Baseball’s Earned Wealth Average Pops Up $100,000 Per Player in ’90

It used to be that only the top ballplayers made $100,000 a season. In 1990, the average salary increased by $100,000.

The average rose from $497,254 in 1989 to $597,537 in 1990, according to final figures issued by the Major League Baseball Players Assn.

The dollar increase was the largest in baseball history and the 20.2% increase was the steepest single-season rise since the 1982 season.

Although they failed to repeat as World Series champions, the Oakland Athletics finished first in the payroll race with a team average of $804,643. They were followed by Boston ($777,683), the New York Mets ($758,575), the New York Yankees ($725,872) and the California Angels ($695,070).

The Dodgers were eighth on the payroll list at an average of $685,780 per player.

The Baltimore Orioles were the poorest-paid team at $279,326. The Seattle Mariners ($388,649) were the only other team below $400,000.

The only teams whose salary average decreased were the Mets (from $865,741 to $758,575), the Dodgers ($696,988 to $685,780), the Minnesota Twins ($556,323 to $495,270) and the Orioles ($324,636 to $279,326).

The union’s survey was presented to its executive board Tuesday night by its staff. The executive board began a four-day meeting in Orlando, Fla., and details of the report were made available to the Associated Press.

First basemen were the highest-paid players in the game at an average of $1,384,902, according to a survey by position. Eddie Murray of the Dodgers was the highest-paid first baseman at $2,513,703.

The seven full-time designated hitters were next at $1,188,204.

Outfielders were third at $1,014,031, followed by shortstops ($859,062) and starting pitchers ($806,356). The lowest-paid players were relief pitchers at $480,123.

The survey was based on players who were on team rosters or disabled lists on Aug. 31, the last day before rosters were expanded from 25 to 40.

The biggest jump of any team was the Milwaukee Brewers, who rose from 20th place in 1989 ($363,517) to 10th place in 1990 ($678,581). New multimillion-dollar contracts to Robin Yount and Paul Molitor contributed heavily to that increase.

SALARIES BY CLUB Average baseball salaries by club in 1990, compiled by the Major League Baseball Players Assn.

Oakland $804,643 Boston $777,683 N.Y. Mets $758,575 N.Y. Yankees $725,872 California $695,070 Kansas City $692,973 Toronto $686,326 Los Angeles $685,780 Houston $681,664 Milwaukee $678,581 Detroit $675,898 San Francisco $666,927 San Diego $656,164 St. Louis $636,794 Pittsburgh $592,390 Montreal $580,181 Cincinnati $557,056 Chicago Cubs $518,050 Cleveland $507,756 Minnesota $495,270 Texas $481,290 Philadelphia $461,484 Chicago W.S. $422,199 Atlanta $414,443 Seattle $388,649 Baltimore $279,326