On this day in 1963, outfielder Willie Mays signs a contract with the San Francisco Giants for $100,000, making him the highest paid player in the MLB. Mays was the first player in league history to earn 6 figures. After his contract, the floodgates opened up for more players to earn that kind of money. Fast forward about 60 years, and the average salary for an MLB player is $4.3 million. Mays was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1979, and without him players would not be able to make nearly as much as they do now.
Today In Sports History (February 20, 1963)
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