reserve clause

American  

noun

Sports.

1. the clause in the contract of a professional player in some sports that binds the player to a team for a season beyond the expiration of the contract in the event a new contract has not been made meanwhile or the player has not been sent to another team.

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Etymology

Origin of reserve clause

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

reserve clause

The owners’ underlying pitch then was that the reserve clause was crucial for the very survival of the game.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

When a federal court ordered a jury trial to investigate baseball’s labor practices, the owners quickly realized the reserve clause likely would be overturned, potentially costing them millions in salary.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 7, 2022

When Curt Flood first challenged the reserve clause, owners fought for it all the way to the Supreme Court — and won.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 2, 2022

In 1975, an arbitrator struck down the reserve clause in the cases of pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally.

From New York Times ● Aug. 18, 2021

The reserve clause in contracts was the direct cause of that struggle.

From The Scrap Book, Volume 1, No. 5 July 1906 by Various