They were paid very little compared to today, even allowing for the greater purchasing power a dollar had then. Babe Ruth was paid an astounding $80,000 per year in the late 1920's, but most players made a tiny fraction of that amount. The average in 1920 was $5000 (which is still considerable compared to the wage-earners who were fans).
Most professional Baseball players of that era had an off-season job, like selling cars or insurance, and it wasn't unusual that they made as much or more income from these occupations.
In professional football, the earliest teams were being run on a comparative shoestring budget, with players paid as little as $100 to $300 a game. Players were often traded (sold) to other teams for a similar sum.
Among the best-paid athletes were professional golfers, whose earnings came from tournaments but also from contracts with upscale country clubs. Golf legends Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen each received between $25,000 and $30,000 a year.
Chat with our AI personalities