Their Prime Came in the Lean Years, Not the Green Years

With utility ballplayers making astronomical salaries, ever wonder what some of baseball’s immortals would have earned at today’s prices?

Two University of Dayton economics professors did more than wonder. Lawrence Hadley and Elizabeth Gustafson conducted a study that led them to the conclusion that first baseman Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees would have been the highest-paid player at more than $7.8 million a year, followed by pitcher Walter Johnson at a little more than $7.5 million.

The researchers studied the records of 150 batters and 100 pitchers, including most of this century’s Hall of Fame players. Active performers were excluded from the group.

The researchers calculated what the players would have earned if they were free agents in the prime of their careers and were rewarded for their performance and longevity at the same rate as today’s players.

Gehrig topped the list of hitters, followed by Babe Ruth, $7.5 million; Jimmie Foxx, $7.3 million; Honus Wagner, $7 million, and Ted Williams, $6.5 million.

Following Johnson on the pitchers’ list were Cy Young, $7.1 million; Christy Mathewson, $6.6 million; Rube Waddell, $5.8 million, and Gaylord Perry, $5.5 million.

Trivia time: Roberto and Sandy Alomar were the fifth pair of brothers to start in an All-Star game for the same team. Only one trio of brothers has ever been selected All-Stars, although not all in the same year. Can you name them?

Hall of Shame: The ongoing war between baseball players and fans hit a low recently when New York Yankee outfielder Mel Hall spotted an ingenious young fan at work as he trotted off the field at Milwaukee’s County Stadium after a pregame workout.

A rule in that stadium forbids fans from crawling onto the dugout roof in search of autographs.

But this particular fan, about 10, tied a ball and a note to a rope attached to a fishing pole and dangled it over the dugout.

The note read: “This is the only Yankee game me and my brother will see this year. Can you please sign my ball?”

Talk about making the extra effort. Not only did Hall refuse to sign, he went into the clubhouse, obtained some scissors, marched back out and cut the rope.

Bringing new meaning to the nickname Yankee Clipper.

Add Hall: The story had a happy ending for the fan. Yankee shortstop Alvaro Espinoza saw what happened, got the ball, signed it and made sure it got back to the fan.

Boy wonder: Mattias Herrstrom, a 12-year-old Swedish boy who made two holes in one during the same round last week, got his third ace in six days Monday at the Malmo Golf Club in southern Sweden. Using a 6-iron on a 153-yard hole, Herrstrom recorded his fourth hole in one since June 10.

He started playing golf two months ago.

Trivia answer: The DiMaggios. Joe (1936-42 and 1946-51), Dom (1941-42, ’46 and ‘49-’52) and Vince (1943-44).

Quotebook: Swimmer Mark Spitz, attempting a comeback at 41, on why he’s confident of being at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain: “I know I’ve been improving, I still have 10 months or so before the trials, and in a worst-case scenario, I can always buy a ticket.”