On March 8, 1985, Toronto Blue Jays ace Dave Stieb signs an unusual 11-year contract. The deal carries an estimated value of $25 million, based on deferred payments and incentives.

The agreement believed to be the longest for a player in baseball history. “You could use that figure ($25 Million) and not be far off,” Lamonte said. “In terms of application between a club and player the only contracts, I know of that match it is Wayne Gretzky of Edmonton, Walter Payton with Chicago, and Magic Johnson with Los Angeles. Dave’s contract is easily in that ballpark, superior in some way not in others.”

Stieb, 27, has been the ace of the Blue Jays staff for the last five seasons, twice winning 17 games. He was 16-8, with a 2.83 earned run average last season when Toronto finished second in the Amer­ican League East. Pat Gillick, the Blues Jays’ executive vice president, said the contract was guaranteed for three years, with eight options.

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