re: #83 lawhawk

For most of baseball’s history until after the 1960s, pro sports players had to take outside jobs to make ends meet. Mickey Mantle made $100k as a player for the Yankees. His was the exception, rather than the rule. It was large sum to be sure, but most other players during that era made a whole lot less. Pee Wee Reese made at most $35k. Most scrambled for money after the season ended.

Yeah I’ve read about guys who played in the same period as Mantle who took regular people jobs in the winter. And the minors wow even more stark. And it’s like that even now honestly. An alum of my high school who was in the Braves system at the time substitute taught for us a few times. He never made it to the bigs unfortunately but it’s my understanding that he became the baseball coach not long after I graduated. It really is amazing how salaries have skyrocketed. A lot of guys make in an at bat what old time guys like Pee Wee made in their entire career.