both sides that he was leaning toward ruling for the players. Aftermath MLB appealed the decision to the United States district court for Western Missouri, but Seitz's ruling was upheld on February 3, 1976, by Judge John Watkins Oliver, and later by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. In August, after all appeals were exhausted, the league and players' association reached an agreement allowing players with six years of major-league service to become free agents. McNally and Messersmith were officially granted free agency on March 16, 1976. Messersmith signed with the Atlanta Braves on April 10, 1976, and went on to play in MLB through the 1979 season, completing his 12-year major-league career with 344 games pitched (295 starts) and a 130–99 win–loss record. McNally did not play professionally after 1975, having finished his 14-year major-league career with 424 games pitched (396 starts) and a 184–119 record. See also Eastham v. Newcastle United, a 1963 court case in England Curt Flood, MLB player and plaintiff in Flood v. Kuhn, a 1972 case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court Bosman ruling, a 1995 European Court of Justice decision that outlawed a similar reserve system in European football (soccer) References External links ESPN retrospective Major League Baseball labor relations 1975 in baseball Major League Baseball controversies Baseball law