Paying Hank Aaron, then and now

Atlanta Braves first baseman-right fielder Hank Aaron, still considered by many today to be the game’s greatest home run hitter, becomes the highest-paid player in baseball history 52 years ago today as he signs a three-year contract worth $200,000 per season.

“My contract does represent a lot of money,” Aaron says at the time, “but I feel I’ve compared equal or better than other players, only our salaries didn’t match up. Now I’m on an equal basis there, too.”

Aaron upholds his part of the new three-year contract, hitting 94 homers for the Braves from 1972-74.

The same contract today is worth $1.48 million per season – $400,000 or so less than the $1.9 million the Braves this season will pay for the services of relief pitcher Tyler Matzek, who misses all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

At the time of his record-setting contract in 1972, Aaron is more than two seasons away from breaking Babe Ruth’s career record of 714 homers, a mark Aaron eventually passes in the first week of the 1974 season.

Aaron ends up hitting 755 homers during his Hall of Fame career from 1954-76.

Aaron holds the record until 2007, when San Francisco’s Barry Bonds – long accused of partaking in illegal, body-building pharmaceuticals – passes him on his way to 762 for his own, controversial career.

Hank Aaron in 1974 hitting his record-setting 715th homer