Earnings VS Salary

[Cannon Shell]

Baseball (and other sports) salaries were tightly controlled and artificially depressed until the advent of Free Agency brought about by Curt Flood's legal challenge of the reserve clause which tied a player to the team which held his rights forever.

Buckpasser was champion 2 yo in 1965, champion 3yo and horse of the year in 1966 and champion older horse in 1967. He earned $568,096 in 65, $669,078 in 66 and $224,840 in 67.

Willie Mays who was arguably the best baseball player in the mid 60's (from 1962-1966 he led the majors in WAR for position players) earned $90,000 in 1965, $105,000 in 1966 and $105,000 in 1967.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Buckpasser was champion 2 yo in 1965, champion 3yo and horse of the year in 1966 and champion older horse in 1967. He earned $568,096 in 65, $669,078 in 66 and $224,840 in 67.

Willie Mays who was arguably the best baseball player in the mid 60's (from 1962-1966 he led the majors in WAR for position players) earned $90,000 in 1965, $105,000 in 1966 and $105,000 in 1967.

Adjusted for inflation, Buckpasser earned in excess of $4.2 million for his 2yo season in 1965.

Mays earned 666k for his season that year.