THE BASEBALL MILLIONAIRES ARE FIGHTING
November 29, 2010
This column is supposed to accent good natured humor in the baseball world. But the subject, today, is too serious for comedy when it comes to the earth shattering "salary" dispute between Derek Jeter and the Yankees.
The New York Post's Mike Vaccaro just had an interesting piece on the subject, but really cited history as well.
In the days before free agency, everybody knows that you did what the owners said or you just didn't play. It was a monopoly of baseball slavery. Vaccaro quoted Yogi Berra who said, "They would tell you what they were gonna pay you, and then you could either take it or get a real job. And none of us ever went and got a real job." That remark was typical of many ball players in those days and pertained to club owners who stepped all over their employees.
DiMaggio, Berra, Mantle
Mickey Mantle, in 1959, had a great season and was offered a cut of $17,000 by the Yankees' George Weiss. Vaccaro quoted Weiss as saying, "We have been pampering this boy for nine years, and I think it's about time he acted like a man." Mantle had to sign, just as Joe DiMaggio accepted the same type of ridicule. It was disgraceful, with Weiss just being an example.
The bi-product of capitalism is greed. The owners at that time took full advantage if this fact, but at the same time, they themselves CREATED the UNION, just like in other fields.
However, I don't think that Vaccaro finished the story. The Players Association grew to such a point that the word "Labor" became misused and obsolete. The minimum wage for a rookie is $400,000. There IS Free Agency. There IS freedom of movement. The Players Association has, for some significant time, held the upper hand.
The 2010 salaries for the top 25 contracts by average annual value.
There are 433 baseball players earning $1 million or more.
1, Alex Rodriguez, NYY $33,000,000
2, CC Sabathia, NYY 24,285,714
3, Derek Jeter, NYY 22,600,000
4, Mark Teixeira, NYY 20,625,000
5, Johan Santana, NYM 20,144,708
6, Miguel Cabrera, Det 20,000,000
7, Carlos Beltran, NYM 19,401,571
8, Ryan Howard, Phi 19,000,000
(tie) Carlos Lee, Hou 19,000,000
(tie) Alfonso Soriano, Cubs 19,000,000
11, Carlos Zambrano, Cubs 18,875,000
12, John Lackey, Bos 18,700,000
13, Manny Ramirez, LAD 18,695,007
14, Torii Hunter, LAA 18,500,000
(tie) Barry Zito, SF 18,500,000
16, Ichiro Suzuki, Sea 18,000,000
17, Magglio Ordonez, Det 17,825,976
18, Todd Helton, Col 17,775,000
19, Aramis Ramirez, Cubs 17,000,000
20, A.J. Burnett, NYY 16,500,000
21, Matt Holliday, StL 16,333,328
22, Vernon Wells, Tor 16,142,857
23, Chris Carpenter, StL 15,840,971
24, Roy Halladay, Phi 15,750,000
25, Hiroki Kuroda, LAD 15,433,333
A real union is to bargain for higher salaries, improve working conditions, and keep working hours at a decent level. None of these objectives have anything to do with the Players Association. When was there a complaint that there were not enough towels in the men’s room or that the premises were filthy? When did the Association ever complain about excessive working hours, like the double header? (In fact, both management and players get nauseous about double headers. Two consecutive games create LESS revenue.)
Let's understand this. Labor has nothing to do with major league baseball. It's millionaires against millionaires. On the player's side, the Association makes no monetary contribution ever, but benefits from the capital contributions of the owners. Most seasoned players make far more money than many owners. A player who only lasts in the big leagues for a fraction over 2 years becomes a millionaire.
As for Derek Jeter, there is no question that a three year deal for $45 million is already excessive. He wants at least twice that amount without consideration for options or injury. Forget about what he made, or what Alex Rodriguez is raking in, or the statistics. Let's deal with logic and decency.
I don't know ANYBODY, in any FIELD throughout the country, who wouldn't accept $45 million to do ANYTHING for 3 years. If I were asked to be a coal miner, or a horse rider in the Rodeo, to walk through the Sahara Desert with just a glass of water, I'd hate the job. Sure it's dangerous, but for $45 million, I'd take the chance.
Vaccaro ends the article with "The good old days really weren't always so great. I suspect Derek Jeter has learned that by now."
The truth of the matter is that there WERE good old days for the FANS, but not necessarily for the players, who often needed other jobs besides their baseball salaries to survive. Jeter is flying high in dollars no matter what. And let's also cease using the word "salary". That word left major league baseball a long time ago.
It's all a serious business. Therefore, as a baseball fan, continue to enjoy yourself and watch your own savings. Just don't park your car at the ballpark for $40 and then proceed to pay over $5 bucks for anything to eat. Bring your own sandwiches with juice, and stop adding to the profits of the owners and their players.
Please note that I am not anti-union. Besides it's no longer a union. I grew up with former major leaguers. I love them all.
Graphics by Eddie Resner
Eddie Resner for the Allied Investment Group