How times have changed...

[azzurribaggio]

I found this article from 1987...it's a snippet of when Donnie Baseball was going for arbitration with the yankees for $2,000,000/year:

"Last season, he finished second in the voting to Roger Clemens of Boston after hitting .352 with 31 home runs and a club record 238 hits and 53 doubles. But rather than ask for $2 million in arbitration - a figure he well could have won - he opted for less and still won. His request came after Steinbrenner had said there was no player worth $2 million."

I guess 20 years later another Steinbrenner believes the same, rather a player is worth $27,000,000/year

[GreenGrass]

Bleacher seats cost $3 (or was it $5) back in the mid 1980s.

Thought for sure in 1987 that Don Mattingly, Dwight Gooden, and Darryl Strawberry would be in the Hall of Fame by now.

[penguin4]

Bleacher seats cost $3 (or was it $5) back in the mid 1980s.

Thought for sure in 1987 that Don Mattingly, Dwight Gooden, and Darryl Strawberry would be in the Hall of Fame by now.

Clemens, too.

[BRNXBMRS]

There was a time when mattingly was the highest paid in MLB. I think he signed a contract @ 3yrs/18 mill.

[azzurribaggio]

In 1990 he was the highest paid player in baseball before the steriod king signed his that year..

Show me the money
Date	Player	Team	Salary
Nov. 22, 1989	Kirby Puckett	Twins	$3,000,000
Nov. 28, 1989	Rickey Henderson	Athletics	$3,000,000
Dec. 1, 1989	Mark Langston	Angels	$3,250,000
Dec. 11, 1989	Mark Davis	Royals	$3,250,000
Jan. 17, 1990	Dave Stewart	Athletics	$3,550,000
Jan. 22, 1990	Will Clark	Giants	$3,750,000
April 9, 1990	Don Mattingly	Yankees	$3,860,000
June 27, 1990	Jose Canseco	Athletics	$4,700,000
Feb. 8, 1991	Roger Clemens	Red Sox	$5,380,250
Dec. 2, 1991	Bobby Bonilla	Mets	$5,800,000
March 2, 1992	Ryne Sandberg	Cubs	$7,100,000
Dec. 8, 1992	Barry Bonds	Giants	$7,291,666
Jan. 31, 1996	Ken Griffey Jr.	Mariners	$8,500,000
Nov. 19, 1996	Albert Belle	White Sox	$11,000,000
Feb. 20, 1997	Barry Bonds	Giants	$11,450,000
Aug. 10, 1997	Greg Maddux	Braves	$11,500,000
Dec. 12, 1997	Pedro Martinez	Red Sox	$12,500,000
Oct. 26, 1998	Mike Piazza	Mets	$13,000,000
Nov. 15, 1998	Mo Vaughn	Angels	$13,333,333
Dec. 12, 1998	Kevin Brown	Dodgers	$15,000,000

[RhodyYanksFan]

Haha...Albert Belle was the first 8 figure player.

[penguin4]

Cecil Fielder was definitely the highest paid player in 1996, when the Yankees traded for him; he was making around $9M+ at the time. I wonder what technicality left him off this list.

[Evil Empire]

Man that is a rapid increase. It still amazes me that these guys get millions to play a game.

[Big_E]

Cecil Fielder was definitely the highest paid player in 1996, when the Yankees traded for him; he was making around $9M+ at the time. I wonder what technicality left him off this list.

Don't know where that list came from. Wikipedia has Fielder:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...laries_by_Year


1979 $1,000,000 Nolan Ryan Houston Astros
1981 $2,000,000 Dave Winfield New York Yankees
1985 $2,130,300 Mike Schmidt Philadelphia Phillies
1986 $2,800,000 George Foster New York Mets
1990 $3,000,000 Rickey Henderson Oakland Athletics
1991 $4,700,000 José Canseco Oakland Athletics
1992 $5,800,000 Bobby Bonilla New York Mets
1993 $5,975,000* Ryne Sandberg Chicago Cubs
1995 $9,237,500 Cecil Fielder Detroit Tigers
1997 $10,000,000 Albert Belle Chicago White Sox
1998 $14,936,667 Gary Sheffield Florida Marlins
2000 $15,714,286 Kevin Brown Los Angeles Dodgers
2001 $22,000,000 Alex Rodriguez Texas Rangers
2005 $26,000,000 Alex Rodriguez New York Yankees

*Ryne Sandberg's 1993 contract was originally for $7,100,000 per year,
but he retired before the contract expired and forfeited the
back-loaded end of the contract.

[bigjf]

Man that is a rapid increase. It still amazes me that these guys get millions to play a game.

It's because it is an entertainment industry. Look at how much actors get paid...

[a-RobinsonCano-Fan]

"Steinbrenner had said there was no player worth $2 million."

HAHAHAHA

[BBombers85]

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...51C1A966958260

Wow..Yankee Stadium box seats for $12.50 in 1991? I'll buy..
Tier Reserve: $8.50

[penguin4]

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...51C1A966958260

Wow..Yankee Stadium box seats for $12.50 in 1991? I'll buy..
Tier Reserve: $8.50

In 1998 the best seats were still "only" $45.

[BBombers85]

In 1998 the best seats were still "only" $45.

That and I remember even being able to buy them. Now, not only is it expensive, but tough getting two tickets together in those areas.

[ymike673]

I remember my former boss having field box seats between the plate and the visitors dugout in the 4th row. In 1996 those seats had just been raised to $25 a game. And people complained that the price was too high!

And a tier reserved seat for the 1996 WS cost $45 as opposed to $156 now.