The best MLB players make a ton of money. Multiple players took him at least $20 million in 2015, but that hasn't always been the case for baseball. In 1991, the average MLB salary according to CBS Sports was less than $900,000. That included a jump of over 50 percent from the previous season. The average MLB salary is now $4 million, a figure that only two players topped in 1991.
It's a testament to just how much sports salaries have skyrocketed in recent seasons. This list is based on a tweet from Darren Rovell, which details the top salaries for 1991. Some of the names on this list are true legends, which makes their salaries look even lower when compared to today's figures. With that in mind, here are the top 12 salaries in MLB from 25 years ago.
T-11. SP Nolan Ryan, Rangers: $3.3 Million
Ryan was in the twilight of his career at this point with the Rangers, even though Rovell's tweet incorrectly puts him on the Angels. Despite being 44 years old at this point, Ryan posted a 12-6 record with a 2.91 ERA. He recorded his final no-hitter in the 1991 season.
T-11. OF Kirk Gibson, Royals: $3.3 Million
Gibson might best be known for his home run with the Dodgers, but he spent the 1991 season with the Royals. He played just one season with the club, hitting 16 home runs, driving in 55 runs and stealing 18 bases.
T-10. OF Tim Raines, White Sox: $3.4 Million
Raines left the Expos to join the White Sox in 1991. Raines actually struggled by his standards in that first season with Chicago. He hit just .268, his third-worst average in his career. He bounced back the next season and still stole 51 bases in 1991.
9. SP Bob Welch, Athletics: $3.45 Million
Welch was coming off a Cy Young season in 1990, recording a 27-6 record with a 2.95 ERA. He struggled in 1991, posting a career-worst ERA when excluding his final season. Welch wasn't the only A's pitcher to struggle in 19991 after a great 1990.
8. SP Dave Stewart, Athletics: $3.5 Million
Stewart was just as good as Welch, posting a 22-11 record and a 2.56 ERA in 1990. But he struggled the next season as well, recording a 5.18 ERA.
7. OF Andre Dawson, Cubs: $3.7 Million
Dawson was completely worth his salary in 1991. He hit .272, belted 31 homers and drove in 104 RBIs. There's a reason he made the Hall of Fame in 2010.
T-4. OF Dave Winfield, Angels: $3.75 Million
The Angels traded for Winfield before the 1990 season, and 1991 was his last year with the team. Winfield was solid, hitting .262 with 28 home runs and 86 RBIs. The next season, he joined the Toronto Blue Jays and won a Silver Slugger award en route to a World Series win.
T-4. OF Kevin Mitchell, Giants: $3.75 Million
Mitchell won the MVP award in 1989, and was 11th in the voting in 1990. His numbers dropped in 1991, when he hit .256 with 27 homers and 69 RBIs. 1991 was the last year he played for the Giants.
T-4. 1B Will Clark, Giants: $3.75 Million
Clark was just 27 in 1991, making him much younger than most of this list. He won a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award in 1991. He hit .301 with 116 RBIs that season.
3. 1B Don Mattingly, Yankees: $3.86 Million
While he might be best known as a manager to the current generation of baseball fans, Mattingly was a talented first baseman. He spent his entire career with the Yankees, winning one of his many Gold Gloves in 1991.
2. OF Darryl Strawberry, Dodgers: $4.05 Million
Before substance abuse helped to limit his career, Strawberry was one of the best players in baseball. He left the Mets in 1990 to play for the Dodgers in 1991. He was an All-Star, posting 28 home runs and 99 RBIs. At just 29 years old, Strawberry had a bright future. However, he played in at least 100 games just once more in his career.
1. OF Jose Canseco, Athletics: $4.7 Million
Canseco still has name recognition, despite not playing in the majors since 2001. That's a testament to his playing ability and his connection to the steroid era. Canseco played the 1991 season with the A's, giving them three of the top 12 highest paid players. Clearly, Money Ball was not a thing for Oakland in the early 90s. Canseco led the majors in home runs in 1991, blasting 44.
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