The evolution of baseball's highest-paid players since Kirby Puckett become the first $3 million player. Salaries listed are average annual values for multi-year deals.
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Show me the money
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Date
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Player
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Team
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Salary
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Nov. 22, 1989
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Kirby Puckett
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Twins
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$3,000,000
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Nov. 28, 1989
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Rickey Henderson
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Athletics
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$3,000,000
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Dec. 1, 1989
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Mark Langston
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Angels
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$3,250,000
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Dec. 11, 1989
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Mark Davis
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Royals
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$3,250,000
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Jan. 17, 1990
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Dave Stewart
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Athletics
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$3,550,000
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Jan. 22, 1990
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Will Clark
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Giants
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$3,750,000
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April 9, 1990
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Don Mattingly
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Yankees
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$3,860,000
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June 27, 1990
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Jose Canseco
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Athletics
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$4,700,000
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Feb. 8, 1991
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Roger Clemens
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Red Sox
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$5,380,250
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Dec. 2, 1991
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Bobby Bonilla
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Mets
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$5,800,000
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March 2, 1992
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Ryne Sandberg
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Cubs
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$7,100,000
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Dec. 8, 1992
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Barry Bonds
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Giants
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$7,291,666
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Jan. 31, 1996
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Ken Griffey Jr.
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Mariners
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$8,500,000
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Nov. 19, 1996
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Albert Belle
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White Sox
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$11,000,000
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Feb. 20, 1997
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Barry Bonds
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Giants
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$11,450,000
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Aug. 10, 1997
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Greg Maddux
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Braves
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$11,500,000
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Dec. 12, 1997
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Pedro Martinez
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Red Sox
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$12,500,000
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Oct. 26, 1998
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Mike Piazza
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Mets
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$13,000,000
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Nov. 15, 1998
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Mo Vaughn
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Angels
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$13,333,333
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Dec. 12, 1998
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Kevin Brown
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Dodgers
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$15,000,000
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Sources: Baseball America 1999 Almanac and ESPN.com research. | |
ALSO SEE
Highest baseball salaries
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