On January 21, 1960, future Hall of Famer Stan Musial makes an unusual request – asking for a pay cut. Musial tells St. Louis Cardinals management that he is overpaid and should have his salary reduced after a subpar 1959 season. The Cardinals cut his salary from $100,000 to $80,000, believing that he…
1959 – Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees ends his holdout after one day. Mantle agrees to a salary of $72,000 and a bonus of $2,000. He had been asking the Yankees for $85,000 after batting .304 with 42 home runs and 97 RBI in 1958.
On February 6, 1958, Ted Williams signs a one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox. Reports on the worth of the contract estimate from $135,000 to $150,000. Either way, Williams becomes the highest paid player in the history of the franchise.
June 1, 1955 In a tryout with the Pirates, a Koufax fastball broke the thumb of his catcher, and Pirate G.M. Branch Rickey (forced out of Brooklyn by Walter O’Malley four years earlier) said Koufax had the greatest arm he had ever seen. By the time the Pirates made their offer, however, Sandy had already…
January 18, 1954 – Eddie Mathews expressed dissatisfaction with the Braves’ contract offer for 1954. “I may even hold out,” he said, but he said it with a laugh. The 22-year-old slugger, who led the majors in home runs in 1953, had reportedly earned $12,000 last year. He also said he might give…
1951 – The St. Louis Browns sign Satchel Paige, 45. He has been out of Major League Baseball since last pitching for the Cleveland Indians in 1949.
April 10, 1950 – Due to a salary dispute, St. Louis Browns pitcher Al Widmar quits the team and threatens to sue baseball. Widmar will sign a contract within the week. [jetpack_subscription_form title=”Join the Community” subscribe_text=”We bring you cool stories about the game, players, ballparks and the people that shaped the game!” subscribe_button=”Join us!” show_subscribers_total=”1″]…
test On June 24, 1949, future Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle signs his first contract – a $1,000 deal with the New York Yankees. Yankee scout Tom Greenwade reels in the 17-year-old high school star, who will make his major league debut two years later. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@
On February 7, 1949, New York Yankee superstar Joe DiMaggio signs a one-year contract worth $100,000, becoming the first American League player to earn a six-figure deal in major league history. Hank Greenberg was the first player to make six figures when he accepted the Pirates offer in 1947 after being waived by the Tigers….
Cardinals outfielder Stan Musial ends his holdout, signing a contract for $31,000, the same salary he made last season. ‘Stan the Man,’ after being assured by new owners Robert Hannegan and Fred Saigh that his salary will be increased based on his performance, gets a pay raise of $5,000 when he is hitting .403 at the All-Star break, en route to being named the National League’s MVP.
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!