Are baseball salaries too high?

[cjclong]

All of us are familiar with the fact that the top baseball salaries now run from around $15 million to around $25 million a year. When I first started following baseball in the early 60's Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays were the two top players at $100,000 a year. And they were the top player in the game at the time destined for the Hall of Fame. Most fans did not complain about Mantle or Mays making that money or Babe Ruth earlier making $80,000. I don't know what Mantle or Mays salary would equal in today's money, but I don't believe it would be what the top salaries are today. Also, totally mediocre players and players having terrible years like Andrew Jones are making millions of dollars. We think of someone who wins a $4 million lottery as being very lucky while players with poor or average statistics are making that much and more every year. And it seems even worse in today's economy. I know we live in a capitalistic society and I think most people accept that people with special talents will always be paid more than firemen, policemen, teachers and others who are actually necessary for society to function. And I know that no one puts a gun to the heads of baseball executives to make them pay those salaries. I don't think most fans would have a problem with the top players making $10 million or some more a year. If salaries were reduced their could be some reduction in ticket prices, even if a small amount. I don't think most of us object to talented players being well paid, its the excessive amounts that bother us. What do the rest of you think?

[shoremen44]

Re: Are baseball salaries too high?

I don't know if anyone would say that they aren't too high.

I think you hit the nail on the head with the ticket prices piece. While I dont even come close to the ARods of the world I make a very good living, and to take my wife and two boys to a game is rediculous.

The reason that the players of the bygone era are so loved even to this day is, 1) they were average guys who lived in the neighborhood, and 2) everyone could afford to go see a game and see them play.

I take the new Yankee stadium as the perfect example. Their ticket prices are going to be so high, that only corporations or the ultra rich can afford season tickets... I for one hope they play to empty seats.

[TFig27]

Re: Are baseball salaries too high?

I don't know if anyone would say that they aren't too high.

I think you hit the nail on the head with the ticket prices piece. While I dont even come close to the ARods of the world I make a very good living, and to take my wife and two boys to a game is rediculous.

The reason that the players of the bygone era are so loved even to this day is, 1) they were average guys who lived in the neighborhood, and 2) everyone could afford to go see a game and see them play.

I take the new Yankee stadium as the perfect example. Their ticket prices are going to be so high, that only corporations or the ultra rich can afford season tickets... I for one hope they play to empty seats.

I was able to get season tickets for next year for $20 a ticket.

[shoremen44]

Re: Are baseball salaries too high?

I stand corrected...

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/nyy/ticketing/season_plans.jsp?content=full

if you want to sit in the corners of the upperdeck $20... or the grandstand just $12...

I did find it funny that they dont list prices on the season ticket locator for the stuff behind home plate or the lowest level... you have to call to get those prices

[BULBUS]

Re: Are baseball salaries too high?

No question, salaries are rediculous! Like you said, it comes down to ticket prices. As long as we the fans are paying, the owners can afford to give the players these salaries.

As far as the new Yankee Stadium, a friend of mine has the Sunday plan and he upgraded his seat and pays 35 a ticket whereas last year he paid 25. Not too bad. That being said, I used to go to at least 10-15 games a year in the 90's and now with the cost of everything (tickets, food, and PARKING ), I go to about 1 maybe 2 games a year.

[yanks12025]

Re: Are baseball salaries too high?

Do you guys know when they are taking deposits for the 41 game package.

[joelsabi]

Re: Are baseball salaries too high?

The reason that the players of the bygone era are so loved even to this day is, 1) they were average guys who lived in the neighborhood, and 2) everyone could afford to go see a game and see them play.

i saw a documentary on the old brooklyn dodgers and most of the players did live in the neighborhood and even walked to the stadium for their games. times have changed.


advertising and endorsements money really makes the owners well off. you think players can just purchase a ball club? players make a fraction of what the owners are making. due to union membership, the salaries have gone up as well.

[camarokids]

Re: Are baseball salaries too high?

Yes, salaries are out of this world. The owners agree to pay the high salaries. So they can blame themselves.

Also, don't forget about all the money owners receive from the TV contracts.....so ticket revenues are just more icing on the cake.

Then you have the rich teams wanting to outbid everyone else....

[jppopma]

Re: Are baseball salaries too high?

Way way way too high. I don't so much feel bad for those of us with decent jobs who can afford to pay the outrageous prices, but the kids out there that really are not getting as first hand chance to fall in love with the sport. Many of the best players came from very humble upbringing and fell in love with the game as an escape from the reality of the streets. Overcommercialization of the game is really taking away from the sport and cutting alot out.

My simple solution...cut everything in half! Salaries and ticket prices as well. It's not like any of these players will be hurting if they make 4 million instead of 8 million.

[Vintagedeputy]

Re: Are baseball salaries too high?

i saw a documentary on the old brooklyn dodgers and most of the players did live in the neighborhood and even walked to the stadium for their games. times have changed.

I saw a similar show that said that the local deli owner would drop off packages of deli meat to the player's homes to help make ends meet during the off season when they didnt make any money!

[suave1477]

Re: Are baseball salaries too high?

i saw a documentary on the old brooklyn dodgers and most of the players did live in the neighborhood and even walked to the stadium for their games. times have changed.


advertising and endorsements money really makes the owners well off. you think players can just purchase a ball club? players make a fraction of what the owners are making. due to union membership, the salaries have gone up as well.

