"In 1975, two first-rate pitchers–Dave McNally of the Montreal Expos and Andy Messersmith of the Los Angeles Dodgers–agreed to play one year without contracts, declared themselves "free agents", and then filed a hearing for a new three–man arbitration panel. Marvin Miller voted for the players. John Gaherin, representing Major League Baseball, voted against them. The third man was a professional arbitrator named Peter Seitz. He was convinced the players were right and begged the owners to come up with a new and equitable contract. They refused. On December 23, 1975, Seitz voted with the players. "The owners were too stubborn and stupid," he said. "They were like the French barons of the 12th century. They had accumulated so much power, they wouldn't share it with anybody." The owners, claiming this would bankrupt baseball, fired Seitz the next day, and went to court to have the decision overturned. This time, they failed. The arbitration was binding; the reserve clause was dead."