Thread: MLB's Record-Breaking Deals

Babe Ruth
$50,000
When someone asked him why he was making more money than President Harding in 1922, Ruth said, "I had a better year." Actually, Harding was paid $75,000 that year. Nonetheless, it took 25 years for Ruth's salary to be doubled by another ballplayer.

Nolan Ryan
$1.125 million
The doomsayers came out en masse when the Astros signed the free-agent strikeout artist to a four-year, $4.5 million deal in November 1979. Ryan would win 106 games for Houston during the next nine seasons.

Dave Winfield
$1.5 million
This was the first megadeal in baseball history: 10 years, $15 million. Of course, it was the Yankees who signed him.

fucking yankees

Originally Posted by lnvanry

fucking yankees

I love them!

Hank Greenberg
$100,000
Contrary to popular belief, Joe DiMaggio was not the first $100 grand player. It was Greenberg, who was paid that much by the Pirates in 1947. The Bucs also were kind enough to move the left-field fences in for the former Tigers slugger


(That's when the Pirates spent money)

Originally Posted by min0 lee

I love them!

I know if I lived uptown I'd love them too....they're just like ... the dark force of baseball....When they enter the field they should play the music from Star Wars movie during the Vader scenes

I think the way the US views the Yankees is the same way the world views the US.....They are consistently the best (even though they don't win the world series consistently) and they have more money than they know what to do w/....actually I take that back. Steinbrenner know what to do with

George Foster
$2 million
The Mets gave the former Reds star a five-year, $10.2 million contract before the 1982 season. He ended up being a bust, the first of many for the Mets.


(What a huge disapointment he was. I thought he was going to be great but in his defense I think Shea stadium is just a cementary for hitters.)

Originally Posted by lnvanry

I think the way the US views the Yankees is the same way the world views the US.....They are consistently the best (even though they don't win the world series consistently) and they have more money than they know what to do w/....actually I take that back. Steinbrenner know what to do with

Wow, you took the words right out of my mouth.

At least The Boss spends it on the team whereas some owners do not even invest a third on their team.

Kirby Puckett
$3 million
Puckett's three-year, $9 million contract in the winter of 1989 made him the game's highest-paid player ... for about a week. Three other players signed deals of equal or greater value before Opening Day.

Roger Clemens
$5.4 million
Rocket's record four-year deal (February 1991) to remain with the Red Sox also was surpassed before Opening Day -- by the Cubs' Ryne Sandberg. Rocket was the first to reach and exceed $5 million per year, though.

Kevin Brown
$15 million
Brown had led his two previous teams -- the '97 Marlins and '98 Padres -- to the World Series. The Dodgers thought he could do the same, giving him a seven-year, $105 million package that included, among other perks, the use of a jet.


( You suck)

Alex Rodriguez
$25.2 million
Just call him Pay-Rod. Eager for an identity, the Rangers allowed agent Scott Boras to take them to the woodshed at the 2000 winter meetings. The 10-year package included escalator clauses and hefty bonuses for awards such as the league MVP, which A-Rod has won twice -- once with Texas and once with the Yankees


(damn! Look at those ears!)

Mike Hampton
$121 million
The Rockies were desperate for pitching and Hampton had just won the 2000 NLCS MVP award. The eight-year contract, still the largest ever given to a pitcher, is being paid by three teams -- Colorado, Florida and Atlanta.