Yes most of the Yankees in the old days lived right in the neighborhood and what made it su much more of a love of the game was that they were (of the town) guys so not only did they live down the block from you. You got to see them hanging out around town.
Mantle, Maris & Bob Cerv live in an apartment in queens
Whitey Ford lived in an apartment in queens
Gil Hodges lived in Brooklyn and his wife still lives in the same houe til this day
So not only did Joe Schmoe who lived down the block play baseball he hung out at a club, bar or somthing else in the area.

Thats what made you love these guys they can be spotted anytime in your area - they didnt have the arod money to be flying every other weekend to vacation in the Islands. They hung out around town

How many signtings do you see or hear about of AROD in New York no where near as many as you might of heard about Mantle.

AS FAR AS PLAYERS BEING ABLE TO BUY CLUBS - DO THE MATH - THEY CAN
Current Value of the NY Yankees $1026 mil

All that takes is these players salaries

AROD
Jeter
Texira
Jason Giambi

These 4 players combined could buy the club

[suave1477]

Re: Are baseball salaries too high?

AS FAR AS PLAYERS BEING ABLE TO BUY CLUBS - DO THE MATH - THEY CAN
Current Value of the NY Yankees $1026 mil

All that takes is these players salaries

AROD
Jeter
Texira
Jason Giambi

These 4 players combined could buy the club

I forgot to mention that would be a break down over a ten year span

[mariner_gamers]

Re: Are baseball salaries too high?

No, salaries are in line with what someone is willing to pay for a very specific skill set. More people in this world are qualified to become doctors and lawyers than 3rd basemen for the Yankees. Salaries will climb until baseball hits a financial wall and then they will start to come down.

I find it humorous individuals compare their professions to professional athletes. We have built them, we cheer them on and we covet the items they use at their jobs. There is no comparison, clearly most people in our culture find athletics and entertainment our most important professions. I am not talking the lip service we pay doctors and teachers I am talking about how we vote with our dollars. They are a reflection of all of us buying tickets, jerseys, hot dogs, beer, etc.

Why does an athlete making $8 million a year make people feel better than one making $30 million?? Who cares!?!? Both those numbers are astronomical and more than 95% of us will ever see.

MLB is more accessible to today's children than it has ever been. There is no longer just the game of the week or daily paper. Baseball is 24/7 during the season with the net, tv, stadiums, video games etc. Sure in the 1950's it was great to spend the day at the stadium but nowadays that is not ideal for everyone. Inexpensive tickets can still be found at all venues and you can take your own sandwiches and peanuts in.

[kingjammy24]

Re: Are baseball salaries too high?

admittedly, i don't understand much of this thread.

in 2007, nike made $800mm from the "air jordan" brand. what would be a fair, proportionate amount for michael jordan to ask for from a firm that made $800mm from his brand? $100k? would that be fair? if alex rodriguez helped personally generate $40mm for the yankees in increased ticket sales, tv contracts, and merchandise, what should he ask for? $1mm? because taking $10mm from $40mm that he generated would be "too much"?

if players agreed to work for 50% less, where would the additional money go? to the owners. is that a better solution? would folks be much happier if arod played for $5mm/yr and gave the $15mm he gave up to steinbrenner?

some here seem to be saying that if players made less, then ticket prices would be reduced, as if ticket prices are a result of salaries. they are not. ticket prices are a result of teams seeing the maximum amount they can charge while still managing to fill the stadium up to a decent level. if the lakers find they can fill staples center to 90% capacity every single night and charge $200/ticket then they'll charge $200 a ticket. if their player expenses increased, and they found they charge $250/ticket and still maintain 90% capacity, then they'd obviously increase prices to $250/ticket. it has nothing to do with player salaries. it has to do with profit maximization. if the lakers were filling up the house at $200/seat and their payroll then decreased, why on earth would they reduce ticket prices? they'll just keep the extra profit.

this is basic economics 101. how can ticket prices and salaries be "too high" when teams are operating at a profit? if an item is priced "too high" (ie: out of the range of the majority of the target market) then the product wouldn't sell and the company would go out of business. baseball teams aren't immune to basic economic principles. the montreal expos weren't selling and eventually the team folded. if there really were tons of empty seats constantly at yankee stadium, then the team would be forced to reduce prices and reduce expenses or else they'd up like the expos. if neither are being reduced then it's likely that while ticket prices may be too high for some consumers, they aren't too high for others. if most of those others end up being the "ultra rich" then i guess that's just free market economics.

some have brought up baseball in the 50s and 60s. what were tv contracts like back then? and global merchandising? were kids in china buying duke snider tshirts and watching jackie robinson on tv? there's more money to be had so what are you going to do with it all? altruistically pass the savings to the consumer? this isn't communism.

rudy.

[shoremen44]

Re: Are baseball salaries too high?

Rudy,
I understand your point and business is business... the fans and the market have created these issues, but it is not simple free market economics... Sports leagues in this country are a monopoly and free to function as such.

The reason I dont pay $200 for a pair of Nikes is that I have 500 other options. When it comes to my baseball team I do not. But it goes even deeper than that... th issue is that fans like me grew up watching the same teams their fathers and grandfathers rooted for... understandable again the fans are still going and paying the prices, but when players are getting upwards of $20 Million a season, and teams are making money hand over fist, yet the fans are asked to pay an exorbitant amount for tickets, hot dogs, ect... the emotion comes out because we follow these teams every year and we bleed with them...

I have no problem paying more money for tickets every year, but it is out of control... after one of the worst years economically in American history the Avg MLB ticket is still rising 11%...

I grew up going to Memorial Stadium in Baltimore... I used to go to the games as kid, walk up and buy seats with my dad for nothing... we did this almost every day during the summer... Now I am lucky if I go to one game a year...

I understand the economics of it, but it is more than a business to the fans, and I for one feel slighted