Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
On Wednesday, the Red Sox Introduced their newest acquisition, pitcher John Lackey. For his efforts of throwing a baseball very hard, Lackey will earn $82.5 million over the next five years, or, on average, $16.5 million each season. Those numbers are difficult to comprehend when they're presented in simple form like that. Fortunately, ESPN offers their fun "Salary Crunch" gizmo, which can tell you how your salary compares to a major league pitcher.
So, let's say you make the average salary of a state employee ($47,077 in 2009) -- Lackey earns that in slightly more than one half inning pitched. He also makes that amount with every .44 strikeouts.
In simpler terms: "You will need to work 350.49 years in order to make John Lackey's annual salary."
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So?
No offense, but this is sort of like an ONION story.
Yes, top entertainers get paid a lot of money for a short period of work because they are in demand and their money-making years are few. It’s a huge gamble trying to be an entertainer or athlete or artist and chances are you will starve at it, so the very few who can make it to the top of their craft will logically earn a lot for the short time that they are in demand.
I suppose you want a return to the days when DiMaggio held out for $25 thousand and the Yankees said no? The days when Hall of Famers Yogi Berra and Phil Rizzuto used to have to work as salesmen in a men’s clothing store in the off-season just to pay their bills?
Is Lackey getting overpaid? Probably. But what would YOU do in his position? Refuse to take anything more than the salary of a government worker?
by 209209 on Dec 17, 2009 7:39 PM EST reply actions
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