$21,388,036 for the Top ’90 Team

The most expensive lineup in baseball costs a record $21,388,036 this year, up almost $2 million from last year and $6 million more than the best team in the game.

Eight of the nine starters have changed on the top-money team in the last year, a reflection of the big salary push in the off-season.

Gone are Orel Hershiser, Cal Ripken and Andre Dawson. In are Roger Clemens, Kirby Puckett and Rickey Henderson.

The increase on the best team in baseball was even sharper. The nine players on the 1988 Associated Press All-Star team made $11,916,667. The AP All-Stars will cost $15,391,333 this year, a 29% rise.

A record 153 players will make $1 million or more this season, according to contract details obtained from player and management sources. A record 27 players will make $2 million, topped by Milwaukee’s Robin Yount at $3.2 million.

The New York Mets have the most millionaires with 11, followed by the Kansas City Royals with 10. The Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners have the fewest with two each.

Kirby Puckett of Minnesota, who gets $2.7 million this season, is the only player to make both the AP All-Star team and the all-money team.

Clemens of Boston ($2.6 million) will be the top-paid pitcher in baseball this year, and Bret Saberhagen of Kansas City ($1.4 million) is the 1989 AP All-Star. Lance Parrish of the Angels is the highest-paid catcher ($1,916,000), and Oakland catcher Mickey Tettleton is the lowest-paid player on the AP All-Stars at $750,000.

Eddie Murray of the Dodgers ($2,513,703) is the highest-paid first baseman, just ahead of AP All-Star Will Clark, who will get $2.25 million from the San Francisco Giants.

Lou Whitaker of Detroit is the highest-paid second baseman ($1.8 million), and Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs ($1.55 million) is the AP All-Star. Ozzie Smith of St. Louis ($1.975 million) replaced AP All-Star Ripken of Baltimore ($1,366,667) as the highest-paid shortstop.

Paul Molitor of Milwaukee ($2,433,333) was the highest-paid third baseman, and Howard Johnson of the Mets ($1,666,667) was the All-Star.

Joining Puckett in the outfield on the most expensive team were Yount ($3.2 million) and Oakland’s Henderson ($2.25 million). On the AP All-Stars, Puckett was joined by Kevin Mitchell of San Francisco ($2,083,000) and Ruben Sierra of Texas ($1,625,000).

The salaries are determined by taking the actual 1990 salary and adding a prorated share of the signing bonus. In Murray’s case, his $2.7-million income is discounted to reflect $500,000 that is deferred without interest.