Kurt Flood, a three-time All-Star and seven-time Golden Glove winner, challenged the reserve clause in baseball, paving the way for free agency and giving players leverage in negotiations with owners. His story is a testament to the power of individual action in shaping the course of American history and the evolution of professional sports. [... more]

The rise of Abraham Lincoln to prominence was fueled by his strong opposition to slavery, which he believed was a form of theft. His debates with Stephen Douglas in 1858 made him a national figure and a possible candidate for president in 1860. Lincoln's win in the election of 1860 was a turning point in American life, but it also led to the secession of several Southern states and ultimately the Civil War. [... more]