According to the 1947 Baseball Guide and Record Book, at least for the 1947 season going forward, the minimum MLB salary was $5,000.
“Guarantees in the new contract form include a minimum salary of $5,000 a year; no diminution of salary on assignment…”
It appears to have stayed at $5,000 in 1950, based on testimony in the House hearings on whether organized baseball was a monopoly. Former player Cy Block testified to this amount. Block has an interesting history, based on his SABR coverage.
At some point between 1951 and 1954, it must have been raised to $6,000 a year. According to a SABR article on the 1954 winter meetings, player reps asked for an increase from $6,000 to $7,200, but the owners rejected it.
It then stayed at $6,000 a year until 1968, when the new CBA increased it to $10,000 a year.
This is what I was able to gather, at least from searching via AI. Since SABR openly shares its research, as well as the TSN Guides many are online. AI was able to find and connect some of these pieces.
According to the 1947 Baseball Guide and Record Book, at least for the 1947 season going forward, the minimum MLB salary was $5,000.
“Guarantees in the new contract form include a minimum salary of $5,000 a year; no diminution of salary on assignment…”
It appears to have stayed at $5,000 in 1950, based on testimony in the House hearings on whether organized baseball was a monopoly. Former player Cy Block testified to this amount. Block has an interesting history, based on his SABR coverage.
At some point between 1951 and 1954, it must have been raised to $6,000 a year. According to a SABR article on the 1954 winter meetings, player reps asked for an increase from $6,000 to $7,200, but the owners rejected it.
It then stayed at $6,000 a year until 1968, when the new CBA increased it to $10,000 a year.
This is what I was able to gather, at least from searching via AI. Since SABR openly shares its research, as well as the TSN Guides many are online. AI was able to find and connect some of these pieces.