[DC 86]

Dave McNally was the plaintiff in the case that invalidated the reserve clause in baseball.

McNally and Andy Messersmith (who pitched at Cal) were both plaintiffs in the historic case. What makes McNally's role interesting is that he filed as a plaintiff even though his arm was damaged to the point that he couldn't pitch and effectively had retired. The owners offered him a contract even though they knew that he couldn't pitch, in order to avoid the legal challenge to the reserve clause. McNally refused to sign even though it was basically free money for not pitching, showing tremendous integrity and solidarity with his fellow players.

[DC 86]

Dave McNally was the plaintiff in the case that invalidated the reserve clause in baseball.

McNally and Andy Messersmith (who pitched at Cal) were both plaintiffs in the historic case. What makes McNally's role interesting is that he filed as a plaintiff even though his arm was damaged to the point that he couldn't pitch and effectively had retired. The owners offered him a contract even though they knew that he couldn't pitch, in order to avoid the legal challenge to the reserve clause. McNally refused to sign even though it was basically free money for not pitching, showing tremendous integrity and solidarity with his fellow players.