How much is it worth today

[tschock]

Originally Posted by glchen

Comparing doctors to entertainers really isn't relevant. Baseball players make so much money because of the huge TV contracts, in addition to other things like ballpark attendance, sponsorships, etc. Another way to look at it is if 25 million people who watch baseball, and they pay $1 a year to see ARod on some other player. However, while a baseball player or other entertainer can entertain millions upon millions of people, even the best doctor can only see so many patients per year.

Nail on the head here. Like comparing apples to orangutans. And situational as well. Is a visit to a dying child from his favorite fill-in-the-blank a more positive contribution to his condition than a doctor's, who at that point, might not be able to do anything for him?

Similar to saying that teachers, scientists, doctors, CEOs, etc etc are underpaid or overpaid. The best ones are underpaid while the worst ones are overpaid.

Bottom line is that baseball players are just like everyone else. They are paid what their employer feels they are worth.

[rkrolewicz]

Originally Posted by tschock

Nail on the head here. Like comparing apples to orangutans. And situational as well. Is a visit to a dying child from his favorite fill-in-the-blank a more positive contribution to his condition than a doctor's, who at that point, might not be able to do anything for him?

Similar to saying that teachers, scientists, doctors, CEOs, etc etc are underpaid or overpaid. The best ones are underpaid while the worst ones are overpaid.

Bottom line is that baseball players are just like everyone else. They are paid what their employer feels they are worth.

Correct. They are paid what their employer think they are worth. Most of these employers (owners) are not stupid. If fans are willing to go to games, watch on TV, buy licensed merchandise, etc., then owners will continue to make lots of money. If the fans stop spending (time and money) then... The fans are responsible for the enormous salaries.

[bobbvc]

Nothing personal Ken, But EVERY ONE of these kinds of threads (or articles, etc. etc.) start with complaining about players salaries. Almost None of these threads talk about what the owners make. Talk about people who contribute NOTHING to society.
Joan Kroc tried to GIVE (she was very well off and had no money concerns) the Padres to the City or County of San Diego upon her husband Ray's death. The owners, who are all about the "free" market when it benefits them, would Not Allow it. Didn't want the Fans and cities to know that they (the owners) were not necessary to the equation would be my guess.
Eliminate Baseball's anti-trust exemption and we may possibly get "our game" back.

[batsballsbases]

Originally Posted by bobbvc

Nothing personal Ken, But EVERY ONE of these kinds of threads (or articles, etc. etc.) start with complaining about players salaries. Almost None of these threads talk about what the owners make. Talk about people who contribute NOTHING to society.
Joan Kroc tried to GIVE (she was very well off and had no money concerns) the Padres to the City or County of San Diego upon her husband Ray's death. The owners, who are all about the "free" market when it benefits them, would Not Allow it. Didn't want the Fans and cities to know that they (the owners) were not necessary to the equation would be my guess.
Eliminate Baseball's anti-trust exemption and we may possibly get "our game" back.

While I agree that what is considered rational as a players salary. I totally disagree with the statement that Owners contribute NOTHING to society. How many times have I seen the Steinbrenner family contribute millions of dollars to every charity that they possibly could. Look at the the most recent treatment of The Bengals player Devon Still whos daughter was diganosed with cancer. The Bengals after cutting him found out what was going on and signed him to the pratice squad so he could have insurance! Dont tell me that decision wasnt coming from the owner! Look what happened now on the starting team! Look at what Robert Kraft also did for him at the game the other night, made a donation to the hospital treating her and had all the cheerleaders put on Devon Stills Jerseys ALL OF THEM to show support that they were behind him! I could give you many more stories of owners doing great things for society. So to me your statement that Owners contribute NOTHING to society is totally wrong.

[GasHouseGang]

I always liked the story told about Ruth regarding his salary. When a reported objected that the salary Ruth was demanding ($80,000) was more than that of President Herbert Hoover's ($75,000), he replied, “I know, but I had a better year than Hoover.”