 6, 1978: The Yankees release Andy Messersmith, who will sign with the Dodgers. Messersmith never really recovered from the separated shoulder suffered in spring training. » August 28, 1979: The Dodgers release P Andy Messersmith, ending his 12-year NL career with a 130-99 record and 2.86 ERA.