The Curious Case of Curt Flood

[mr2686]

Has anyone watched this documentary on HBO? I saw it last night and was really surprised how much stuff I didn't know about him as a player or in his personal life. I think it's worth a look if you get the chance.

[danc]

It is one of those docs where you can't figure out why film was wasted on a man and you come out of it going 'wow, that was incredible'. I felt so bad for Flood throughout. His stance was ignored, he hurt himself with his wild lifestyle, was broke throoughout (despite making $100k) and played for money not love at the end out of shape and he handled his affairs by escaping. And it was revealed that he was a fraud of a painter, that even his daughter went into denial about. It is well worth watching.

DanC

[ChiefBenderForever]

Looking forward to it, was gonna watch it a couple nights ago but ended up watching 'Bobby Fischer against the world' instead and what crazy doc that was, can't wait to see Flood as he changed MLB forever.

[slidekellyslide]

It was an incredible documentary...award winning if you ask me. I'd like to see some more evidence that the paintings were all frauds...there are some people who have made incredible impacts on the game in ways other than statistics, but will never be in the Hall of Fame and that's too bad.

[mr2686]

Some of the things that really surprised me were the painting fraud, the fact that he would just take off and disappear from friends and family, and how much he was making as a ball player. Considering how much the major league minimum was back then, and how much someone like Mantle was making, I would have thought Flood was making around $15k - $20K.

[prewarsports]

Maybe this sounds bad, but I watched it and actually came out thinking less of the man. He was a good ballplayer who took a stance on behalf of others which was cool, but the other stuff was worse than I had originally thought. Just my two cents worth but that is how I felt when watching it. Sort of like when I went to watch my idol Jose Canseco as a kid and wished I hadn't afterwards for the way he treated me at the ballpark when I asked for his autograph (1987), I sort of wish I had not watched it but sometimes life is ugly when you have addictions and issues such as Flood.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by prewarsports

Maybe this sounds bad, but I watched it and actually came out thinking less of the man. He was a good ballplayer who took a stance on behalf of others which was cool, but the other stuff was worse than I had originally thought. Just my two cents worth but that is how I felt when watching it. Sort of like when I went to watch my idol Jose Canseco as a kid and wished I hadn't afterwards for the way he treated me at the ballpark when I asked for his autograph (1987), I sort of wish I had not watched it but sometimes life is ugly when you have addictions and issues such as Flood.

Yeah...but it did seem as if his daughter had forgiven him...not sure why they didn't interview any of his other kids...maybe they didn't want to participate? Anyway by the end of his life he seemed to have gotten his life in order.

[Collectorsince62]

I haven't seen it yet, but will watch it reluctantly since Flood was one of my favorite players as a kid. I hope after watching it he remains a hero and not a fallen idol. Curt Flood did a card show in St. Louis many years ago. Before signing, he stopped and thanked the St. Louis fans for supporting him throughout his career. It was very sincere and I thought it was a classy move. Later as he signed a few items for me (you could do that back then for just a few bucks), I commented on the WS ring he was wearing. He took it off and asked me to try it on. That was cool. People forget what a solid ballplayer he was. Gold Glove centerfielder who could put up 200 hits in a season, and a good patient second place hitter behind Lou Brock.

[mcgwirecom]

Yeah, was really a good player. Great fielder. But that part about the paintings being faked bugged me. I remember not long ago in a major auction they sold a bunch of them. I was quite impressed with the quality. Almost bid on a few. Now I am bummed. But he did really give up a good part of his career for that lawsuit. As they alluded to in the documentary, players making big money today should kiss his butt. (as well as a few others)

[danc]

Hunt sold off the Flood Estate and many of the paintings. They sold off many of the drawings, which appearentlty he did, but nobody ever saw him work with oils, and this was supposidly done while he couldn't sleep in the middle of the night...but wasn't that when he was out chasing ladies?

I met Flood in 1991 and he could not have been nicer.

DanC

[LanceRoten]

Really good documentary. Doesn't change my opinion of Flood at all. Flawed human being like everyone else.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by LanceRoten

Really good documentary. Doesn't change my opinion of Flood at all. Flawed human being like everyone else.

Exactly

[ChiefBenderForever]

Finally watched it, then caught it running so watched it again and yes great piece and didn't realize how alone he was through the whole process. He had less support than Jackie Robinson breaking into the big leagues, everyone reaped the rewards and they didn't do anything for him until his deathbed, just shows how much the athletes of yesterday were only concerned with themselves just like today, some things always stay the same.