On this day in 1975 in baseball it was the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. Peter Seitz an arbitrator makes the decision that pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally who had played the previous season without signing a contract during their option year were free-agents. Messersmith and McNally challenged the owners assumption that hte reserve clause meant one- year contracts were automatically renewed. Seitz after making this decision was fired by the owners.

Andy Messersmith would sign with the Atlanta Braves for 3 years and an unheard of $1 million dollars. When he joined the Braves, Braves owner Ted Turner wanted him to wear #17 and have “Channel” above the number [for Turner’s television station} MLB stepped in and didn’t let that happen. Messersmith who had won 20 and 19 games for the Dodgers in 1974 and 75 would go 16-15 for the Braves in the two seasons he was with them. Arm injuries pretty much ended his career.

Dave McNally who had said all along he was going to retire, retired.