Baseball Hall of Fame to recognize Curt Flood on July 25

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) Baseball's Hall of Fame will make a special recognition of Curt Flood at its annual awards presentation on July 25, a day before its annual induction ceremony.

The Hall said Tuesday that players' association head Tony Clark will speak on behalf of Flood's challenge to the reserve system, a case Flood lost in 1970 in a 5-3 vote by the U.S. Supreme Court. Five years later, the players' union gained the right to free agency in an arbitration case filed on behalf of Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally.

The Hall also will mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II by recognizing players who served, including 36 Hall of Famers. U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus will speak on behalf of all U.S. military branches.