Babe Ruth’s Salaries
By modern standards Babe Ruth was the biggest bargain in baseball history. Adjusted for inflation, his peak salary would have reached roughly $3 million—barely the wage for a .250-hitting second baseman nowadays.
|
Year |
Team |
Salary |
Equivalent Today |
|
1914 |
Baltimore Orioles |
$600 |
$27,100 |
|
1914 |
Boston Red Sox |
$1,300 |
$58,700 |
|
1915 |
Boston Red Sox |
$1,300 |
$61,200 |
|
1916 |
Boston Red Sox |
$3,500 |
$143,000 |
|
1917 |
Boston Red Sox |
$5,000 |
$169,000 |
|
1918 |
Boston Red Sox |
$7,000 |
$213,000 |
|
1919 |
Boston Red Sox |
$10,000 |
$270,000 |
|
Year |
Team |
Salary |
Equivalent Today |
|
1920 |
New York Yankees |
$20,000 |
$514,000 |
|
1921 |
New York Yankees |
$30,000 |
$957,000 |
|
1922 |
New York Yankees |
$52,000 |
$1.57 million |
|
1923 |
New York Yankees |
$52,000 |
$1.45 million |
|
1924 |
New York Yankees |
$52,000 |
$1.46 million |
|
1925 |
New York Yankees |
$52,000 |
$1.37 million |
|
1926 |
New York Yankees |
$52,000 |
$1.32 million |
|
1927 |
New York Yankees |
$70,000 |
$1.81 million |
|
1928 |
New York Yankees |
$70,000 |
$1.77 million |
|
1929 |
New York Yankees |
$70,000 |
$1.73 million |
|
1930 |
New York Yankees |
$80,000 |
$2.22 million |
|
1931 |
New York Yankees |
$80,000 |
$2.58 million |
|
1932 |
New York Yankees |
$75,000 |
$3.03 million |
|
1933 |
New York Yankees |
$52,000 |
$2.25 million |
|
1934 |
New York Yankees |
$37,000 |
$1.45 million |
|
1935 |
Boston Braves |
$25,000 |
$914,000 |
Sources: New York Times, Baseball-Almanac.com, MeasuringWorth.com (2012 contemporary standard of living values)