The Reserve Clause

The Reserve Clause was a rule in professional sports, particularly baseball, that allowed teams to retain the rights to a player even after their contract expired. This meant a player couldn't freely negotiate with other teams; they were essentially "reserved" for their current team unless the team chose to release or trade them. The clause gave teams significant control over players' careers and salaries. It was eventually abolished in the mid-1970s, leading to free agency, where players gained the right to negotiate with any team once their contract ended.