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The following chart reveals the evolution of the highest paid player in Major League Baseball. Data after 1985 is verified through research by Doug Pappas.
1927 $70,000 - Babe Ruth (unconfirmed) 1930 $80,000 - Babe Ruth (unconfirmed) 1949 $100,000 - Ted Williams (unconfirmed) 1961 - $75,000 - Mickey Mantle (unconfirmed) 1966 - $130,000 - Willie Mays (unconfirmed) 1972 $200,000 - Hank Aaron (unconfirmed) 1979 - - Pete Rose (unconfirmed) 1981 - $2,000,000 - Dave Winfield (unconfirmed) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1985 - $2,130,300 - Mike Schmidt 1986 - $2,800,000 - George Foster 1990 - $3,200,000 - Robin Yount 1991 - $3,800,000 - Darryl Strawberry 1992 - $6,100,000 - Bobby Bonilla 1993 - $6,200,000 - Bobby Bonilla 1994 - $6,300,000 - Bobby Bonilla 1995 - $9,237,500 - Cecil Fielder 1997 - $10,000,000 - Albert Belle 1998 - $14,936,667 - Gary Sheffield 2000 - $15,714,286 - Kevin Brown 2001 - $22,000,000 - Alex Rodriguez
The following chart reveals the Major League Baseball players that have earned the most total salary in their career (through the end of 2003). Data is verified through research by Doug Pappas.
$109,845,000 - Greg Maddux $104,463,215 - Barry Bonds $99,461,930 - Kevin Brown $98,001,000 - Roger Clemens $97,376,294 - Albert Belle (retired) $95,159,654 - Ken Griffey, Jr $94,295,000 - Randy Johnson $93,010,002 - Gary Sheffield $90,568,000 - Sammy Sosa $85,030,097 - Larry Walker $83,765,000 - Barry Larkin $83,238,334 - Mo Vaughn $82,437,500 - Juan Gonzalez $82,297,996 - Rafael Palmeiro $82,199,437 - Tom Glavine $78,860,000 - Matt Williams $78,283,144 - Mike Piazza $78,027,000 - Alex Rodriguez $77,194,000 - Pedro Martinez $76,700,000 - Cal Ripken, Jr (no data available for 1981-1984) $76,885,715 - Bernie Williams $75,603,815 - Roberto Alomar $74,688,354 - Mark McGwire (retired) $72,014,000 - Frank Thomas $68,342,501 - David Cone (retired) $66,599,000 - Carlos Delgado $64,320,000 - Raul Mondesi $63,532,727 - Manny Ramirez
